Abbott House ceremony tonight focuses on quarter of a million lights

The Abbott House today will hold a ceremonial lighting event, illuminating approximately 250,000 twinkling Christmas lights on the property and kicking off this year’s Festival of Lights.

The lights actually were first turned on Nov. 23, but today’s event will invite the public in for hot chocolate, cookies and a chance to see the lights up close. Every day until Jan. 3, the lights can be seen from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Abbott House.

Abbott House Development Director Allen Lepke said preparations for the festival began last January.

“We started hanging lights at the end of August,” he said. “We have spent probably hundreds and hundreds of hours, most of them from volunteers. There were a lot of companies that took a day out of their company schedule to send some people over and decorate.”

Those hundreds of hours have paid off. Motorists can drive up to the front of the Abbott House along Court Merrill; tune their radio station to 89.3 FM and watch a synchronized lighting show, set to several Christmas songs. Those who wish to do so may put money into a donation box located in the island on Court Merrill. Proceeds go to the Abbott House, which is a residential treatment facility for girls aged 9 to 17.

Lepke said every dollar raised will get matched by three dollars by a friend of Abbott House.

“(Donations) are for our campaign that we are doing right now where we need to raise $7.8 million,” he said.

The display of lights covers the entire Abbott House property and includes the building itself, as well as numerous nearby trees and bushes. Synchronized with the songs on the radio, the thousands of light bulbs line the sidewalks and fill the block with color.

Lepke said it is worth the trip.

“It’s probably more lights synchronized than most people have seen. It’s quite inspiring,” he said.

Lepke reminds drivers to pull over and not block traffic.

“Also, if you are parked, common courtesy would be to shut your lights off,” he said.

From 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, a Winter Carnival will be held at the Abbott House featuring music by The Little Bird Band, Linda Feterl Dancers, Xtreme Cheeleaders and other family entertainment, food and fun.

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