Light Up Middletown End of the Year Report

By Ann Mort

64,329 people in 18,458 vehicles toured the Light Up Middletown fantasy light display in Smith Park during 38 nights of operation. The 12.5% increase in guests set new records for the event which has been a tradition in downtown Middletown for 13 years.

Led by chairwoman Flo Randall, the drive-thru display is a budget and family friendly event which runs on the cash donations of those who tour. A portion of the donations is used to “pay” other organizations whose volunteers staff the entrance tunnel to greet guests and gather statistics. A donation is made each year to the City of Middletown for park improvements and the remainder is used to repair displays and purchase new displays for the next year.

Not everything that drops into the donation box is cash, however. This year a girl’s class ring from Beavercreek High School was among the “donations,” along with an ID, a child’s shoe, buttons, a mostly empty beer can, food and about 25 other items.  Those who may have dropped something into the box by mistake may claim their items within the next few weeks by contacting the Light Up Middletown committee at lightup@lightupmiddletown.org.

In the next few days Barney Strassburger and the Grandpa Gang, the all-volunteer work force who maintain the displays, will be removing and storing the displays and making plans and repairs for the 14th annual Light Up Middletown which begins the day after Thanksgiving, November 23, 2012.