The Festival of Lights Drive Thru Display is one of the state’s premier holiday destinations. With more than 125 displays covering the 1.5-mile drive through Regional Park, the event also represents one of Oklahoma’s most successful public/private community partnerships. The event’s success is the result of the strong partnership between the Ardmore City Parks and Recreation Department, the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Ardmore Tourism Authority.
Now in its 15th year, the Festival of Lights Auction provides the funds to purchase and maintain many of the displays at Regional Park. The Festival of Lights Auction was initiated by the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce to raise funds to place Christmas lights on public buildings.
It has been a huge success, lighting many of the buildings downtown, the Carter County Courthouse and now the monies raised are used for the Drive Thru Display. As the project grows, it requires additional maintenance efforts, including the construction of a facility to house the displays when they are not in use. This year the auction raised more than $17,000 to fund these efforts, which represents an increase of almost 100 percent over the last four years.
In addition to the Festival of Lights Auction, the Chamber also provided funding through the sale of the display sponsorships in the Total Resource Campaign. Businesses throughout Southern Oklahoma are offered the opportunity for a 3-year sponsorship of a specific display. This sponsorship provides the business visibility to the approximately 80,000 visitors who see the display each year.
The Festival of Lights also extends a helping hand to many local charities. Non-profit groups earn a portion of the nightly contributions by volunteering at the entrance and exit gates. In 2007, more than $9,500 was distributed to 12 local organizations.
The Drive Thru Display is actively promoted by the Ardmore Tourism Authority as it entices interstate travelers and bus tours to stop, shop, have dinner, spend the night and visit the delightful display.
Marketing efforts are concentrated on tour bus groups and in the Oklahoma City and North Texas markets, as they provide the best opportunity to promote our community.
The Drive Thru opens on Saturday, November 21, and the hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays..
