Alan Reed
Managing editor

Organizers of this year’s Williston Spring Lake Park Holiday Drive are promising a display of holiday lights that can’t be missed.

“Having over $20,000 in light displays out there and the trees that are going to be decorated, this is going to be the best it has ever been,” Williston Parks and Recreation District director Darin Krueger said of this year’s event that begins on Friday, Nov. 23. The drive is open from 5:30-9:30 p.m. each day and goes through Jan. 3.

Krueger credits the committee that organizes the event for its growth and increasing popularity over the past few years.

“They’ve taken it to a whole another level,” he said. Krueger and his wife, Amy, who is the executive director of the Williston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, moved to Williston a few years ago from Denver. He said the holiday drives in Denver were fantastic.

Spring Lake Park manager Jeremy Ludlum said the event kind of hit a wall about three years ago after the original organizers had worked hard to gain support.

“That’s when Amy kind of jumped in,” Ludlum said. “Amy kind of joined our group and gave us all new life. A lot of credit for how we got to where we are now is what Amy has done.”

Ludlum said the committee knew it needed to do something big last year.

“We wanted to get this animated display set to music. Costwise, it’s a couple of thousand dollars just for the computer controller,” Ludlum said.

The committee visited oil industry businesses about sponsoring the display, and five firms agreed, he said. This item is again part of the overall display on the right side of the keelboat, Ludlum said.

Krueger said at times there were 25 cars in line waiting to enjoy the new animated display. Krueger said people thought the new display was awesome.

“So now more people have seen it and say ‘How can we get involved,’” he said.

Given the popularity of last year’s animated display, the committee then approached ag industry businesses this year to purchase a display that includes two animated tractors with wagons, Ludlum said.

The Williston Star Fund and North Star Caviar also have provided funds to help the event become better, Krueger said.

A key approach that also has helped the event grow is the organizing committee erects and stores displays for businesses or organizations that don’t have the people to put them up.

“That has gone over very well with the businesses,” Ludlum said. “I know we got five businesses that did that this year, and three of them are new businesses.”

Ludlum also has a few Christmas trees for sale at $35 that can be decorated by any business, organization or family. A sign is erected by the tree to identify the sponsoring group or family, he said.

“My wife and I and my kids go out there and decorate a tree as a family. We have the Ludlum tree,” he said.

This cluster of trees near the keelboat provides an opportunity for people to get out of their vehicles and walk around to enjoy some of the displays. Various businesses and organizations also provide warm beverages near the keelboat and the committee encourages people to get involved.

Overall, Krueger and Ludlum believe the event has plenty of room to grow.

“There is so much space out there yet that we can fill,” Krueger said. “I would like to triple it.”

Ludlum said the growth is only limited by where electrical power exists.

“That’s another thing we have done over the last couple of years, is we’ve added new (power) posts in different spots,” he said.

He said the long-term goal for the event is to have a consistent display of lights along the entire drive.

“I think we had 1,500 cars go through last year. I wouldn’t be surprised this year if we have 3,000 to 4,000 cars,” Ludlum said.

“Once people see all of the stuff we have done, (the word) is going to spread. It is going to be the thing to do,” he added.