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Date: 12/11/2019
SPRINGFIELD – Each year hundreds of cars and buses line Sumner Avenue waiting for their turn to drive through the festively-decorated Forest Park during Bright Nights.
Twenty-five years ago Bright Nights made its first appearance in Springfield. Since its inception families from near and far have come to celebrate the holiday season by driving through a display-filled Forest Park.
The lighting display has grown in many ways throughout the year with new displays, cost-efficiency upgrades and the addition of various activities such as the Bright Nights 5K, Supper with Santa, First Responders Night and Military Night.
Since it’s creation, the display has become much more than a drive through the park. Now a tradition and holiday experience families come out in droves to enjoy, Bright Nights has become a staple of the holiday season in Springfield.
Additionally, since its opening in 1995, the display has brought millions of dollars in economic development to the city aiding in Springfield’s ever-growing tourism industry.
This week, Reminder Publishing took a look at how the display has grown and expanded throughout its early years.