Danville Parks and Recreation’s Community Holiday Light Show was recently selected as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event in the Southeast for the month of December 2017.
“We are proud of this designation,” said Department Director Bill Sgrinia. “This event has grown tremendously since its inception in 2014. We have always believed the Community Holiday Light Show to be a fantastic event, not just for the work we do, but for the work the entire community does each and every year.”
The Light Show began four years ago and attracted just over 1,000 cars to Ballou Park with an estimated attendance of 3,500. Last year, the 15-night event drew 2,550 cars and an estimated 9,600 people.
“With the growth in attendance, we have been able to increase how much this event gives back to the community each year,” said event organizer Lisa Ferguson. “The first year we had the show, $4,200 was given back to area nonprofits in the form of prize money, awards and gate proceeds; last year that amount increased to $8,485.”
According to a news release from the Southeast Tourism Society, travel industry experts select 20 events per month and the Tourism Society publicizes them throughout the United States. The complete list is published on two websites: Southeast Tourism Society and Travel Media Press Room.
“The Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Festival and Event list is an excellent guide for the Southeast’s visitors, residents and travel writers. The events selected represent the best, and often most unique, activities in our region,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society.
The Community Holiday Light Show will be held this December 9-25 and will be open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Children’s Village, which is included in the cost of admission will be open nightly until 9 p.m. through Dec. 23. Admission is $7 for cars and $15 for vans and mini-buses. There will be no show on Christmas Eve.
Parks and Recreation is currently accepting applications for volunteers to work the gates and to enter displays. Volunteer groups working the gates will receive a portion of the admission fees for the night in which they work. Displays can be hand-made or store bought and anything from a tree and a few lights to the Goodyear Blimp. No inflatables allowed.
To volunteer your group or enter a display, contact Taylor Aherron at Danville Welcome Center by calling (434) 793-4636.