Festival of Lights will not return to Wavering and Moorman Parks for the 2026 Christmas season. We’re grateful for everything we created together—and open to what the future may hold.
THE MEMORIES YOU SHARED
The lights, in your words.
You made these lights a tradition. These are the memories you shared.
2025“
This year’s Christmas light display is absolutely beautiful!
2022“
…our first date 3 years ago yesterday to the avenue of lights in Quincy and we've went every year so far
2019“
Excerpt
Went through tonight, first night open! Amazing!!! It was beautiful and so well put together!!
Names, sources, and dates are preserved where available. Email excerpts use abbreviated surnames. Some saved screenshots do not record a year.
2019✦2020✦2021✦2022✦2023✦2024✦2025
Explore all 57 saved comments
This year’s Christmas light display is absolutely beautiful!
My family and I loved being able to return back to the festival of lights.
We enjoyed the lights very much this year.
My family went last weekend through the display. It was amazing. Thank you for investing in our community.
We drove through tonight and were utterly amazed and delighted. WHAT a magnificent undertaking and enjoyable experience. HATS OFF to all the hands and hearts involved.
Job well done to all involved in the Festival of Lights display this year! I always enjoyed it in the past, but this year was outstanding! Everything was wonderful! Thank you for all your efforts!
Went through tonight, first night open! Amazing!!! It was beautiful and so well put together!! 🎄 Thank you to everyone who helped bring this event back and the countless hours working on it 😀
My brother Jordan Pfaffe helped with the lights this year and took us through to see last night.. I’ve been waiting years for this tradition to come back and I’m so happy it has!!! The lights, old and new were all so beautiful and I can’t wait to take my baby boy through the lights next year, it makes me so happy that the tradition I grew up with is now one my kids will also be able to experience!! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication everyone!!!!
It's been a family tradition of ours since I was young. Now I get to take my 5 year old to see it and start a new tradition that lasts for years to come. Excited to see all of the new decorations and lights!
Eric Dooley we moved several years ago from Quincy. Our daughter still is there and it made a memorable Thanksgiving tradition come alive again! Thank You and all the volunteers!❤️
Thank you so much to the coordinators and all of the volunteers for bringing this wonderful display back to Quincy! We were upset when it was discontinued because it was a big part of our family Christmas tradition! Thanks so much!! 🎅🎄🤶🎁
I'm so excited the lights are back! This is a tradition my grandmom used to take me to every year until she died 2 years ago... now I can continue this with my children!! Oh the feels!!
We went last night (opening night) and it was great! The lights were awesome. We GLADLY gave $20. So many people volunteered their time in the nasty weather and brought back a Quincy tradition.
So glad they are back. So many people were upset when they heard it shut down. It is absolutely beautiful displays,thanks to all who are helping. Happy Thanksgiving.
The familiar turns. The favorite displays. A little journey through the nights we shared.
31 photographs
A familiar glow. A favorite tradition.
MORE THAN A DRIVE THROUGH THE PARK
It became part of your Christmas.
For seven seasons, a trip through Wavering and Moorman Parks meant turning on the Christmas music, gathering the people you love, and watching the night come alive.
Children grew up visiting the lights. Grandparents brought grandchildren, and families welcomed relatives from out of town. We heard stories of first dates, proposals, and people returning year after year because the lights had become part of Christmas.
Behind every glowing scene were people building, repairing, testing, welcoming, and giving their time. The displays made the park shine. The people gave it meaning.
Thank you for making us part of your tradition.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MEMORIES
The Dooley family, together with their Hometown Heroes award.
THE FESTIVAL’S FOUNDING FAMILY
Behind the lights, a founding family.
For the Dooley family, Festival of Lights was a shared undertaking. Across generations, they worked together to bring these seven seasons to life—with a love of Christmas and a commitment to their community.
✧ HOMETOWN HEROES
A family effort, recognized by the community.
When approached about the award, the family asked that it recognize them together. It honored the volunteer work and community service behind the Festival—a recognition shared across generations.
This family story belongs within a larger one: the volunteers, sponsors, partners, and neighbors who helped make every season possible.
Some lights stay with you long after the season ends.
NIGHTS OUR COMMUNITY MADE SPECIAL
The good went beyond the glow.
A gift at the gate. A toy for a child. Food for a neighbor. These evenings brought the community together—with businesses, broadcasters, guests, and the Festival each playing a part.
