TPA park’s Festival of Lights just came off a record-breaking year.
Several people close to the event heard “This is the best I have ever seen” when describing the lights this year at TPA park. Kaspar Media even talked to Santa and Mrs. Claus and St. Nick himself said he heard that comment from several people as they went through the park with over a million lights.
Joel Tatum, Park Superintendent, said the park team has already removed and stored 50% of the lights and displays as of January 11. Tatum said this year a record-breaking $35,000 was donated at the Santa House plus an additional $5,000 came from the community as donations, bringing in a record $40,000. “Thank you (the community) for coming together and look forward to better displays coming next year.” The record-breaking financial year will enable the park to purchase more displays and improve on a very good year, according to Tatum. This is Tatum’s first year back as Park Superintendent. About 15 people were directly or indirectly involved in setting up the lights, assembling or repairing the displays, paying the bills or handling administration or promotion for the Festival of Lights.
The lights and displays all have to be tested, wound and carefully stored for next year, a process that does go more quickly than the set up.
Once the job is completed, depending on the weather, the whole process can start again next September.
