O'Fallon Residents Brave Cold for Holiday Lights

The Christmas spirit was alive in O'Fallon on Tuesday night, as residents bundled up in hats and scarves and headed to  for the city's annual .

Once a year O'Fallon's Celebration of Lights closes to cars and opens up for residents to take a closer look at the collection of nearly a million lights, Christmas displays and a fireworks display. 

"Despite the weather we are amazed at the attendance," said Volunteer Coordinator Alexis Jaegers. "It's a fun event for everybody."

Sense of tradition keeps residents like Michelle Slinger and her daughters, Margaret, 9,  and Caroline, 6,  coming out each holiday season. This is their sixth year walking through the array of lights, a tradition Michelle started when her two girls were babies. 

"We come out here year after year no matter what the weather is like," she said. "We just love the lights."

Likewise, Janice Pierre and Don Dieboll said they come out to support their church, regardless of the weather.

"Rain, sleet or snow we're always here," Pierre said. "I love to see the smiles on the children's faces. They're so excited when they see the lights."

Festival Coordinator Megan Steinmann said she was pleased with this year's turnout.

"It's hard to guess, but I would say we had at least 2,000 people show up," she said, adding that the $2 per-person cost may help draw the large crowd because it fits most families' budgets.

"It's an affordable, fun family event," Steinmann said. "Walking is the best way to see the lights."

Steinmann said it takes two months to prepare the park  for the celebration and about a month to take it all down.

Craig Alexander, a Cub Master from Cub Pack 657, said his favorite part of the stroll was being out with his cubs and seeing everyone enjoying the lights. His pack created a light display and ran a cookie and hot cocoa stand near the entrance of the park.

Vickie Lott said she has been driving or walking through the city's Celebration of the Lights for the past 10 years. 

"I love the blue and white part," she said.

While some residents come out to see  certain favorite exhibits, others have more difficulty narrowing down which one they like best. 

"I like way the lake looks with the lights, and the candy cane tree and the polar bears," Lott's daughter Maddie said, spouting out a list that included nearly every exhibit in the park.