Holiday in the Park returns to Parkersburg
Dorothy and Bob Wiseman look over a lighting display depicting the Minions Saturday at Parkersburg City Park. The annual Holiday in the Park Christmas lights were turned on Saturday evening. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Dorothy and Bob Wiseman discuss a lighting display Saturday at Parkersburg City Park. The Wisemans assembled the displays for this year鈥檚 Holiday in the Park Christmas lights event, with the lights turning back on Saturday evening. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Some of the approximately 30,000 zip ties used for Holiday in the Park displays in Parkersburg City Park keep lights attached to a frame Saturday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The Christmas light displays at Holiday in the Park in Parkersburg City Park include the sacred and the secular. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A Mr. Potato Head Christmas light display waves goodbye ahead of the exit to Parkersburg City Park Saturday evening. The Holiday in the Park lights will be on from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. through New Year鈥檚 Day. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Dorothy and Bob Wiseman look over a lighting display depicting the Minions Saturday at Parkersburg City Park. The annual Holiday in the Park Christmas lights were turned on Saturday evening. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Dorothy and Bob Wiseman discuss a lighting display Saturday at Parkersburg City Park. The Wisemans assembled the displays for this year鈥檚 Holiday in the Park Christmas lights event, with the lights turning back on Saturday evening. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Some of the approximately 30,000 zip ties used for Holiday in the Park displays in Parkersburg City Park keep lights attached to a frame Saturday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
The Christmas light displays at Holiday in the Park in Parkersburg City Park include the sacred and the secular. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
A Mr. Potato Head Christmas light display waves goodbye ahead of the exit to Parkersburg City Park Saturday evening. The Holiday in the Park lights will be on from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. through New Year鈥檚 Day. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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PARKERSBURG - A few years ago, Bob Wiseman decided to indulge his curiosity about Holiday in the Park, the annual Christmas lights display at City Park.
"I always wondered how they did this, and I asked," he said.
Wiseman works at Woodcraft, which sets up its own display in the park as part of the annual event. Someone there put him in touch with the committee behind the event.
On Saturday, Wiseman was putting the finishing touches on the displays in the park. Not only is he a member of the committee, he's now the president and one-half of its primary labor force, along with his wife Dorothy.
"He made me do it," Dorothy said, laughing, before acknowledging he didn't have to twist her arm.
"We like to see the joy on people's faces," she said.
The lights were turned back on for the season on Saturday. Displays both new and familiar will be illuminated from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. through New Year's Day.
Bob said he endeared himself to other committee members by helping obtain new lights at a much lower price than they were expecting.
"They said, 'Well, you might be good to keep around,'" he said.
As other volunteers have gotten older and been unable to continue, the Wisemans have taken on the lion's share of the work setting up the displays, with help from City of Parkersburg parks employees and volunteers from Recovery Point this year. Bob said they worked about six hours a day for three weekends to get things up and running this year.
"We need volunteers," he said, inviting anyone interested to email him at bobvilla1964@yahoo.com.
The work requires no special skills or electrical knowledge, Bob said.
"We'll teach you everything you need to know," Dorothy said. "It just takes your time. We put in a lot of hours. But it's fun."
"If we didn't enjoy it, we wouldn't be here. We'd be camping right now," Bob said.
The lights are gradually being switched out for LED bulbs, which require less power and last longer, he said. They're secured to frames with roughly 30,000 zip ties.
The setup changed a bit this year, with Parkersburg's activity and recreation center under construction at the park. Some electrical hookups were not available, so the popular 12 Days of Christmas display is not set up, Bob said. It's expected to be back next year.
In addition to making cash donations - and receiving candy canes and dog treats - at the end of a drive through the park, people can also scan QR codes posted on signs throughout the park to donate electronically. That's something visitors requested last year, Dorothy said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.
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Volunteers wanted
People interested in helping out with Holiday in the Park next year are asked to contact Bob Wiseman at bobvilla1964@yahoo.com.