Posted: 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015

Light Up Middletown gears up for 17th season

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

Organizers of a holiday drive-through lights display at Smith Park hope attendance continues to grow this year.

Light Up Middletown attracted more than 74,000 visitors last year, an increase of 19 percent from 2013, organizers said. The total attendance and the daily average (2,115) both were all-time records for Light Up Middletown, which started in 1999.

While the number of visitors has risen, those guests are coming from outside Butler County. In 2010, more than 66 percent of the visitors said they resided in Butler County, but last year the percentage dropped to 59. More visitors from Montgomery County are driving to Middletown every year, organizers said.

This year’s Light Up Middletown, the 17th edition, begins Nov. 26, Thanksgiving night, and runs through New Year’s Eve. The display is open every night from 6 to 10 p.m., regardless of weather, including holidays. The display has only closed twice in its 16-year history due to inclement weather.

Admission to the event is by donation and proceeds are used to purchase new displays, make repairs to the displays and add electrical service at the public park, said Florella Randall, founder of Light Up Middletown. The storage barn also was expanded with proceeds from last year to allow a place to keep the displays, said Barney Strassburger, site manager.

Of the 74,039 people who drove through the display last year, the average donation was 80 cents per person.

In the first 16 years, Light Up has seen more than 800,000 visitors to Smith Park. The display also has been the site of several engagements and a wedding or two, organizers said.

The Grandpa Gang, a group of about 20 community volunteers, have begun erecting the light displays throughout the park.

There are several special events planned this year during Light Up Middletown.

The annual hot air balloon glow is set for 7:15 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3, weather permitting. Santa and Mrs Claus will be on hand to talk to children from 7 to 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through Christmas. Photos are available at $10 each or two of the same pose for $15.

As guests enter the park, volunteers from area non-profit organizations; Middletown High School Musical Arts, Boy Scout Leaders/Parents, Bulls Run Arboretum, and American Association of University Women, will ask where guests are from and how many people are in the vehicle. They will also distribute a brochure with coupons and advertisements from area restaurants.

Follow Light Up Middletown on Facebook or at www.lightupmiddleteown.org.

HOW TO GO

WHAT: Light Up Middletown, a drive-through holiday light display

WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 31

WHERE: Smith Park, located at Tytus Avenue and Verity Parkway, downtown Middletown

COST: By donation

  A Big Thank You to all the volunteers who light up our holiday season.