Christmas village turning 20

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By ELIZABETH HOCHSTEDLER mailto:elizabeth.hochstedler@lee.net
Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:32 PM CST

It takes a village to run a Christmas Village, and the dedication of many local people is behind the annual Christmas Village display in Irvine Park, which opens for viewing once again starting Thanksgiving Day.

Christmas Village exists because of a 10-person committee working with businesses, volunteers, the city and donors.

“People were behind it from day one,” said Bill Faherty, director of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.

Day 1 has turned into Year 20, as the village celebrates two complete decades since its 1987 debut. In conjunction with that, a grand opening of sorts will be held Friday night.

The village started as a way to use the park year round.

“There was a retail committee (of the Chamber of Commerce) looking to add something to the holiday,” Faherty said. “The Chamber was the initial force behind it.”

Now a committee works throughout the year on ways to improve the village and find ways to bring in more donations.

Local businesses have been among the donors which have continued to fund the village over the past 20 years.

“Each display is sponsored by a business,” Faherty said.

The money the businesses donate goes to funding the supplies for the displays. Volunteers take on the work from there.

Faherty said a lot of the volunteers are students from local schools.

About 150 students spent three Saturdays getting the lights ready. An additional 100 students helped set-up the displays this year.

Some students even came from a high school in Bemidji, Minn., Faherty said.

“Without the volunteers ... it’d be very difficult,” he said.

City workers also play a large role in setting up the displays and lights and preparing the electrical systems.

The Street Department and Parks, Recreation and Forestry Departments are most instrumental.

And somebody has to pay for the electricity and upkeep. That’s where donors come in.

Faherty’s department relies heavily on donations.

“People have been very generous in the donation boxes to make this go,” he said.

Faherty said they don’t know exactly how many people come through the park each year, but the donations have been about the same each year.

He said the city helps pay for the electricity, but his department pays them back with any donations that are receive.

To commemorate the 20th year, the village is having celebration Friday night.

“We’re having a grand opening this year like we used to do when we first started,” Faherty said.

The grand opening will feature music from the Chi-Hi band and refreshments.

There will also be a countdown at 5 p.m. in which all the lights in the village will be lit at once.

From 5-7 p.m. Friday, the village will be open to walkers only, and it will be open to vehicles from 7-9:30 p.m.

The Chippewa Herald’s annual Walk Through the Park event will be held Saturday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Christmas Village

Where: Irvine Park

Hours: Nov. 23 - Jan. 1, 7 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Walk-through only: Nov. 22 5-7 p.m., Nov. 23 5-7 p.m., Dec. 8 6-8 p.m.

The Chippewa Herald’s annual Walk Through the Park is Dec. 8.