LAKEPORT — The Lake County fairgrounds will take on a new sparkle this Christmas with a 1,000-foot-long “Avenue of Lights.” Seven non-profit organizations will compete for the best display as volunteers direct cars full of oglers through the fairgrounds between Dec. 13 and Dec. 22.
Seven non-profits will set up 10 large displays for a total of between 40,000 and 50,000 light bulbs. The “avenue” stretches between the gazebo at the main entrance to the fairgrounds and the floraculture building. Volunteers will be on-hand to direct traffic, maintain the displays and sell hot chocolate, cider coffee and snacks at the entrance. Guests in each car will be able to tune in to a low-power FM radio station to hear continuous holiday music during the approximately half-hour tour. A ballot will be given to each car, allowing spectators to cast a collective vote on a favorite display at the end of the tour.
“We”re trying to create a beautiful, fun holiday activity that also benefits the non-profit service groups of Lake County and all of the causes they help with throughout the year,” Persons said. Each participating organization will take home an equal portion of the proceeds from admission and concession sales. The “people”s choice” winner will get an additional monetary award.
The seven organizations include Hospice of Lake County, Scotts Valley 4-H Club, Lakeport Women”s Civic Club, Clearlake Church of the Nazarene, Knights of Columbus, Konocti Christian Academy and Kelseyville High School”s Future Farmers of America.
Vehicles will be admitted between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. each evening. Admission is $10 per car. Vehicles should enter the fairgrounds through the main entrance gate on Martin Street; volunteers will direct the flow of traffic.
“We”ve wanted to try this idea for a number of years, but the cost of electricity always made it cost prohibitive before,” Persons said. “Now, with the solar systems up and running, we can run the holiday light displays without worrying about the electrical bill.”
Pacific Gas & Electric”s “net metering” plan means that large amounts of electricity generated during the summer create credits that can be used when more power is needed during winter months, Persons explained. “Our credits are approximately equal to our power usage for the entire year,” he said. The solar systems in place generate approximately 85 percent of the fairgrounds” total yearly energy usage, Persons said.
“We”re hoping the festival will grow and change each year, and that we will be able to involve more non-profits in future years,” Persons said. “Eventually, if it grows large enough, each group could make several thousands of dollars during a time of year when most of them are doing charitable works and don”t have much cash flow coming in.” Persons said he hopes to see “dozens of non-profits” participate and spectators come from all around Northern California.
For more information about the Avenue of Lights, call the Lake County Fair at 263-6181.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
