With a new entrance sign, The Lenhard Family Light Show – Christmas Edition at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park in Festus should be hard to miss, family patriarch Justin Lenhard said.
The annual holiday-season show runs 6-10 p.m. Its initial run started Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, and runs through Nov. 30. After a few days off, it will resume during the same hours from Dec. 5-31 at the park located along Old Hwy. A in Festus.
“People not from the area would drive by the entrance to the light show,” said Justin Lenhard, patriarch of the family that has put together the event for years. “This is new.”
He said another new feature this year will be a special guest on the evenings of Dec. 12-13.
“The Grinch will be here from 6-8 p.m. both nights,” Lenhard said. “He will interact with cars for about a half-hour, then will be on Mayor Mike’s Stage and people can take photos with him.”
There is no cost for visiting the light show or photos with the Grinch, Lenhard noted, but donations are accepted on behalf of the Jefferson County Rescue Mission.
He said his family purchased the sign, which lights up, with part of a grant it received from the Festus Tourism Commission to help with expenses for the Halloween and Christmas light shows the family stages at Crites Park.
Lenhard said this year’s version of the popular Christmas light show features more than 163,000 lights matched to music and controlled by multiple computers. Tune to 99.7 FM to hear the music, he said.
The Lenhards use a structure in the park built by Festus city employees for the light show display.
For more information about the Christmas light show, visit the Lenhard Family Light Show Facebook page.