Minnesota Prairie Roots

Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

The magic of Christmas experienced at Kiwanis Holiday Lights display in Mankato December 19, 2023

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This sign tops the concessions stand at the Kiwanis Holiday Lights display at Mankato’s Sibley Park. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

VIEWING A HOLIDAY LIGHT display on an unseasonably warm mid-November afternoon of nearly 70-degrees in southern Minnesota seemed odd. But, in many ways, it was ideal to walk leisurely through the massive Kiwanis Holiday Lights exhibit at Sibley Park in Mankato before its official opening on November 24. There were no pressing crowds. No concern about parking. No sensory overload for me.

Lights frame a tunnel. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

Sure, Randy and I missed the full affect given our day-time visit. Yet, even without holiday lights aglow, the Mankato Kiwanis Club’s gift to the greater Mankato community and beyond impressed.

Riding in a one-horse open sleigh at Sibley Park. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

There are painted plywood cut-outs of Disney, Peanuts, Dr. Seuss and many other popular characters to delight the kids, especially.

In the bright afternoon sunshine, the lights on the holiday tunnel appear to be plugged in. But they aren’t. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)
Walking along a candy cane lined path past the field of snow people on a late autumn afternoon. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)
Candy canes crafted from PVC pipe. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

There are tunnels of light and a field of snowmen and candy canes shaped from PVC pipes.

High in a tree, snowflakes dangle. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

There are snowflakes twisting from tree branches, lights twisting around tree trunks, a Christmas tree towering 80 feet tall.

Overhead tunnel lights. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

Holiday lights are strung seemingly everywhere.

The centerpiece 80-foot Christmas tree. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

Admittedly, this would be beautiful to view in the dark of a southern Minnesota winter evening. Viewing hours are 5-9 pm Sunday – Thursday and 5-10 pm Friday and Saturday through December 31. Mondays and Tuesdays are lighter traffic days. This is a drive-through or a walk-through display, although I’d suggest walking to get a full, immersive experience.

The place to warm up and grab some food and beverages. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

There are places to stop inside the park. The concessions building serves beverages like hot cocoa and cider, plus candy canes, mini donuts and even Little Debbie holiday treats. The souvenir shop offers snow globe ornaments, lighted snowflake wands, ceramic campfire mugs and much more. Oh, how Minnesotan.

Santa lounges in Sibley Park, far from any warm beach. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

On weekends, Santa is on-site for visits. So are live reindeer.

Kids will love all the plywood cut-outs, including Disney characters like these from Aladdin. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

Admission is free. But cash and non-perishable food donations are welcomed.

Snow people aplenty are part of the holiday light display. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)

I can only imagine how magical the Kiwanis Holiday Light Display feels at night, when lights burst color into the darkness, when families and couples and singles view the lights and feel the pulse of the holiday spirit. I experienced a bit of the magic on that warm mid-November afternoon. How magical it all must feel on these December evenings so near Christmas.

© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Faribo Frosty is back, snow or not December 9, 2020

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Father and son, Andy and Jake Hoisington, build Faribo Frosty Saturday afternoon.

WITH NO SNOW LAYERING the local landscape, I didn’t expect Faribault’s famous Frosty the Snowman to make his annual pre-Christmas appearance yet.

Faribo Frosty has become a holiday icon in my community of Faribault.

But there he was, standing tall and proud in the Hoisington family’s front yard at 18 Third Avenue Northwest Saturday afternoon.

Jake, left, arrived from Mankato to help his dad build Faribo Frosty.

Debbie Hoisington was photographing the work crew as they finished sculpting the snowman from 21 trailer loads of snow/ice sourced from the Faribault Ice Arena. As I paused to chat for a moment, head snowman builder Andy Hoisington noted that Faribault needs Frosty more than ever this year due to COVID-19. I agreed.

Throughout the months Frosty stands in the Hoisington’s yard, Andy will continue to maintain Frosty, especially when he begins to melt in warm, sunny weather.

I thanked him and his family for the joy they bring to others, 2020 marking the 11th or 12th year of Faribo Frosty accenting their Faribault yard. They’ve lost count. The over-sized snowman draws families and others for memorable photo ops and has become a community holiday attraction.

Done for the day. I think.

For Andy, part of the joy also comes in working side-by-side with his family. As I watched on Saturday, he and his 34-year-old son, Jake, scooped snow from a trailer toward the ground around Faribo Frosty.

My granddaughter hugging Faribo Frosty. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo December 2018.

Snapping my final frames, I said, “I’ll be back with the grandchildren when they’re in town.” And I will. It’s become a tradition to see Frosty and pose for photos.

NOTE: Be sure to wear face masks and social distance as needed when visiting Faribo Frosty.

© Copyright 2020 Audrey Kletscher Helbling