Behind the scenes of Alameda’s Christmas light display
If Alameda Park’s light display is any indication, preparing for Christmas is a year-round affair for Butler County’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The display boasts trains, elves, the Grinch and Santa with a sleigh. Setting up takes place in October and November, said Ashley Helmstaedter, assistant director of the Butler County parks department.
The free drive-through display runs 6 to 9 p.m. daily through Nov. 30. It opened as a drive-through on Saturday evening following the Santa’s Workshop event at Alameda Park on Friday.
The light display has been recurring since at least 2019, Helmstaedter said, and has been a drive-through event since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our maintenance guys have been out there making sure everything is set up and working,” Helmstaedter said. “They put hours and hours of work into making this something that the community can enjoy.”
Terry Davis, a park maintenance worker, is the brains behind most of the Christmas decor. He gathers inspiration for the display year-round, not just during the holiday season.
Each year is a little different, Davis said. Some displays from earlier years, such as the Christmas carolers, are placed in different parts of the park, he said.
Helmstaedter said that this year there are two Elf on the Shelf characters hidden around the display.
This year’s new additions designed by Davis include candy canes, presents, reindeer and Santa’s house, a structure built out of plywood and painted red and white.
Jake Bartholic, program manager for the county parks department, said many of the displays are fashioned from PVC pipe. The lights are strung along the pipe and secured with zip ties, he said.
Davis said he gets a lot of his inspiration online.
“I look at things, and I just put them together and I just make them,” Davis said.
Davis also made the red mailbox where children can drop off letters to Santa Claus. If the letters include a return address, he said, they are answered.
“I love watching the kids’ faces when they come and see this stuff,” Davis said.
Every year, Davis said, the Christmas light display calls for more work.
“They’re talking about more candy canes for next year,” he said.
When asked if he has any ideas for next year, Davis said he always does.
“Every year it gets bigger and bigger, so next year there’ll be more lights,” he said.
“I just want more people to come and see this park, because a lot of people don’t even know this park is back here,” Davis said. “I’ve been working for the county for 35 years, and I still run into people who don’t know this park’s here. I want people to see this park because it’s a nice park. It’s a beautiful park.”
Eagle assignment editor Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.
