Festival of Lights

22 Feb Festival of Lights

The magic was back for year four in Bowman City Park at the annual Festival of Lights celebration on December 1. The park remained dark with only luminaries decorated by area children guiding the path and the sound of children’s laughter filling the air. At 6:00 pm and the count of 3-2-1 the park lit with lights and cheer. The evening was filled with activity from live music by Saxy Brass to Santa Claus and a Dollars for Scholar’s soup feed.

With wonderful weather and beautifully adorned trees it was one of the event’s largest turnouts. Olaf made a special appearance to take pictures by Frontier Travel Center’s Frozen tree and Santa greeted everyone in the park.

There were several new additions to Festival of Lights this year, one of which was the introduction of the People’s Choice Award. On the first night only, people were given a ballot to vote on which organization had the best decorated tree or shelter. Here We Grow Again Daycare took home the People’s Choice Award along with $250 in bonus bucks, a special sign marking their tree, and bragging rights. In second place was St. Charles Catholic Church, in third place was Brosz Engineering, Inc., and honorable mention was given to Bowman Fire Department.

The park will continue to light every night through the new year from 3:30 pm – 1:00 am. If you couldn’t make it to the first night make sure you see it this season.

“This is one of our favorite ways to bring the community together. Everyone has a hand in making the park magical. We are so grateful for our amazing community for all of the hard work the put in to making Festival of Lights a success,” said Brooklyn Engelhart, Bowman County Development Corporation Creative Marketing Coordinator.

Festival of Lights is hosted by Bowman County Development Corporation. Thank you to the businesses, community organizations, and community members who made Festival of Lights possible by decorating the park or giving of their time. A special thank you is given to Darwin Wilke, Josh Buchmann, Pete Knopp, Wes Humbracht, Bowman Dollars for Scholars, Saxxy Brass, Bowman Parks and Recreation, Bowman Tax and Tourism, Dakota Western Bank, Scranton School, Bowman County School, Tot Lot Child Care, Rise and Shine Daycare, Here We Grow Again Daycare, and 4H Judging group.

The park was decorated by ABLE, Inc., Bakken Supply, Bowman Assembly of God Church, Bowman Area Chamber of Commerce, Bowman County Development Corporation, Bowman County Fair Association, Bowman Fire Department, Bowman Regional Public Library, Bowman Lodge and Convention Center, Bowman Parks and Rec, Bowman Rotary, Bowman Seventh-day Adventist Church, Bowman United Methodist Church, Brosz Engineering, Inc., Classic Beauty Salon, Consolidated Telcom, Dakota Community Bank and Trust, Dakota Dental Center, Dakota Western Bank, Dakota West Credit Union, Frontier Travel Center, Gooseneck Implement, Here We Grow Again Daycare, M&L Accounting, Montana-Dakota Utilities, ProPoint Cooperative, Pioneer Trails Regional Museum, St. Charles Catholic Church, Southwest Healthcare Services, West Plains, Inc., and West River Health Services.