Friday, April 19, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
By ANDY GARDNER LISBON -- Lights on the River will illuminate Lisbon Beach for the fifth year, at the same time raising money for 12 St. Lawrence County food pantries. Businesses, community …
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By ANDY GARDNER
LISBON -- Lights on the River will illuminate Lisbon Beach for the fifth year, at the same time raising money for 12 St. Lawrence County food pantries.
Businesses, community organizations and people will craft a holiday display on a stretch of the beach, which is open for free from Dec. 13 to 21.
“The public is welcome to come down and drive through and see all the Christmas lights,” said Scott Wilhelm, one of the event’s organizers. He noted that it is typically a 10 to 15 minute ride. “There’s a lot to see.”
All of the proceeds raised are by donation.
“It’s free to see the lights. A lot of people choose to donate food or money,” Wilhelm said.
They’ve raised $50,000 in the last four years, and $18,000 of that was last year alone. The 2013 Lights on the River also garnered 2,700 pounds of food for the needy.
“We’ve grown exponentially,” Wilhelm said.
He said there are 75 entries for this year’s display. There was 25 in 2010, their inaugural year.
He said the most grandiose he could recall was a 30-foot pirate ship that was erected last year, complete with moving parts, smoke and flashing lights.
“Each year is different,” Wilhelm said. “They’ve gotten bigger, a lot more variety.”
There will be a contest for kids to find a lifesize Suzie Q doll. It will rotate throughout the displays during the 10 days of the event. Kids can submit their names and prizes will be awarded.
Light displays will be judged in three categories for businesses, organizations and people. The winner of each gets a plaque and $50, Wilhelm said.
This year’s display will be enhanced by a light and music show by BOCES Southwest Tech electrical programming students. Lights on the River will provide them with lights and program boxes and they will set them to music.
The event will benefit Canton Church and Community, Canton Neighborhood Center, Gouverneur Neighborhood Center, Hammond Neighborhood Center, Heuvelton Food Pantry, Lisbon Food Pantry, Massena Neighborhood Center, Norwood-Norfolk-Raymondville Outreach, Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center, Potsdam Neighborhood Center, Richville Food Pantry, and Waddington Family and Resource Center.
