Holiday Lights Opens November 26
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A fully lighted 40-foot tall Christmas tree is the centerpiece of the 11th annual Holiday Lights Fair Friday, November 26 through Thursday, December 30 at the Du Quoin State Fair.
It has been constructed northwest of the grandstand on the large asphalt pad which is home to the beer garden during the Du Quoin State Fair.
In a word, it's just plain "GORGEOUS!"
When Holiday Lights closes, it will take 39 boxes, each 4-feet square to store what is arguably the most beautiful Christmas tree in Southern Illinois.
It's part of the best Holiday Lights Fair ever. This year's lights fair features a new route, according to Du Quoin Tourism Director Judy Smid.
"We have new displays throughout," said Smid. They include movie and cartoon carriers, new lighted deer and more lighted trees. Display contests are going on as this edition is published.
The cost per car has been raised to $8 for both the weekday driving tours and the weekend combination of driving tours and visits to the Expo Hall, where the live entertainment will be held on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting in December. See the specific entertainment schedule at right.
Du Quoin Tourism invites you to drive the lighted route as many times as you want to. It's the best holiday entertainment value in Southern illinois.
In the Expo Hall, the Du Quoin High School FFA is in charge of the coat check as a fundraiser. All proceeds go to the FFA.
Santa will have a newly decorated corner for photographs. Steve McCrary will be the Santa on the opening Saturday night. George Whitehead will be Santa during the remainder of the Expo Hall Santa.
"We are adding to our model train display," smid said. There will be alot of inside vendors and crafts exhibitors. "We are booked full with vendors. "There will be 30 vendors taking up 52 spaces in the hall (some have more that one space)," she said.
The Expo Hall will carry out the Winter Wonderland theme, flanked on each side by the large Festival of Trees displays. Nearly two dozen trees will compete for prizes and cash in adult organization and school organization categories.
"There are usually 15-17 trees from the kids and an average of between eight and 10 adult trees," she said.
The live entertainment each night that the Expo Hall is open is worth the admission price. The schedule includes some great Southern Illinois entertainment, including the community band from John A. Logan College.
A short opening ceremony will be held on Friday, December 3 at 6 p.m.
There are approximately 10 members of the Tourism Commission and another dozen volunteers who work for three solid weeks setting up displays. Tourism uses another six contract workers.
The Daughters of the American Revolution will be selling chances on their beautiful quilt and Du Quoin photo historian Bob Morefield is expected to have his newest pictorial history of Du Quoin for sale.
Welcome to Christmas in Du Quoin!