TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - A crew with the Tupelo Parks and Recreation Department spent Monday morning making their way through Ballard Park.
They were making sure everything is in working order for the annual lighting of Ballard Park.
It's a process that starts months before.
Philip Crowe with Tupelo Parks and Recreation Department said, "We lay them out at our shop, plug each section in, and check the wiring and bulbs. If we have to rewire it, we have to cut the wire off and tape it. We then bolt it together and see if it's going to work together."
After a check of what works and what needs worked on, a crew of about a half dozen spends countless hours putting up the holiday figurines and hanging lights and wreaths throughout the park.
Shanta Eiland with Tupelo Parks and Recreation Department said, "There are just over 50 of our figurines throughout the park. My boss, Don Lewis, says there are over 100,000 light bulbs throughout the entire park."
The lights stay up through New Year's. Just like it takes a long time to get them up, it also takes time to get them down.
It's a big job but one that Tupelo Parks and Recreation Department employees say is well worth the effort.
Eiland said, "It's just something exciting for families and their friends to come out and see each year."
Crowe said, "You can tell people I had a hand in that and you can see the look on the little kids' faces. My girl is two years old and she loves the lights. I mean, it's amazement."
And when it's all said and done, the hard work by these employees creates a beautifully lighted park that draws thousands to it this time of the year.
