By Alexis Elder
The new coordinator of Fantasy of Lights at MSU aims to put a new spark into a 70-year old tradition by bringing new additions to the historic program.
For the first time there will also be live music.
Randy Canivel, assistant director at the MSU Wellness Center, was appointed the new chairman of Fantasy of Lights on Sept. 1.
“My goal as chairman is to keep Fantasy of Lights alive and growing in the years to come,” Canivel said.
Fantasy of Lights started when Lester Thomas Burns and his wife, Lillian, decided to put festive displays on their yard.
Burns died in a car accident in 1921 and Mrs. Burns continued the tradition.
According to Canivel, Mrs. Burns died in 1971.
The displays were given to Archer City. Archer City donated them to MSU in 1978.
“It takes 1,200 to 1,500 man hours to set up the 34 displays,” Canivel said.
The labor begins on Nov. 7th. All displays are adopted or sponsored by a family or business.
“We go out and ask for donations,” Canivel said. “I send them a personal letter or approach the business requesting if they would be willing to donate or sponsor a display.”
Companies that donate have a good form of advertising because a lot of people are going to see the companies name on the display, he said.
It takes two days to put the displays on the lawn and three weeks to set up.
According to Canivel, facility services (maintenance) and the Wichita Falls County prison volunteer to help set up.
Displays include Nativity Scene with Camels, Dickens’s Christmas Carol, Santa’s House, Eskimo Village, Gingerbread house, Cinderella, Covered Wagon, Dumbo, Flipper, Horse, Humpty Dumpty, Lion, Little Engine that Could, Old Woman in Shoe, Peter Pan, Poinsettia, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Snoopy, Robot, Santa in Chimney, Santa and the Flying Reindeers, Skater’s Table/Piano, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Snowman, Toy Castle, Three Little Pigs, Welcome Santa & Cana and the Wizard of Oz.
The displays are valuable. Security is available 24/7.
“Security is a cooperative effort between MSU police and MSU students needing money for the holidays,” Canivel said.
Student Damian Antamenwan helped with the security for the fall of 2010.
“It was graveyard shift, and very cold,” Antamenwan said. “Sometimes I would work midnight to 4 a.m., but it was a great experience.”
MSU has a capital campaign to raise money for Fantasy of Lights.
It cost $40,000 to run Fantasy of Lights. This includes labor, repairs and marketing.
Canivel is trying to raise money and asking families and local organizations and businesses to donate.
The Burns family adopted the Nativity scene and the grandchildren still continue to donate.
They donated $5,000 this year.
“Displays are a non-profit organization and donations are what keep the project going,” Canivel said. “People think MSU funds the whole thing but we don’t.”
With the new addition of live music, there will be one performance every week.
Performers include Sacred Heart, the Wichita Falls school choir and the Caribbean tan ensemble.
Opening night is the first Friday in December, starting at 6 p.m. on the Hardin lawn.
There will be live music to bring in the holidays, Canivel said.
Operation hours will be from Monday-Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
There is no charge to drive or walk through the display.
However, donations are welcomed to keep the tradition going.
“(Fantasy of Lights) is a holiday tradition some people grew up going to and now they are taking their kids,” Canivel said. “Imagine what the holidays would be like in Wichita Falls without the Fantasy of Lights.”