GIFTS FOR CHILDREN
Toys for Tots Night
A memory from 2020
A new toy. Half-price admission. A brighter Christmas for a child.
Admission sponsor
Derek Zahm State Farm
Media partners
Y101 & 97.9 KICK FM
Beneficiary
Toys for Tots
FOOD FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
WGEM Food Drive
A memory from 2024
Five nonperishable food items. Five dollars off admission.
Media partner
WGEM
Festival organizer
Festival of Lights
Neighbors helping neighbors
Guests donated food for local pantries
A GIFT OF ADMISSION
Come share the lights.
A memory from 2024
The first 100 cars, welcomed free. An evening courtesy of a neighbor.
Admission sponsor
Bleigh Ready Mix
Shared with
Families visiting the Festival
Remembered here
December 14, 2024
Special nights from the Festival’s programs
These memories draw on our archived special-night schedules. Dates identify listed events, not each sponsor’s full history of support.
American Business Women’s Association
A community evening
A named community night in the 2020 special-event schedule.
— American Business Women’s Association Night.
Bleigh Ready Mix
A gift of admission
Free-admission nights were listed courtesy of Bleigh Ready Mix.
— Free admission for the first 100 cars, courtesy of Bleigh Ready Mix.
— Free admission for the first 100 cars, courtesy of Bleigh Ready Mix.
— Free admission for the first 100 cars, courtesy of Bleigh Ready Mix.
— Free admission for the first 150 cars, courtesy of Bleigh Ready Mix.
Celltech
A community evening
A named community night in the 2020 special-event schedule.
— Celltech Night.
Chaddock
Sharing the season
Chaddock’s foster-family outings paired Festival passes with snacks, hot chocolate, Santa, and gifts.
— Chaddock Night. Mr. and Mrs. Claus were also listed.
— Chaddock Night.
Country Financial
Community evenings
Festival staff recalled Country Financial sharing ice scrapers and coffee mugs with visitors during its 2019 sponsor night.
— Country Financial Night.
— Country Financial Night.
KHQA & Country Financial: Winter warmth
A joint winter-gear collection appeared in the 2024 calendar, pairing a donation with half-price admission.
— Joint KHQA and Country Financial night: Half-price admission for the first 100 cars donating a new coat, hat, gloves, or scarf; winter gear intended for families in need.
Derek Zahm State Farm
Toys for Tots
State Farm nights paired admission offers with toy donations for Toys for Tots.
— Half-price admission with a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Derek Zahm State Farm covered half the admission; Y101 and KICK FM announced on-site broadcasts.
— Half-price admission with a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, with the other half covered by Derek Zahm State Farm. Y101 and KICK FM were scheduled to broadcast from 5 to 7 p.m.
— Half-price admission with a toy donation to Toys for Tots.
— Half-price admission with a toy donation to Toys for Tots. The schedule names Derek Zahm’s State Farm and includes a Santa appearance.
— Half-price admission with a toy donation to Toys for Tots. The schedule names Derek Zahm’s State Farm and includes a Santa appearance.
— Half-price admission with a toy donation to Toys for Tots. The schedule names Derek Zahm’s State Farm and includes a Santa appearance.
— Admission covered by the Derek Zahm State Farm agency with new, unused toys worth $20 or more for Toys for Tots; Santa was also scheduled.
Dot Foods
Welcoming more families
Dot Foods nights included advertised free admission for a limited number of cars.
— Dot Foods Night.
— Free admission for the first 200 cars, compliments of Dot Foods.
— Free admission for the first 200 cars, compliments of Dot Foods.
— Free admission for the first 200 cars, compliments of Dot Foods.
— Free admission for the first 200 cars, compliments of Dot Foods.
— Free admission for the first 150 cars, compliments of Dot Foods.
Ellington Hilltoppers 4-H
Candy canes and a warm welcome
The 2025 calendar invited guests to a club night with greetings and candy canes.
— Club members listed to greet guests with free candy canes while supplies lasted.
Eye Care Specialties of Illinois
A little help at the gate
The special-night schedules offered reduced admission courtesy of the eye-care sponsor.
— $5 off admission for the first 100 cars.
— $5 off admission for the first 100 cars.
— $5 off admission for the first 100 cars.
