The annual Lenhard Family Light Show – Halloween Edition 2026 is displaying more lights than ever, organizers said.
The shows, which are free, are offered nightly from 7:30-10 p.m. through Oct. 31 at Larry G. Crites Memorial Park along Old Hwy. A. in Festus. Donations are accepted on behalf of the Jefferson County Rescue Mission.
Justin Lenhard and the rest of his family have for years staged Halloween and Christmas holiday light shows tied to music with the use of multiple computers. Those who come to the park to take in the presentations are told to tune their radios to 99.7 FM to hear the music that accompanies the light show.
“We have about 225,000 lights this year,” he said. “We had about 150,000 lights at the Halloween show last year.”
He said this year’s Halloween show is attracting a steady stream of vehicles to Crites Park each night. The current show has been running since Oct. 4.
“Last Saturday (Oct. 10), there were close to 400 vehicles that came through,” Lenhard said. “It’s been packed.”
According to the city of Festus website, visitors to the light shows may park on the field in front of Mayor Mike’s Stage or may back in against the trees to the right of the road. The road is to be kept clear of parked vehicles.
The Lenhards began their elaborate light shows in 2020 at their then-home in Pevely, later moving the show to an unnamed city park in Pevely. They relocated the light shows to Crites Park in 2022, and the presentations have taken place there ever since.
Lenhard said the time-consuming task of constructing the light shows are labors of love for his family.
“(The current Halloween display) probably took a month and a half to put up,” he said. “We still enjoy doing this.”
The Festus Tourism Commission awarded Lenhard a $35,000 grant to expand his family’s light shows at their May meeting.
He said his family will turn its attention to setting up its next electronic display at the end of the Halloween show run Oct. 31.
“The next day, we’ll switch to Christmas,” Lenhard said.
For more information about the Halloween or Christmas light shows, visit the Lenhard Family Light Show Facebook page.