This Santa painted on plywood is among the many painted character cut-outs at the Kiwanis Holiday Lights display at Sibley Park in Mankato. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)
REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT you felt as a child about Christmas? The I-can’t-wait-until-we-can-open-our-presents sort of excitement. Perhaps some of you didn’t wait, opting to search for hidden packages when your parents weren’t around or were too busy to notice. You found, carefully unwrapped and re-wrapped your gifts because you just could not wait until the big day. How did that work out for you?
A elf bears gifts at the holiday light show in Mankato. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)
My son will tell you it’s not much fun to know what you’re getting for Christmas. Unbeknownst to me, he scouted out his gifts one December. Oh, the confessions of adult children (which seems such an oxymoron).
The other day my 7 ½-year-old granddaughter asked her mom why she wasn’t more excited about Christmas. If Izzy ever becomes a mom, she’ll understand. As moms, Amber and I get it. There’s so much to do. Cards to send. Shopping to do. Gifts to wrap. Cookies to bake. Holiday meals to prepare. Christmas events to attend. It’s a lot to cram into a single month.
A grandma who’s relaxing rather than stressed over Christmas. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2023)
So, yes, Izzy’s observation about her mom’s tempered Christmas cheer was accurate. Kids experience the joy, magic and fun of Christmas without any of the work. As it should be. Time passes too quickly and we grow into adulthood with all the responsibilities that entails.
I want my dear, sweet granddaughter to hold onto the magic of Christmas for as long as she can. These early years of her life are wonderful and magical and precious. That she holds such excitement for Christmas is exactly as it should be when she’s seven going on eight.
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.
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Recent Comments