Christmas lights officially turned on

It’s not your imagination that there are more Christmas lights in King Jack Park this year.

The rainy-day project for parks department workers grows each year, as a matter of fact, as they build more displays and put them up starting in October.

Bryan Waggoner, parks and recreation director, reports there are now more than a billion lights. “Watch out Silver Dollar City,” he added in jest.

The lights were officially turned on at sundown Saturday during the annual Mayor’s Lighting Ceremony.

Fitting with this year’s Classic Christmas theme, Mayor Lynn Ragsdale and his wife, Betsy, were dressed in period attire as they arrived at the ceremony in a horse-drawn buggy.

The ceremony included carols sung by friends of Carolyn McGowan and a contingent of the Webb City High School Cardinal Pride Band.

Afterwards, the Polar Bear Express made its first trips around the park. Those on the streetcar get to see a special show with animated lights, sound and video in sync.

You can drive through the park on any night, but be on the lookout the next three weekends for the Polar Bear Express going by. The lights will stay lit just past New Year’s Day.