Thousands visit Lake Seminole and Helen Howarth parks to see the displays.
By MARY JANE PARK
Published December 7, 2003
Inaugural light displays are attracting caravans of sightseers to Lake Seminole and Helen Howarth parks this holiday season.
As of Thursday, nearly 7,000 vehicles had visited the county's Lights Under the Stars installation in Lake Seminole Park, said Leah Hoffman, parks and recreation operations manager.
"We've had so many compliments on it," she said. "People are telling us, "This is the most magnificent thing we've ever seen,' and they want us to keep it. It's really something to behold. It's really amazing to see."
Traffic hasn't been quite as pronounced in Pinellas Park's Light Fest.
"It's been very slow," said Tim Caddell, the city's media and public events director. "I think the most we've had is 40 cars in one night."
Clark Sales in Tavares donated the lights for the Lake Seminole Park display. Admission fees will pay for generators and signs used with Lights Under the Stars.
Hoffman said she expects the event will break even this year. Any profit will be used for unbudgeted park needs, such as repairing potholes, she said.
Lights and generators for the Pinellas Park display were donated by Winterland of Cicero, Ind. City public works employees did the installation, and any profits will go to charitable organizations.
"We put it together because a lot of the local charities don't have the resources to pull together something like this," Caddell said.
Volunteers from those organizations are staffing the display and stand to benefit from any profits. They are Equither; Girls Inc.; Muscular Dystrophy Association; People Helping People; Pinellas Park Police Explorers; Public Service Education Foundation of Pinellas Park; Special Olympics Pinellas County; and Volunteers in Policing.
Caddell said he thinks the county light display is drawing more visitors because of its location off busy Park Boulevard. Pinellas Park's display is between 49th and 66th streets on 94th Avenue, just east of 66th.
Both holiday light displays are up through Jan. 4.
Light Fest
Helen Howarth Park
6301 94th Ave. N, Pinellas Park
Through Jan. 4
6-9 p.m. weekdays; 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
$10 per car; $25 per busload
Lights Under the Stars
Lake Seminole Park
10015 74th Ave. N (Park Boulevard), Seminole
Through Jan. 4
6-10 p.m. weekdays; 6-11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays
$10 per car, motorcycle and minivan; $15 for small buses; $25 for buses. Seminole Chick-fil-A offers coupons for $5 off per car on Tuesdays.
