Festival of Lights

MT. PLEASANT - People are in the mood for some holiday cheer if the number of visitors coming through the Festival of Lights is anything to go by.

The Mt. Pleasant light show, started in 2012, is seeing unprecedented numbers this year with some nights seeing double or triple the visitors from last year.

The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion Event, which has hundreds of light displays set up across its campgrounds for families and groups to drive through, expects approximately 460 cars on a busy weekend night. This year, for two Saturdays in a row, the event almost broke 700 each night.

Terry McWilliams, Old Threshers CEO, said nice weather may contribute to the higher numbers, in addition to the pandemic, which has made drive-through light shows an event for families to safely enjoy together.

'It's something they get to do. They can stay together in the car, enjoy the lights and get out of the house,” McWilliams said.

With more cars coming through, Santa, who visits every Friday and Saturday while the light show is held, has seen more children than usual this year. So far, Old St. Nick has visited and chatted with 800 kids.

'Either Santa and the elves have eaten a lot of candy canes or we've had that many people come through,” McWilliams added.

He said while the event typically sees a good several hundred kids visit Santa, to hit 800 with another week to go is unheard of.

The CEO added the event typically keeps track of license plates, noting where each car has traveled from. This year, the festival has had visitors from Missouri and Illinois as well as from across Iowa. So far, the event has drawn out Iowans who have driven three to 3½ hours to see the show.

'It's very exciting because folks are wanting to get out and participate … The committee started working hard in October. It's nice to see the numbers go up each year. We thought it might go that way because of everything going on,” he said.

McWilliams added the event would not be possible without the volunteers who give their time to man the gate of the show.

'For us, we really want to thank the volunteers. Every person who comes through that gate, it's a volunteer that is meeting and greeting them,” he said.

The Festival of Lights is open every evening from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 31. Santa will be available to meet with children for the last time this upcoming Friday and Saturday.