Farlow Real Estate Experts
A night of free admission
A 2022 night advertised free admission for the first 50 cars.
— Free admission for the first 50 cars, compliments of Farlow Real Estate Experts.
International EyeCare Center
A little help at the gate
A 2021 night advertised reduced admission for the first 100 cars.
— $5 off admission for the first 100 cars.
KHQA
Warmth beyond the lights
KHQA nights invited visitors to share winter clothing with people in need.
— Collection of hats, gloves, and scarves for people in need.
— Half-price admission for the first 100 cars donating a new coat, hat, gloves, or scarf; winter gear intended for families in need.
KHQA & Country Financial: Winter warmth
A joint winter-gear collection appeared in the 2024 calendar, pairing a donation with half-price admission.
— Joint KHQA and Country Financial night: Half-price admission for the first 100 cars donating a new coat, hat, gloves, or scarf; winter gear intended for families in need.
Kunes Auto Group of Quincy
A welcome for Kunes families
Kunes nights advertised free admission for eligible vehicles; the terms varied by year.
— Kunes Country Honda Night.
— Free admission for the first 200 vehicles with a Kunes Country license-plate bracket.
— Free admission for vehicles with a Kunes plate from 5 to 7 p.m.; candy canes while supplies lasted.
— Free admission for the first 150 vehicles with a Kunes plate from 5 to 7 p.m.; candy canes while supplies lasted.
— Free admission for the first 100 vehicles with a Kunes license-plate frame or sticker from 5 to 7 p.m.; candy canes while supplies lasted.
Little Caesars
Opening-night treats
The 2023 opening-night announcement featured Little Caesars gift cards and cookie bags.
— Opening Night: a $10 Little Caesars gift card for the first 150 cars and a cookie bag for each child.
Lowe's
A welcome from the Lowe’s team
Lowe’s nights paired guest greetings with giveaways in the special-night calendar.
— Lowe’s team listed to greet guests at the entrance.
— Guest greetings and a free ornament picture frame for the first 30 cars, compliments of Lowe’s.
— Guest greetings and free Lowe’s mini buckets for the first 150 cars.
— Guest greetings and free Lowe’s mini buckets for the first 150 cars.
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Treats, smiles and Santa
Nutrien nights featured guest treats, Santa, and selected free admissions in the archived schedules.
— Nutrien Night, with hot chocolate and cookies listed from Adams County CEO students.
— Nutrien Night with a scheduled Santa Claus appearance.
— Selected cars offered free admission, with mints, candy canes, coloring books for children, and treats for adults.
— Selected cars offered free admission, with mints, candy canes, coloring books for children, and treats for adults.
Quincy Rotary After Dark
Candy canes at the gate
The 2022 schedule welcomed the service group for guest greetings and candy canes.
— Guest greetings, candy canes, and a Santa appearance scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m.
Salvation Army
A community evening
Salvation Army nights appear in the 2020 and 2021 special-event schedules.
— Salvation Army Night.
— Salvation Army Night.
Texas Roadhouse
Sharing the season
Festival staff recalled Texas Roadhouse sharing free appetizer coupons with visitors during its 2019 sponsor night.
— Texas Roadhouse Night. Hot chocolate and cookies listed from Adams County CEO students.
— Texas Roadhouse Night.
The Home Depot
A community evening
A named community night in the 2021 special-event schedule.
— Home Depot Night.
Titan
Titan Family Night
Titan Family Night offered reduced admission for the first 100 cars in the archived schedules.
— Family Night: $10 off admission for the first 100 cars, compliments of Titan International.
— Family Night: $10 off admission for the first 100 cars, compliments of Titan International.
— Family Night: $10 off admission for the first 100 cars, compliments of Titan International.
— Family Night: $10 off admission for the first 100 cars, compliments of Titan International.
WGEM
Giving through a food drive
WGEM nights paired a food collection with an admission discount.
— WGEM Night.
— $5 off admission with five nonperishable food items.
— $5 off admission with five nonperishable food items.
— $5 off admission with five nonperishable food items.
— $5 off admission with five nonperishable food items.
Remembering past seasons. Dates and admission offers varied by year.
THE SPONSOR COLLECTIONS
Every display. A story of support.
Explore the familiar shapes that lined the route, one collection at a time. Every name leads to one Festival profile, with all of that supporter’s displays remembered together.
