The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SEASON KICKS OFF AT HOLIDAY AT FINWOOD
Families see show of lights, decorated historic home
Youngsters and their families were rolling in car-bycar Dec. 1, against the light rain, to attend opening day of Holiday at Finwood’s Christmas display done by Elyria Parks and Recreation.
Elyria’s Finwood Estates, 799 N. Abbe Road, welcomed families of Lorain County and possibly more through a show of lights and into the decorated historic home.
Children’s faces amazed by the lights covering every tree and inch on the ground, as well as the train displays, were bright as they walked into the home.
Inside, a line grew large to see Santa on opening night.
Families were also able to enjoy the new and reoccurring themed-displays that decorated each room of the home and the hot chocolate to keep them warm.
Nicole Edwards, Elyria Parks and Recreation supervisor, decorated the home for the first time this year as the departments new supervisor.
Edwards said she and others began preparing to decorate the estate in early October.
“It was a challenge, but I’m glad how everything turned out in the big house,” she said.
She began her
position with the parks department this past May after leaving the city’s utilities department and loves it.
Although, she’s been busy with summer camps and Safety Town, she said she anticipated decorated the home with her parks department team.
“People look for this every year,” she said. “We have to do a great job for them.”
Carrie Reardon, director of Parks and Recreation, said Holiday at Finwood is a huge part of their department and their staff love doing it through the hard work and time dedicated.
Reardon said it’s great to see people enjoy the Holiday event with their families, which have become a tradition after decades of offering the service.
The tradition has grown every year from the amount of guests who come throughout the county or out of state and the amount of decorations and news displays to share with guests.
Allen Ridley, staff member of the after school program, and Reardon said they have hundreds of guests come each day, leading about 70,000 to 100,000 every year, whether it be simply driving through or coming
in the home for free.
“We try to add a few different elements each year, but we still use what we have from past years and grow with our displays,” Reardon said. “But, we definitely like to add as much as we can within our budget.”
Some of this year’s themed-displays in the home include the Grinch and Minions with decorated bathrooms and all.
Nikki Mciver of Sheffield Lake brought her daughters Jessica, 13, and Kate, 8, to this year’s opening day.
Mciver said they have been attending the tradition to their family since her daughter Jessica was born.
The family shared some of their favorite things about the event which were seeing Santa, the new displays and lights as you first enter.
Reardon said the park’s department celebrated opening day of Holiday at Finwood and downtown Elyria’s Festival of Lights, which commemorates the lighting Ely Sqaure.
The annual event included visits from Santa, giveaways, gifts for youngsters, entertainment and more.
Lights at each display light the night sky from Dec. 1 to Jan. 2, 2019
Guests are welcome to enjoy Holiday at Finwood from 6-9 p.m. every night and as well as downtown’s displays from about 5:30- 11:15 p.m.