operat io ns Lighting the Light displays are big crowd pleasers and a much anticipated tradition for many park and recreation departments. Holidays By Jennifer Barnett T his year marks the 17th anniversary of the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, annual Winter Lights Festival-an event that draws more than 20,000 cars annually. " I feel like this is my baby, " says Elizabeth Poole, Recreation Program Specialist for the City of Gaithersburg, who is responsible for creating the festival. Poole was inspired by a holiday lights display she saw on the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, nearly two decades ago and she had been looking for something similarly positive she could implement in Gaithersburg. She put together a proposal for starting a holiday lights program. The first program was held in 1991 in Summit Hall Farm Park and consisted of painted wooden figures lit with spotlights. Holiday music was played over a loud speaker system and a wagon ride took visitors through the lit displays. 58 Parks & Recreation M AY 2 0 1 0 w w w . NR P A . ORG