Whoville representatives have reported that the initial inspection of the 65’ foot tall tree that was put up for the holidays in downtown Manhattan that has revealed substantial damage. At approximately noon on December 15th, destructive winds brought the tree down, laying it on its side. Various crews and volunteers worked quickly to stabilize the tree from further movement and secure the electronics that were on and under the tree.
The winds continued through the day and night and did further damage to the lighted tunnel and other items on display in Blue Earth Plaza. The damaged tree, tunnel, and ornaments were dismantled and removed from the plaza on December 17th.
While the main attractions for Festival of Lights have been relocated for repair and storage, there are still thousands of lights in the area for visitors to enjoy. The tree will not be back this year, but Whoville representatives will ensure it is back for their 10th anniversary in 2022. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to Festival of Lights, go to www.mhkfestivaloflights.com and click on the Donate button.
As the Christmas season approaches, it’s difficult to ignore the example of life imitating art; Whoville has had its center focal point taken away, yet the spirit of the season continues. To quote Dr. Seuss, “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled three hours ‘til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. - Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
“This has knocked us back a few steps in planning our 10th anniversary next year. Not only will we lose money due to extensive repairs, we are also losing valuable time we need to create and build these beautiful displays.”