Festival of lights in Lisbon this holiday season
LISBON — The village is going to have its own Festival of Lights, thanks to a huge donation from local business owners and the efforts of the park supervisor and others.
Village council last week gave parks supervisor Dana Blackburn permission to stage A Walk Thru Christmas display at the Cedar Street park where the community swimming pool is located, with a tentative opening date of Thanksgiving evening.
“She’s not asking for anything” other than permission, said councilman Jerry Cox.
Blackburn said the display was made possible by the donation of a 100-piece private display from Charles and Alison Bell and Jason and Kara Craig of R.L. Craig Inc. of Lisbon. The display, which includes extension cords and timer boxes, is worth an estimated $8,000.
The power will come from the pool and pavilion and a light generator being supplied by Robin Houlette, Blackburn’s father. Donations are also being sought to pay for electricity, and there will be a donation box at the park entrance. The display will be open through Jan. 1 from Sunday through Thursday 5 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturdays 5 to 10 p.m.
Blackburn is working with a group of volunteers to get the display up and running by Thanksgiving evening. She said their efforts have been hampered by the weather and trees in the park brought down by last week’s ice/snow storm.
Most of the display was up Tuesday night. “It just needs tweaked,” Blackburn said.
Bill Cloud from Goodwill Industries and students from the county alternative school have been volunteering to prepare the park and set up the display. She said the park concession stand will be open.