An Ozarks holiday tradition is 'shining' once again

Lights display at Cornerstone Church was cancelled for the last two years

November 19, 2010|by Mike Landis, KY3 News | mlandis@ky3.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --

Before every show is some hard work behind the scenes.

Work on the Cornerstone Church Christmas lights display has been taking place for the last three weeks.

“[We are] pretty much everything not nailed down. If you stand too long we will wrap you in lights,” jokes Rick Cochran, Associate Pastor at Cornerstone.

This tradition is back on after a two-year break.

The 2007 ice storm damaged electrical equipment that wasn’t able to be repaired by 2008, resulting in that year’s closure. Then, construction at the intersection of Fort and Sunshine prompted organizers to call-off the show at the site for a second year.

Now, with new electrical lines on the site and street construction over, things are shining once again.

“You feel a little bit like Chevy Chase in [the movie] ‘Christmas Vacation’, hoping that when you put those two together, everything is going to hold,” Cochran said.

During opening night on Friday, everything did hold. With the flick of a switch, the sky lit up, beckoning families from across the Ozarks.

The lighting display will be open every night through January 2^nd. The lights come on at 5:30 each night, with the event ending at 9:30 pm. A suggested donation is taken at the entrance to help offset the cost the event.

Cornerstone Church is located at Fort Ave. and Elfindale St., north of W. Sunshine Street in Springfield.

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