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Wonderland
Great Bend glows every year during the
holidays. Holiday lights wind through town on busy streets and quiet
cul-de-sacs and spill over into city parks, businesses and residences.
Amazingly, most of Great Bend's light displays are designed and hand
crafted by park department employees.
Santas Around the World
Each year, downtown Great Bend displays 23
life-size Santas handcrafted by a noted local artist. Each Santa has
his (or her) own unique story and elaborate costume. Italy's ethereal
female Santa, La Befana, carries a hand bell in her sparking blue
robes. Banks of red poinsettias make Viejo Pascero feel at home. They
are joined by 21 other Santas, with new Santas added to the collection
each year. Click for a PDF of the complete list of Santas.
These are just a few of the international
favorites:
Russia. Russia’s Grandfather
Frost travels from house to house in his bishop's robes bringing gifts
on New Year's Day.
Ireland. Ireland’s St. Stephen
is honored on December 26 by boys who go door to door singing for
pennies and carrying symbolic wrens made of straw.
Scotland. Scotland’s Abbot of
Unreason leads frolicking holiday festivities in his tartan robes and
jaunty hat.
Santa World is a project of Holiday Spirit,
RSVP, and the Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more
information, contact the Great Bend Convention
& Visitors Bureau.
 12 Days of Christmas
You can enjoy this lighted love letter in
Veteran's Park. The swans are swimming, the drummers are drumming and
the lords are most definitely leaping in this animated Christmas carol.
“Lights at the Lake” also features Santa and his elves and
lots of landscape lighting reflected in the lake. This is a free,
drive-through display.
Wild Lights
Brit Spaugh Park on N is filled with
animated light displays with an animal theme. Come see the sea serpent
swimming in the lake, Santa riding a buffalo, the lighted arches, and a
dazzling display of dolphins. This is a free, drive-through display.
Donations are welcome.
Lafayette Lights
Charming Jack Kilby Square on Main Street
in Great Bend's downtown area glows during the holidays with snowflakes
and elegant lighted arches. You’ll find plenty of free parking
and quaint shops.
For a full listing of downloads, click here.
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