by Ann Mort



Photo names: In boat Ptl John Hoover and Sgt James Cunningham. On the swans Site Manager Barney Strassburger and Paul Brewer. Other Grandpa Gang members were holding cable and electrical lines necessary to keep swans and lights anchored.

Click here to view more photos from Light Up Middletown  (More photos will be added when they become available).

LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN GETS HELP FROM MIDDLETOWN POLICE

Taking advantage of the unusually warm days, the Light Up Middletown Grandpa Gang enlisted the help of the Middletown Police Water Rescue Team to help tow the animated, lighted swans to the middle of Smith Pond.

When the switches are thrown Friday, November 28 to begin Light Up Middletown in Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue, in downtown Middletown, it will mark the 10th anniversary of the event and the 10th time the Middletown Police have helped tow the swans to their place of honor.  

In early years, the swans were anchored only by a heavy rope but resident beavers in the pond chewed through the ropes. Now sturdy metal cables are used.

The Grandpa Gang, is a group of mostly retired men who begin work in mid-October and not only erect the displays, but maintain them throughout the Day-After-Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve event, and one of their group comes each night to turn the lights on and off.

Many families, school sport teams, senior center tour buses and traveling motor coach groups visit the display as an annual tradition.  Admission is by donation – guests set their own admission price.  The drive-through light display is open every single evening, 11/28 – 12/31,  6-10 pm, regardless of weather, including holidays.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children in the special Santa House 7-9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays through 12/23.  Photos are available.

For one special evening, the Middletown Journal’s Holiday Balloon Glow will join Light Up Middletown with their annual hot air balloon display.

The growing number of  Light Up Middletown’s themed displays include the tunnel of lights entrance,  Santa and his sleigh, a penguin village, swans floating on the fishing lake, a sea serpent, deer leaping over the roadway, butterfly forest and many more. A special feature is a 139 foot long by 24 foot tall Santa’s Workshop display.
   
Light Up Middletown is a drive-through fantasy light display set in the 100 acre Smith Park in downtown Middletown.
To visit the display, take I-75, Exit 32 and follow the signs or enter via SR 4/73/Verity Parkway. The park is adjacent to the Middletown Hook Field Airport.

Light Up Middletown is a non-profit organization raising funds to improve Middletown’s public parks.  All members of the organization are volunteers. The executive committee consists of: Florella Randall,Chair;  Larry Biltz, Vice chair; George Brecht, Treasurer; Ann Mort, Secretary/Communications; Barney Strassburger, Site Manager; Perry Thatcher, Business Advisor; John Ridge, Business Advisor; Ginger Smith, City of Middletown; and Frankie Carlson, Board Member.

Local non-profit groups volunteer at the gate to greet guests and gather statistical information. Light Up Middletown makes a donation to each participating volunteer group.

For additional information call 513-423-1877 or 513-649-4506.

Light Up Middletown
Florella Randall, Chairperson    
4931 Riverview Avenue    
Middletown, OH 45042-4012     
Phone: 513-423-1877         
Committee members:
Larry Biltz, Vice chairman
George Brecht, Treasurer
Ann Mort, Secretary/Communications
Barney Strassburger, Site Manager
Perry Thatcher, Business Advisor
John Ridge, Business Advisor
Ginger Smith, City of Middletown
Frankie Carlson, Board Member

For more information call: Ann Mort at (513) 649-4506/email Rmort@cinci.rr.com  or Florella Randall at (513) 423-1877.