News Release

October 5, 2007

Media Contact:
Geraldine Mauthe
Marshall Chamber of Commerce
Convention and Visitors Division
marshallcvd@hotmail.com
903-935-7868

Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights celebrates 21 years

Marshall, Texas – Wonderland of Lightsis one of the largest Christmas celebrations in the United States and attracts tourists from all 50 states and international visitors as well. Yet, it keeps its wonderful small town Christmas atmosphere. More than 125,000 lights embellish the “Crown Jewel,” the historic courthouse centered in what Texas Monthly has named “Texas’ most beautiful square at Christmastime.”
Stroll historic downtown under the lights of the dazzling courthouse where ice skating, light sculptures, holiday music and charming shops will entertain you. Take a tour through historic downtown by bus or horse-drawn 19th century carriage enjoying more than 300 light sculptures that interpret several themes. From “A Texas Christmas” to “A Star Spangled Christmas” to “Believe” you’ll be thrilled at the Christmas spirit exemplified in this small East Texas town. Tour entire neighborhoods decorated around central themes.

Wonderland of Lights 2007 kicks off at Thanksgiving. The festival will continue through December 31 with a full calendar of events and activities.

In a 1987, an editorial published in the local newspaper during poor economic times in East Texas, read, “Picture this. Marshall’s square, every tree, every bush, decorated with tiny white lights; a gigantic Christmas tree decorated in tiny white lights; businesses around the square participating in the picture-perfect Christmas by decorating in tiny white lights.”

A small band of volunteers with a $25,000 donation from Marshall native and former New York fashion model Wendy Russell Reves fulfilled that wish stringing lights around the downtown square and on its 1901 courthouse. In the following years, businesses and neighborhoods caught the spirit and Wonderland of Lights grew to be one of the largest Christmas celebrations in the United States. Now after 21 years, more than 250,000 visitors make coming to Marshall a holiday tradition with ice skating, the lighted Christmas parade, the historic tour of homes and the 45-minute driving tour of the historic downtown neighborhoods and the four outlying neighborhoods.

Marshall and Wonderland of Lights statistics:

• Wonderland of Lights was one of the first season-long lighting festivals in the United States
• A small community of 24,000 residents, Marshall has produced the festival primarily with volunteers. It takes over 100 volunteers to produce the festival.
• The “crown jewel” of the Wonderland of Lights is the 1901 historic courthouse in the center of the downtown square. It is decorated each year with over 125,000 lights. The courthouse is currently undergoing the final phase of a $5 million rehabilitation.
• Wonderland of Lights has Texas’ only outdoor ice skating rink. 
• Planning begins in March of each year. It takes about 6 weeks to decorate the historic courthouse and put out displays on the downtown driving tour.

For additional information on Marshall, Texas and its Christmas celebrations, contact Geraldine Mauthe at the Marshall, Texas Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Division at marshallcvd@hotmail.com or 903-935-7868. You can also log onto http://www.marshall-chamber.com for more details.

CHAT ON OUR BLOG!