Festival of Lights to open Nov. 29

WAPPAPELLO — It’s almost time for the 28th annual Wappapello Festival of Lights Auto Tour, and organizers expect this year’s event to be a dazzler.

“We’re expecting some excellent light displays and setups,” said Wappapello Lake Park Ranger Andrew Jefferson, “but so far, the exhibitors are keeping them under wraps.”

The entire front two loops of the Redman Creek East Campground, comprising 51 campsites, Jefferson said, are expected to be filled with up to a half million twinkling lights, inflatables, wooden cutouts and nativity scenes.

The annual event is a “partnership between the Corps of Engineers and the Wappapello Lake Area Association,” Jefferson said, and will be open from dusk until 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29 through Dec. 1.

It also will be open during those hours on Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15.

Starting Dec. 20, the Festival of Lights will be open nightly.

“It’s free to attend,” Jefferson said, “though donations will be accepted by the Wappapello Lake Area Association.”

Besides the lights, children can visit Santa Claus from 5-8:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7, Dec. 13-14 and Dec. 20-21 at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center, just north of the Redman Creek East Campground off Highway T.

While at the Festival of Lights, Jefferson said, each visitor will be able to vote on his/her favorite display. Voting will end on Dec. 22 and “People’s Choice Awards” will be handed out afterward.

Each person visiting the light show, Jefferson said, will get a free candy cane at the conclusion of their tour “as a way of saying thanks,” and visitors can go through as many times as they’d like.

The Festival of Lights display, Jefferson said, will be open through Jan. 29.

Information about the Festival of Lights Auto Tour and other events at the lake can be had by calling the project office at 573-222-8562.

This story has been updated with changes to some dates.