Plans have been announced to mark the 25th anniversary of one of the biggest annual attractions in the Northeast.
Bright Nights at Forest Park, the collection of holiday lighting displays that stretch for more than 2 miles through the city of Springfield’s largest park, has provided family memories for a generation now.
Since opening in 1995, more than six million people have been entertained by the hundreds of colorful displays depicting winter scenes, storybook characters and local attractions, according to the events co-creator Judy Matt.
"When we started we hoped it would be an annual event, but nobody really knew what the success was going to be of this event," said Matt.
Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield, said a hardcover book is being published that will chronicle the history of Bright Nights.
