Decades of wonder: Christmas light show makes downtown holiday destination

Tourist guru Schmidt sold Mayor Munson on lights at Falls Park

Winter Wonderland at Falls Park kicked off its 20^th anniversary with a “barrage” of fireworks before opening to the public Nov. 17. Again this year, the massive display features 25 miles of Christmas lights, 300,000 individual lights, 270 lit trees and 215 lighted poles throughout the downtown and Falls Park area. Colored spotlights illuminate the Falls and there are lit-up arches, giant spheres and animated figures.

Winter Wonderland started for the first time in 2003 spanning 10 miles with 170,000 lights. It was the creative thinking of Teri Schmidt, the CEO of Experience Sioux Falls (formerly the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau), who came up with the idea to light up Falls Park during the winter. 

“It’s hard to believe Winter Wonderland is 20 years old,” she said. “I clearly remember the day I presented the idea to then Mayor Dave Munson and how excited he was. I was at home one evening with a yellow notepad in my lap as I was thinking of Falls Park and how it could further be used to attract people to the city and to downtown. I started making notes, then sketches of how the park might look in the wintertime. When I finally stopped, I knew I had a great idea.”

The next day Schmidt showed up at Mayor Munson’s office.

“I handed him the notepad with my drawings and said, ‘Look at this. Let’s do it.’”

Munson, who always spoke of his vision of downtown having a spectacular lighting during the holidays, was impressed.

“He took my sketches and said, ‘Let’s do this!’”

Munson remembers the day he saw Teri’s sketches. The completion of Phillips to the Falls became a campaign promise worth keeping when he was elected Mayor in 2002. 

“I wanted to get people downtown, and finishing the Phillips to the Falls project was a priority,” Munson recalls. “Lighting up the park in the wintertime was a great idea.”

Munson recalls that the very first day Winter Wonderland opened in 2003 the lighting was less than spectacular.

“That first night, the lights were scanty and a real letdown,” he said. “It wasn’t my vision or Teri’s. I complained to then-Public Works Director Lyle Johnson, and he immediately made things right. ‘If you want more lights, you will get more lights!’ he promised. And he did just that. The lights have been fabulous ever since.”

From 2003 to 2014, the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau took responsibility coordinating opening night lighting ceremonies and greeting visitors with hot chocolate and hundreds of cookies. “Thousands of people would show up for the first night,” Schmidt said. “Santa and Mrs. Claus joined us as well as live reindeer. McCrosson’s Boys’ Ranch brought out their horses and wagon and gave people rides. It was a spectacular night I will never forget. 

City takes over

In 2015 there was a bad storm forcing the cancellation of the lighting ceremonies. 

“It was 2016, the entire event was turned over to the Park and Rec Department,” said Schmidt. “They have done a fabulous job decorating the park every year.”  

Brett Kollars, assistant director of Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation, says though it takes a lot of work, he is pleased that Falls Park is the place to go during the holidays.

Getting the park ready takes time. Work starts the first week of October. Set up takes six weeks and requires a crew of 10. The crew that maintains Falls Park works on the same task related to Winter Wonderland eight months of the year.  

“Installing this display takes an enormous amount of teamwork from our Parks and Recreation staff every year that helps to create a memorable experience for visitors at the Park,” said Kollars. “Sioux Falls Park and Rec take pride in being part of so many families’ holiday traditions through Winter Wonderland at Falls Park. It’s amazing to see this light display connect people from all throughout the past two decades.”

Historically, large crowds, long lines of cars and constant traffic snakes through the park.

Last year the department counted 80,000 cars. Besides opening night, the busiest evening is the night before Thanksgiving, Kollars said. Weekends and fresh snow also bring visitors.

Winter Wonderland lights are on every day from 5 p.m. to midnight. Visitors in vehicles can tune their radios to 97.7 FM and listen to holiday music while driving though the park. Visitors will be able to enjoy them through Jan. 31.

For Munson, his vision for Falls Park has become a dream come true. Winter Wonderland is a destination.

“A city always wants to create attractions people can enjoy and be proud of,” he said. “Falls Park is that. There is no price tag – it’s free. And during the holidays, people come there to enjoy Winter Wonderland, all the lights and the setting. Kids love it. Best of all, it makes everyone feel good. It’s a beautiful place!”