The Christmas City Walkway of Lights Board of Directors is elated to announce that they have received a donation from the Grant County Convention and Visitors Bureau to restore the historic “Twelve Days of Christmas” Walkway of Lights display along the Mississinewa Riverwalk in Matter Park.
GP Designs, who created the nostalgic display, will be able to reinforce, powder-coat and paint all of the frames as well as completely rewire them.
Walkway of Lights Board Member, Rose Cadena, expressed on behalf of the board that they are extremely grateful for the continued support of the Grant County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and emphasized that the Walkway of Lights is not supported by tax dollars, but solely on donations, sponsorships, and entry fees. “Without our community of supporters, this major attraction would not exist.”
The Grant County Convention and Visitors Bureau has been promoting the Christmas City Walkway of Lights for many years as a fun holiday must-see and do event in Grant County. It is one of the longest-running, largest holiday light displays in the Midwest, and a drive-through is an annual tradition for many families. John Lightle, Executive Director of the Grant County Convention and Visitors Bureau stated, “The CVB recognizes and celebrates the importance of the rich history of the Walkway of Lights in the community. While East Central Indiana now has a proliferation of holiday light displays, the longstanding tradition and the history of Marion being declared ‘Christmas City, USA’ in 1965 makes the Walkway of Lights one of a kind.” More than 65,000 vehicles drive through the Walkway of lights annually, with nearly 200,000 passengers.
The Walkway of Lights is over two miles long and boasts nearly 2.5 million lights on a total of 120 displays. Each display is sponsored to keep them in the best shape possible for patrons young and old who come through to view them each year.
The “Twelve Days of Christmas” is one of only two original displays remaining of the Walkway of Lights.
Cadena emphasized, “Last year, the frames were in such bad shape, we almost didn’t put them up at all.” (The other lasting original is the Police Car Display sponsored by Mike and Suzanne Flynn & Family).
