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Thursday, November 27, 2008
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WONDER Lights of Sertoma Winter Wonderland to shine again Staff Writer On Thanksgiving Day, the Brainerd Area Sertoma Club will once again bring its festival of lights to the Northland Arboretum.
Planes, trains and Frosty the Snowman are among the 20 new displays for the Winter Wonderland, which opens at 6 p.m. Thursday. In total, there are more than 75 displays said Steve "Gus" Augustinack, Brainerd Area Sertoma Club member who chairs the Winter Wonderland project with Steve Mau.
"I think people will really enjoy it this year," Augustinack said.
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Colorful stained glass windows in a church of lights glowed among the trees of the Northland Arboretum as part of the Sertoma Winter Wonderland. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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About a third of the displays were switched out for new ones, Mau said, but favorites will remain. However, Winter Wonderland should be a new experience for everyone as the route and displays have been rearranged.
"The hope is, obviously, that we continue to enhance it, make it fresh so the experience is similar to last year but with enough of a change that people want to come back again and again," Mau said.
And last year Winter Wonderland was indeed popular.
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Guests of the Sertoma Winter Wonderland are invited to drive through a Christmas light display at the Northland Arboretum. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Augustinack said almost 9,000 vehicles and 36,000 people attended, representing 575 ZIP codes, 36 states and seven countries.
"We're sure people are flying in from all over the world to see it," Augustinack joked.
This year, Sertoma expects close to 10,000 cars and 40,000 people through the gates of Winter Wonderland.
The displays are created by Midwest Displays in Indiana and are sponsored by area businesses. Winter Wonderland will continue to be open 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through Dec. 31. Admission is $10. Free discount coupons for $3 off are available at more than 50 area businesses in the Brainerd lakes area.
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A 60-foot tree of LED lights is the final display at the Northland Arboretum's Sertoma Winter Wonderland. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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The driving tour starts on Northwest Seventh Street, behind the former World on Wheels Skate Center, and winds its way through the woods to the entrance of Northland Arboretum, where a 60-foot Christmas tree lit with LED lights stands, the first such display in Winter Wonderland. Mau said future displays will feature LED lights because they use less energy, are more vibrant and more durable.
"It will be our big showcase," Augustinack said.
At the arboretum building is the Holiday Village, featuring light displays, beverages, photo opportunities for children with Santa and gingerbread houses made by area restaurants.
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A flying Frosty the Snowman was just one of more than 75 Christmas light displays in the Sertoma Winter Wonderland at the Northland Arboretum. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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"Last year's success led us to looking at this year and improving on it," said Andy Isackson, Sertoma and Winter Wonderland committee member. "Our goal is to have people who came last year to come back and experience it almost for the first time again."
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A pair of swans nestled in the reeds in front of one of the ponds at the Northland Arboretum. The birds are one of about 75 light displays at the Sertoma Winter Wonderland. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Proceeds will go to charities the Sertoma club supports, including youth-oriented programs, speech and hearing disabilities projects, Camp Confidence and other community projects that promote Sertoma's mission of service to mankind.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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