SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — It’s a tradition that city leaders hope continues to shine.
“When there are holidays, when there are special events and such, we see our numbers go up. Winter Wonderland is a perfect example. We know of groups that come here plan their trip knowing that winter wonderland is going on,” Teri Schmidt, with Experience Sioux Falls, said.
By day, Falls Park may look the same as any other day during the holiday season. But by night, a winter wonderland draws in nearly 1,500 people.
“Last year we saw probably around 65,000 visitors through the holiday season. So, that’s kind of a year-over-year number, it’s been extremely popular,” Park operations manager Josh Johnson said.
Its popularity is the result of Schmidt’s vision to draw in more visitors year-round.
“I was sitting at home on a Sunday evening thinking about it, and I got out a yellow legal pad and started writing notes on what we could do at Falls Park since that is our namesake,” Schmidt said. “I mean, it’s such a beautiful, natural spot. So, I imagined lights on all the trees, and I imagined people everywhere.”
Schmidt took her ideas to the Mayor’s office that same year in 2003.
“I walked in and I said, ‘Look, here’s an idea.’ You know, I was really excited about it. And he looked at it. We talked about it for a minute, and I’ll never forget he looked at me and he said, ‘Let’s do it,'” Schmidt said.
Now, over two decades old, nearly 30 miles of string lights and more than 250 lit trees decorate Falls Park during the winter. Schmidt has since handed things over to the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department, which continues to add new things throughout the years.
“They’ll start really planning in July and working on testing lights and setting up displays and making sure we have things ordered that we need or new things,” Johnson said. “We have to retire some old stuff but when we’ve really, truly got boots on the ground is typically the first week of October we’ll start.”
City leaders spend about 1,500 hours setting up the displays in the fall.
“As you’re enjoying the lights and touring through Winter Wonderland, you can turn your radio, dial to 97.7 and then you can sync up the music in your car to the lights and different features throughout,” Johnson said.
It’s a wonderland built on snow and community.
“It’s just constant support and enjoyment by everyone that families have come year after year to make it part of their just make it part of their holiday,” Johnson said.
Winter Wonderland is open from 5 p.m. to midnight until January 5th. The city is reminding visitors to leave their headlights on if they drive through after dark.
