‘Festival of Lights’ continues Christmas tradition

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn — A Christmas tradition returns to Madison County with fun for the entire family. The Festival of Lights continues its second year of light displays for the holidays.

It’s the time of year when night falls and things get a whole lot brighter for the holidays. The ‘Festival of Lights’ is here at Pugh Borne Park in Northeast Madison County and their goal is to bring cheer to families in the community this season.

“We do five weeks of this. It runs tonight through January 3rd. It’s starts 5 pm to 8:30 pm every night. It’s for charity at 10 dollars per car with as many as you can pack in. This year we’re up to about 70 displays,” said Matthew Martin, executive director for Madison County Parks.

Throughout the night canned goods are collected for the Regional Inter-Faith association or ‘RIFA’. The money raised goes to charity and improvements for Pugh Borne Park.

“For anyone that wants to sponsor a display… When they come through and they see something that does not have a sponsor light or sign that means that it’s open available,” said Matthew Martin, executive director for Madison County Parks.

All the light displays have sponsorship signs. Organizers are looking for churches, banks, hospitals, schools and more to participate in sponsorship displays to grow this holiday attraction. Martin tells us it’s worth the drive.

“My guys start about two weeks before open, and then we have to troubleshoot it to make sure everything is working right. To the left of our Santa house there are angel wings….One adult and one childrens’. If anyone wants to take pictures you don’t have to pay any money. Pull up here in the front parking lot, hop out, and take some picture in front of the angel wings,” said Matthew Martin, executive director for Madison County Parks.

This event aims to help families who are less fortunate, so visitors are encouraged to contribute non perishable food items.