December 17, 2020 at 2:19 p.m.
Hodag Park dressed to the nines
Lights of the Northwoods will host second weekend of lights festival Dec. 18-20
Hodag Park dressed to the nines
By Stephanie Kuski-
Opening night of the annual display last weekend started off with synchronous spark - at exactly 5 p.m. on Dec. 11, lights cascaded from the center pavilion throughout the park as onlookers collectively ooh'd and aah'd.
It certainly was a night to remember at the end of a trying year.
Santa Claus kicked off the grand community event by leading a parade of cars through the park, a line which stretched the length of Messer Street and beyond. Visitors could either walk or drive through the park to enjoy the lights, and those out in the cold could warm up by standing near a large bonfire manned by local fire departments near the boat landing.
Spectators driving through the park could tune to 87.9 FM to listen to Christmas music while enjoying the lights, and small boom boxes were scattered throughout the park for those walking the path.
Lights of the Northwoods marketing and public relations chairperson Shawn Will noted the first night of the event boasted a good turnout and he expects the trend to continue.
"I would expect it to be as busy if not busier than it has been in the last couple years," Will said. "I think this is a good opportunity for them to come out - they're still socially distanced but they're still spending time with their family... So I anticipate this year actually being a bigger year."
"We were very pleased with how things went," said Joy Pollack, Lights of the Northwoods marketing and advertising director. "We have really high expectations for the next weekend."
For the fourth annual holiday event, Hodag Park shined with 200,000 lights and over 64 displays, many of which were expanded from last year.
In addition, a number of new displays were handcrafted by Lights of the Northwoods workers.
Some examples include the Grinch and Max display as well as the light-up baseball players near the batting cage.
Local volunteer Scott Campbell worked with Brothers Welding to fabricate a superhero display which depicts heroes like Batman, Spiderman, Superman and Aquaman holding flags in honor of the U.S. armed services.
The entrance to the lights display invites drivers through a blue blanket of sparkling lights. As passersby make their way through the park, they are greeted by glowing gingerbread men, sparkling candy canes, light-up trees and wreaths, and rather fittingly, a team of Hodags taking the Rhinelander Lions Club mascot on a ride through the park.
Will added that the design of the trees was also new this year. With help from WPS, Asplundh Tree Service and Douglas Lighting, they were able to sculpt the lights high up in the trees to give the display an aerial look in addition to numerous ground displays.
A number of local businesses that donated displays also expanded their existing displays to make them even bigger and brighter this year.
Throughout the weekend, Lights of the Northwoods volunteers littered the park helping patrol the lights, giving directions to spectators and collecting monetary and food donations. The entire event is put on by a steadfast group of volunteers, and those interested in volunteering this weekend are encouraged to do so, as the organization requests extra support during their event nights.
Those interested can email [email protected] for more information.
Over 1,600 pounds of donated food items were collected at the event last weekend, organizers reported.
Canned goods collected on Friday benefitted the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry (RAFP), while food donations collected on Saturday and Sunday went to the Elcho Food Pantry.
This weekend, food donated on Friday, Dec. 18 will once again benefit RAFP and donations collected on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19 and 20, will benefit the Tomahawk Food Pantry.
The Rhinelander Lions Club sponsored the first night of the event and a number of Lions members, in addition to other volunteers, worked on setting up the displays several weeks in advance of the grand opening.
The Elcho Food Pantry sponsored the event on Dec. 12 followed by Northern Edge Skating Club on Dec. 13. This weekend, the Special Olympics and Rhinelander Masonic Lodge 242 will sponsor the event on Dec. 18, the Robotics Club and Printpack on Dec. 19, followed by the Rhinelander wrestling team on Dec. 20.
After this weekend, the lights will be on at Hodag Park from 5 to 9 p.m. every night through New Years.
Pollack noted the organization will have a self-service donation box available outside of their core weekend days, and those donations will be split equally between the three local food pantries.
The Lights of the Northwoods will also host a 15-minute fireworks display at 7 p.m. Jan. 1 at Hodag Park. The lights will be on in addition to the fireworks. Spectators are welcome to join, socially distanced in their cars or walk through the main portion of the walking path.
Will noted the Rhinelander Lions Club donated to the Lights of the Northwoods to support the fireworks display, but they are still requesting monetary donations to both finance the fireworks and to support the continuation of the annual lights display.
Those interested in donating to the cause can find links to do so by visiting lightsofthenorthwoods.com.
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