WILLMAR - A steady stream of vehicles Sunday night drove to the Chad and Angie Koosman home near Willmar to watch the final "Celebrate the Light of the World" light and music display.
This was the 10th - and final - year that the family hosted the event as a fundraiser for the Willmar Salvation Army.
Chad Koosman said $156,780 was raised this year by people dropping off money in the Red Kettles as they entered or left the display. It was just shy of their $164,000 goal.
He said a grand total of $810,000 was raised over the 10-year period.
On Monday, crews began to dismantle the massive display and roll up about 50 miles of cables, extension cords and strings of Christmas lights.
It took Koosman about 1,000 hours to set up the display this fall.
It will came down a lot faster - the work is expected to be done in several days - although extra care is being taken to properly label each component of the display so it may be easily set up next year by the new owners.
After announcing that this would be their last show, the Koosmans agreed to donate the entire display to Willmar Fests, which plans to put on the Christmas holiday show at a new location next year.
Willmar Fests is forming a special committee to start planning details for running the show, including finding a new location.
Robbins Island Park, Taunton Stadium or the MinnWest Technology Campus are among the potential sites being considered.
Besides donating the components of the display, Chad Koosman has also agreed to help coordinate the show during the early years while new volunteers are trained.
The Koosmans have their home up for sale and intend to move, which triggered the decision to end the display in their yard and launch an effort to find a community partner so that the show could go on without them.
1/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Turbo Turf employees Monday take down Christmas lights that were a part of the "Celebrate the Light of the World" light show at the Koosman family property in rural Willmar. This year was the last show, which ran from after Thanksgiving through the beginning of January, at their property, and Willmar Fests plans to take it over next year.
2/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Ben Leal, Turbo Turf employee, cuts zip ties holding lights to a Christmas tree display Monday on Chad and Angie Koosman property. Leal and several other Turbo Turf employees are working to take down the "Celebrate the Light of the World" light show within the week. The Koosmans agreed to donate the entire display to Willmar Fests, which plans to put on the Christmas holiday show at a new location next year.
3/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Turbo Turf employees stand in cherry pickers Monday to take down Christmas lights on the Koosman family property.
4/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Ben Leal, Turbo Turf employee, stands in a cherry picker Monday while taking down Christmas lights at the Chad and Angie Koosman property in rural Willmar. Extra care is being taken to properly label each component of the display so it may be easily set up next year by the new owners, Willmar Fests.
5/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Turbo Turf employees stand in cherry pickers Monday to take down Christmas lights at the Chad and Angie Koosman property in rural Willmar.
6/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Russell Flores, Turbo Turf employee, cuts zip ties holding lights to a Christmas tree in a cherry picker on the Koosman family property on Monday. Flores and several other Turbo Turf employees are working to take down the Celebrate the Light of the World light show within the week.
7/7: Erica Dischino / Tribune Russell Flores, Turbo Turf employee, cuts zip ties holding lights to a Christmas tree display Monday on the Koosman property in rural Willmar. Flores and several other Turbo Turf employees are working to take down the "Celebrate the Light of the World" light show within the week.
Carolyn Lange is a features writer at the West Central Tribune. She can be reached at
clange@wctrib.com or
320-894-9750