Browse all 103 display sponsors A–Z directory & search ↗
With lasting thanks
97.9 KICK FM
AA Dental Care
Adams Electric Cooperative
Adams Fiber
Adams Pointe Assisted Living
ADM
Advanced Dental Care
Align Chiropractic
American Business Women’s Association
Anytime Fitness
Area Disposal
Armadillon Audio
Be Dry Roofing
Bleigh Ready Mix
Blessing
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
Bowen Banking Center
Bower & Associates Inc., REALTORS.
Brinkman Plumbing
Carter's Coffee Bar
Celltech
Central State Bank
CENTURY 21 Broughton Team
Chaddock
Classic Colors
Consolidated Fencing, Inc.
Country Financial
Custom Dental Care
DD Homes Network
Deliver the Party
Derek Zahm State Farm
Doors-N-More
Dot Foods
Dr. Paul Miller
Ellington Hilltoppers 4-H
Eye Care Specialties of Illinois
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Farlow Real Estate Experts
Farm & Home Supply
Full Service Roofing & Remodeling
Gardner Denver
GatesAir
Grandview Church
Grass Masters Lawn Care
GREDF
Hannibal Crane
Hardee's 30th & Broadway
Hilbing Autobody
HomeBank
Hy-Vee
IAM Local 822
Industrial Finishing Services
International EyeCare Center
J.M Huber Corporation
John Wood Community College
KHQA
Kohl Wholesale
Kunes Auto Group of Quincy
Lains Handyman LLC
Leffers Landscape & Nursery Inc.
Legacy Martial Arts
Little Caesars
Lowe's
Lucky Dog
Manchester Tank
Mark Twain Casino
McDonald's - 1301 Broadway
Menards
Mercantile Bank
Mint Blue Media
Northwestern Mutual — Cashman & Dickerson
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Peters Heating & Air Conditioning
Poage Auto Plaza
Quality Inn & Suites
Quincy Medical Group
Quincy Recycle
Quincy Rotary After Dark
Refreshment Services Pepsi
Rethink Media
Right Rate Roofing
Rodney Heimer
Salem Church
Salvation Army
Sam's Club
Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell LLP
Scotties Potties
SeeQuincy
Severs Orthodontics
Sign Pro Quincy
Sisbro
STARadio
State Street Bank
Stolp Welding & Fab
Stoney Creek Inn
Sunbelt Rentals
Texas Roadhouse
The Corinthian Event Center
The Fireworks Superstore
The Home Depot
Tile Pro
Tillitt Collision Center
Titan
Town & Country Bank
Vancil Performing Arts Center
WGCA 88.5 The Mix
WGEM
William Niekamp
Xcel Physical Therapy
Zanger & Associates
THE BUSINESSES BEHIND THE GLOW
Local names. Unforgettable lights.
Some support took a shape all its own. A familiar building. A smiling face. A little Christmas humor. These custom displays made our sponsors part of the journey—and part of the memories.
To the businesses that helped bring these ideas to life: thank you for believing in the Festival.
THE DISPLAY COLLECTION ✦
Explore each design and the idea behind it.
Loading the display collection…
Display artwork is shown individually, not to physical scale.
This is the beginning of a growing thank-you collection.
THE ORNAMENT COLLECTION
Familiar names. Lasting gratitude.
With lasting thanks to the ornament sponsors who helped make the Festival possible. We’re bringing their artwork and names together as part of the memories we shared.
32 ornament sponsors · A–Z
With lasting thanks
AA Dental Care
Adams Electric Cooperative
Adams Fiber
Align Chiropractic
Armadillon Audio
Blessing-Rieman College
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
Carter's Coffee Bar
DD Homes Network
Farlow Real Estate Experts
GatesAir
Grass Masters Lawn Care
HomeBank
IAM Local 822
Industrial Finishing Services
Kohl Wholesale
Little Caesars
Lucky Dog
Manchester Tank
Quincy Medical Group
Quincy Recycle
Right Rate Roofing
Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell LLP
SeeQuincy
The Home Depot
Tile Pro
Tillitt Collision Center
Titan
Vancil Performing Arts Center
WGCA 88.5 The Mix
Xcel Physical Therapy
Zanger & Associates
This collection is growing as we reunite artwork with Festival records. If a sponsor or display is missing, please help us complete the tribute.
