NEWS RELEASE
For more information call: Ann Mort at (513) 424-2038/email Rmort@cinci.rr.com or Florella Randall at (513) 423-1877.
11/19/04
LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN READY FOR YEAR 6
When chairwoman Flo Randall flips the switch to Light Up Middletown on Friday, November 26 at 5:30 pm, it will begin the sixth year for the popular drive-through fantasy light display in Middletown’s downtown Smith Park. Each year the display is larger and more spectacular than the year before.
Besides the forty-foot, 10,000 bulb tunnel of lights, deer leaping over the roadway, giant lighted swans floating in the reflecting pond and thousands of sparkling lights in many themed display areas, there will be four major new displays this year.
At the entrance, guests will pass under a huge poinsettia swag, a wooden soldier will help direct traffic, giant butterflies will flutter their wings overhead and a hot air balloon piloted by a huge teddy bear will toss out stars—all in lights.
The display will be open in all types of weather, including holidays, from November 26 through December 31 – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Guests are asked to make a cash donation at the entrance tunnel to help defray the costs of maintaining and expanding the light display and to help improve Smith Park.
Volunteer organizations help staff the entrance booth and gather information about where guests are from. This year’s volunteers include Monroe Booster Club, Garfield High School, Middletown High School Musical Arts, Middletown Journal’s Newspaper in Education, Girl Scout Troop #3653 and MHS Soccer Boosters. A volunteer group of retired men, the “Grandpa Gang,” erect the displays, and maintain them throughout the month-long event, arriving each evening to turn the displays on and off.
According to chairwoman Randall, “In 2003, 47,000 people visited Light Up Middletown in 14,000 vehicles including 32 buses. Each year we see many motor coach tours who come to Middletown to visit area attractions, eat at a local restaurant, take in the Rising Phoenix “Taking Christmas to the Troops” production and then swing through Light Up before they leave. We also see many area retirement village buses and school buses carrying sports teams to and from their games.”
Directions to Smith Park at 500 Tytus Avenue in downtown Middletown:
I-75, exit 32. Follow State Route 122 to downtown Middletown. Smith Park is located on Tytus Avenue, just off Verity Parkway (SR4). The park is adjacent to Middletown’s Hook Field Airport
Light Up Middletown has encouraged guests at the drive-through light display to also take in other area holiday attractions:
