Photo by Brikiera Franklin
Michigan City included the above display as part of its annual Festival of Lights from December to January at Washington Park.
MC holds successful holiday event
By Camille Orzech
Staff writer
MICHIGAN CITY – Michigan City was literally lit up with the holiday spirit for more than a month.
The city held its annual Festival of Lights from December 4 to January 9 at Washington Park.
“It was spectacular,” said Terry Greetham, Director of Special Events of Michigan City. “The response that we’ve gotten from the residents and everybody who’s been down there, they were just so excited and thought that the (Michigan City) Parks and Recreation Department did just an amazing job.”
The city has a new special events fund that was used for this season’s lights, and will be used again next season. It’s something that Greetham is excited about.
“Every year I can take and put more money into the lights, so we can keep bringing in new, improved lights,” Greetham said.
Among the new displays was a digital Christmas tree at City Hall. Greetham also brought back an event at the Senior Center, called the Festival of Lights Celebration, after a three-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event, which was held December 7, included a Meals on Wheels fundraiser and a donation for Toys for Tots.
The fundraiser consisted of a chili cook off called The Chili Challenge. Meals on Wheels Executive Director Cheryl Daurer, who was at the event, explained that every tasting of chili paid for two meals for a senior in need.
The city’s goal was to raise $1,000 for Meals on Wheels. In total, the city was able to raise a little more than $750, which paid for around 300 meals.
The city also had a goal to get 200 toys for Toys for Tots, but by the end was given a total of 120 toys.
“This was the first year back, so the event wasn’t as big as we hoped it would be,” Greetham said. “But, (we) learned a lot of things and (are) really looking forward to getting things together for next year.”
Next year’s event will be run by the Michigan City Special Events Department and held on December 3. The Snowflake Parade will be renamed Festival of Lights Parade.
The Festival of Lights is an event that Daurer, for one, won’t want to miss.
“You gotta do it,” she said of the lights. “It’s part of the (city’s) history.”