About 80,000 people have driven through Veterans United’s “Bright Lights/Holiday Nights” event in Columbia since it began in 2020.
This is the final year for the popular event, which brings cheer and joy to residents, children, families and the elderly. Veterans United’s Kylee Lawhead, who works with VU’s employee experience team, tells 939 the Eagle that VU employees love it as well:
“We’re so lucky that it has become a tradition in so many families and households not just for our employees but also across the community to come and enjoy it every year and we’re excited to be able to bring it back for a sixth year this year,” Lawhead says.
Columbia Police will be assisting with traffic flow. You will see Christmas lights of every color at the the display. Lawhead tells 939 the Eagle that staff members prepare for the event 12 months a year:
“As we’re wrapping up each season, we’re looking ahead to the next season and figuring out how we can mix things up. How we can change the experience, provide new lights, new opportunities. And it takes a village, we’ve got partners all across Columbia,” says Lawhead.
The display opens on Wednesday and runs each night through Sunday December 21. It is open weeknights from 7 to 10:30 and on Saturday and Sunday nights from 5:30 to 10:30.
This is the final year for the lights display, due to new apartments and other development in that area. VU says it wants to be good neighbors.