The City of Callao will reopen Latchford Lights as a drive-thru-only holiday display at Callao Fiesta Park starting Thanksgiving night, according to a city Facebook post.
The city said a special grand reopening begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. After Thanksgiving night, the display will be open Friday through Sunday only, the post said.
The city called the display Latchford Lights, Let it Glow Callao and said Fiesta Park is its new home this season. More than 20 volunteers, which the city called "elves," worked on the setup, according to the post.
The display will be partial this year because the crew could not put up the full show, the city said. For this year only, visitors are to remain in their vehicles for a drive-thru route. Admission is free. The city said donations are welcome at the end of the trail.
Mickey and Minnie will greet visitors Thanksgiving night and every Saturday night, the post said.
The city said rides and interactive displays are planned to return next year.
Chariton Media Group reported Oct. 28 that the city had accepted the Latchford family's donation of the longtime Christmas lights display and was seeking volunteers to keep it running. That earlier announcement credited the family and its helpers with more than three decades of work on what had been a walk-through display. It did not say when the lights would open this year or where they would be set up.
The city thanked the Latchford family for donating the display to the City of Callao and the Callao Harvest Fiesta so the light tradition can continue in the community.