On Friday night, Dec. 7, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate the first lighting of the holiday display at Central Park. The annual display features 200,000 lights, 28 lighted figurines and 6 lit displays.

New displays this year include a penguin snowball throwing scene and lighted wreaths on Center Lake Pavilion and the park office. Purchase of those items was made possible by donations from I.U. Goshen Health and Grossnickle Eye Center.

Following the 7 p.m. lighting ceremony on Dec. 7, the lights will be displayed each night through Dec. 31. Concessions will also be sold from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night the display is lit, with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Proceeds from concessions will go toward future light displays.

Warsaw park and street department crews spend 3 weeks to 4 weeks preparing Central Park for the holiday light display.

The evening of Dec. 7 will feature a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus and their reindeer. Musical performances from a number of local school and community groups are planned and more performers are welcome to sign up to take part in this community event.

Carolers and other performance times would be for 20 minutes to 30 minutes between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Anyone wanting to participate should call Staci Young at the parks department at 574-372-9554 Ext. 224 or email [email protected].