Entertainment

30th year of La Crosse Rotary Lights go live — after some false starts

Published

9 hours ago

November 29, 2024

La Crosse’s Rotary Lights are back for another holiday season, but the park didn’t light up exactly on cue as planned Friday night.

Most years, the vast array of lights in the park comes on when Santa Claus operates a large switch on the bandshell stage. Santa counted down a few times, but the park remained mostly in the dark.

Santa tried the master switch a few times before the Rotary Lights came on at last. (PHOTO: Brad Williams)

The Skyrockers usually set off fireworks when the lights come on.

This time, the fireworks show went ahead, and then the million or so Christmas lights in the park finally lit up. There was no immediate word from organizers why the lights were delayed.

Vehicles of all kinds were covered with lights in Friday night’s parade

This is the 30th year of Rotary Lights, which traditionally are displayed every night from the Friday after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

More than a dozen charity organizations receive food donations that are brought to Riverside Park by visitors.

The lighting ceremony, featuring singing by the Coulee Chordsmen, followed the annual holiday parade through downtown La Crosse.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.