holiday lights

Sanders County Fairgrounds Holiday Lightshow

Each year the elves at the Sanders County Fairgrounds spend many, many, many hours checking out light bulbs and light strings and designing light displays for the enjoyment of Sanders County residents and folks from the surrounding areas. This is a display best viewed as your drive through in your car with your lights off and wide-eyed children in your back seat. Beautiful in any weather, the fairgrounds become a special place when snow arrives. Note the schedule of events planned for each holiday season.

The Annual Lighting Ceremony takes place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

The Sanders County Fair Foundation provides free chili dogs, hot chocolate and sugar cookies to everyone attending the lighting ceremony. They will be served in the pavillon where the Sanders County Arts Council and the Sanders County Fair Foundation provide us with a musical program to get us in the mood.

Santa Claus arrives on a Christmas light-bedecked horse-drawn surrey owned by Warren Wickum. While Santa passes out candy canes to all the children, a choir with folks from all participating churches sing Christmas carols.

Fireworks wrap up the annual lighting ceremony.

Vehicular traffic is not permitted during the lighting ceremony. After that date vehicles are allowed to tour the grounds while the Christmas lights are on from dusk to 9:00 PM through New Year's Day. Cash donations or non-perishable food donations are accepted. Cash donations are used to defray the costs associated with the display while food donations are given to the local food bank.

During the frist two weeks of December on Friday and Saturday evening, members of the Plains Lions Club "stand-in" for Santa Claus and distribute candy canes to all the children who visit the light display. The candy canes are donated by the Horse Plains VFW post.

We have so many wonderful pictures of displays from past years that it is difficult to choose. Here a a few of our personal favorites.

So, make your plans to join us this next holiday season! See you there!!