With lasting thanks to the businesses and organizations whose yard-sign sponsorship helped make the Festival possible.
43 yard-sign sponsors · A–Z
97.9 KICK FM
AdamsFiber
Adams PointeAssistedLiving
AreaDisposal
Be DryRoofing
BlueCrossBlueShieldof Illinois
BowenBankingCenter
Bower &AssociatesInc.,REALTORS.
BrinkmanPlumbing
CentralStateBank
CENTURY 21BroughtonTeam
ClassicColors
Eye CareSpecialtiesof Illinois
FairfieldInn &Suites
GrandviewChurch
GREDF
Hardee's30th &Broadway
InternationalEyeCareCenter
John WoodCommunityCollege
Kunes AutoGroup ofQuincy
LeffersLandscape& Nursery Inc.
LegacyMartialArts
Lowe's
MarkTwainCasino
McDonald's -1301Broadway
Menards
POAGEAUTOPLAZA
QualityInn &Suites
REFRESHMENTSERVICESPEPSI
RodneyHeimer
SalemChurch
Sam's Club
ScottiesPotties
Sign Pro Quincy
Perfect to the Letter
Signs·Decals·Banners·LEDVehicle Graphics/Wraps
3634 N. Marx Dr., Quincy, IL217-223-9693
Sisbro
StateStreetBank
StolpWelding &Fab
StoneyCreek Inn
TheCorinthianEvent Center
TheFireworksSuperstore
The HomeDepot
TilePro
WilliamNiekamp
Names are presented in a consistent sign style, inspired by original Festival signs and proofs. Sign Pro and KICK FM retain their full-color logo artwork.
We’re still gathering the Festival’s sponsor history. If a name is missing, please help us complete this thank-you.
These red and green panels preserve another chapter of the display’s history. The images recreate their illuminated appearance from photographs of the original signs.
Hannibal Crane
Northwestern Mutual — Cashman & Dickerson
Mint Blue Media
Rethink Media
Country Financial
Town & Country Bank
STARadio
Anytime Fitness
Mercantile Bank
Deliver the Party
Derek Zahm State Farm
Blessing
Dr. Paul Miller
Zanger & Associates
The Home Depot
Farm & Home Supply
Celltech
Central State Bank
Hy-Vee
WITH LASTING GRATITUDE
The people who helped make the lights possible.
Illinois Department of Corrections
Clayton Work Camp
Pittsfield Work Camp
Throughout all seven seasons, the work crews from Clayton Work Camp and Pittsfield Work Camp were an essential part of Festival of Lights. Their contribution year after year helped make this Christmas tradition possible. Without their assistance, the undertaking would have been nearly impossible.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to the individuals in custody who participated in these crews, the staff who supervised and supported their work, and the Illinois Department of Corrections.
To everyone from Clayton and Pittsfield who helped: your work mattered. You helped create memories for thousands of families, and you hold a lasting place in the Festival’s story.
Part of the light. Part of our story.
TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED
You were part of the light.
A tradition this big is built by many hands—and sustained by people who believe it matters.
✦
Our sponsors
You invested in something our community could share. Some of you helped create custom displays that became familiar favorites along the route. Your confidence and generosity are part of this story. We will communicate with sponsors directly about what comes next for the displays and partnerships they helped create.
✧
Our volunteers & workers
From the first unloading day to the final strand packed away, you brought time, care, and persistence to an enormous undertaking. You helped make every evening possible.
✶
Our partners & guests
Thank you to the Quincy Park District for allowing us to call the parks home for seven Christmas seasons. To our community partners and every family who came through the gates: thank you for giving the lights their meaning.
With gratitude, The Festival of Lights Team
THE NEXT CHAPTER IS STILL UNWRITTEN
Help us find a future home.
We remain open to the right future home in the Quincy area—a place where a Christmas display and the everyday needs of the property can work well together.
If you own a suitable property, represent a potential venue, or would like to explore hosting a Christmas display in your community, we’d welcome a conversation.
A promising location could offer
A connected route for vehicles, with room for arrival traffic.
Open areas for displays and access for installation and teardown.
A workable plan for power, parking, and seasonal operations.
We’re exploring possibilities. No future Quincy location or reopening date has been announced.
✧
Let’s start a conversation.
Tell us about the place or possibility you have in mind.
A familiar glow. A favorite tradition.
