HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS OPENS; 250,000 ADMIRED LAST YEAR

Where can you take a minute-and-a-half drive and see at least 80 different interpretations of Christmas all decked out in lights?

The Holiday of Lights display at Cape County Park North, of course.

Over 80 organizations, individuals and businesses in Cape County have set up holiday displays for the community to enjoy.

"It's for different people to express how they feel about the holidays," said Beverly Strohmeyer, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts.

In 1987, the Arts Council teamed up with the Cape County Park Board and the County Commission to make the lights display possible.

The 1992 version of the Holiday of Lights will be powered up tonight at 6 with a lighting ceremony at the highest point in the north park, at shelter #8.

The ceremony will include carols sung by the Otahki Girl Scout Council troops, opening remarks by an arts council representative and refreshments served by the Salvation Army's Mobile Canteen, the Evangelical United Church of Christ, and the Kage Home Extension club.

"It's a neat event," said Capt. Elmer Trapp of the Salvation Army. "People need to take advantage of the time the lights are lit and come to the park."

The lights will be turned on at dusk each evening and will remain on until 11 p.m., through New Years.

This holiday season will mark the sixth successive year of the display, which was the brainchild of Cape County Park Superintendent Chet McCain.

"A few years ago, several of us (in the Cape County Park Board) sat down and were talking about it, and I came up with this idea," said McCain. "We thought it would be something for the community to do, something to look at."

Indeed, the displays have been something to look at. McCain said that over 38,000 vehicles passed through the park last year, including tour buses from various states.

McCain estimated 250,000 people saw the Holiday of Lights display last year.

That's not counting the number of people who saw the display from nearby I-55 and Kingshighway. "Some people set up their displays so they can be seen from the highways also," said Strohmeyer.

McCain said that over 20 more displays were added for this year's Holiday of Lights, bringing the total to about 80, significantly more than the 11 displays submitted in its inaugural year of 1987.

Strohmeyer said that more private businesses are aware they are allowed to partake in the displays than the first year. However, no display is allowed to include commercial advertising.

Said Strohmeyer, "You can't have any commercial displays. You can have a sign that says `Sponsored by whomever' at the bottom of your display. But those signs are the same size for all displays."

Show Biz Pizza is one of the new participants in the holiday display this year, according to Show Biz store manager Jim Caito.

"My family and I live here in Cape and have enjoyed taking the kids out to the park to see the lights display," said Caito.

"Some employees and I thought it would be fun to participate in the lights display and do something for the community," he said.

A special appearance will be made at the Lighting Ceremony this evening by Chuck E. Cheese of Show Biz.

Trapp said that the Salvation Army will start serving coffee, hot chocolate and cookies about 5:30 p.m. for early gatherers for the ceremony.

Trapp feels that the display of lights gets people together and more involved in their community. "And it's really interesting to see the different perspectives of Christmas different people have," he said.

And everybody's perspective of the holidays, whether in an elaborate or modest display, are welcome, according to Strohmeyer, despite an objection to one display last holiday season.

"One lady in town objected to the gay and lesbian group from campus (GLBA) having a display," said Strohmeyer. "It was just a Christmas tree.

"We don't want to discriminate against anybody."

There is always time to set up a display at the park, said Strohmeyer, even after the lighting ceremony.

"There's lots of room for growth. We want to eventually expand to the south side of the park as well," Strohmeyer said.

For information about available space and electricity, Strohmeyer said to call McCain.

And if you cannot come to see the holiday of lights display, according to McCain, "you're missing something."