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Clever lights fill the 10th Festival of Lights

Festival of Lights is now open through the end of the year

AnnaMarie Kruse

Nov. 26, 2023 11:36 am, Updated: Nov. 28, 2023 8:18 am

This Nativity display celebrates the birth of Jesus near the end of the holiday festival of lights. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
This Nativity display celebrates the birth of Jesus near the end of the holiday festival of lights. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

MT. PLEASANT — Following another successful year of their annual fun run/walk at the Mt. Pleasant Festival of Lights, one of the largest drive-through holiday light shows in Iowa opened for the season.

Before the turkeys hit the oven for Thanksgiving Day, Mt. Pleasant Festival of lights opened their gates to vehicles for the first night of the season Wednesday evening.

The festive light display will remain open nightly from 5:30-9 p.m. for the remainder of the year as they welcome family vehicles, limousines, mini coaches, and motor coaches for the 10th year.

The Avenue of Honour features a variety of shapes to in memory, recognition, honor, and gratitude of different people. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
The Avenue of Honour features a variety of shapes to in memory, recognition, honor, and gratitude of different people. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
The beginning of the light show features several patriotic displays like this one. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
The beginning of the light show features several patriotic displays like this one. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Every year the display has grown. It now consists of over 140 holiday lighted displays over the span of 1.6 miles on the Midwest Old Threshers campgrounds.

This year’s displays include a number of themed sections and appropriately sponsored displays.

One barn themed section includes brightly lit tractors and farm animals.

Another section displays clever representations of the 12 Days of Christmas.

Storybook characters like Humpty Dumpty, Jack Be Nimble jumping over the candlestick, Mother Goose, and the Three Little Pigs fill the Fairyland section of the Festival of Lights while less traditional, but equally entertaining lights of elves with telescopes, reindeer on rockets, and one of Santa’s helpers in a spaceship occupy the Christmas in Space segment.

This barn gateway leads to many barnyard animal and tractor displays. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
This barn gateway leads to many barnyard animal and tractor displays. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
A flying pig is found just inside the barn lights. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
A flying pig is found just inside the barn lights. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Three French Hens hang out at the Eiffel Tower. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Three French Hens hang out at the Eiffel Tower. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

The clever lighting is also seen in the display choices of light sponsors such as Becker’s Jewelers with the “Five Golden Rings,” Mt. Pleasant Dental Associates with an elf brushing a reindeer’s teeth, and American EyeCare with Santa giving a reindeer an eye exam.

An elf brushes a reindeer’s teeth as Santa gives another an eye exam.(AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
An elf brushes a reindeer’s teeth as Santa gives another an eye exam.(AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Santa plays tries to toss one of five golden rings on a reindeer. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Santa plays tries to toss one of five golden rings on a reindeer. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

While Santa wasn’t quite ready to greet guests to the festival before Thanksgiving, he happily began to meet those going through the light display the following weekend.

Santa will continue to meet guests at the end of their experience for the next two weekends (Friday-Sunday) and the week leading up to Christmas (Dec. 15-23).

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
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