City of Sheboygan This image, taken from the City of Shebooygan, WI Facebook page, shows the drive through display at Evergreen Park. The City of Hancock is planning a similar event for the upcoming Christmas season.

HANCOCK — The City of Hancock has no plans to lighten up on seasonal celebrations, and its plans are extending into winter. Recently, the City announced a new winter event to bring together residents and visitors alike to spread Christmas cheer with “Hancock Lights the Night.”

The new event will take place at the city campground starting November 26 and carrying on into January. The plan is to have campsites adorned with various light displays with a plowed trail allowing observers to drive through and enjoy the merry sights. The campsites can be reserved by a group of people, clubs, organizations or businesses where they can come up with a unique display for each site. Reservations for spots must be made by Aug. 29.

Hancock City Council member Whitney Warstler is one of the organizers of the event, and said she wanted to bring something she has fond memories of as a child to the city. “When I was young, with my family, we would drive around and look at Christmas lights, and I think that would be a really nice thing to bring to the area, a spot where people could drive around and be encompassed by the lights,” Warstler said. “And I’ve seen other cities or organizations do it. Duluth has a really big one. Some of it’s not exactly the same, but some botanical gardens have big light displays during the Holidays, and I think it would be really cool to bring something like that here.”

Warstler added she has children and would like to see another event which can bring families together. “I think there’s something really magical for adults, but for little kids especially, to see all the lights at Christmas,” Warstler said.

Warstler said since this is the first time the city would have a light display like this, there will be a learning curve but it is an event the city is hoping to expand in the future once it learns from the preparations going into Hancock Lights the Night. Power outlets will be available for those putting up light displays.

Hancock received $15,300 in funds from Visit Keweenaw’s Destination Development Fund for the event. Visit Keweenaw Public Relations and Events Coordinator Jesse Wiederhold said the application they received for Hancock Lights the Night was one of the most unique the organization saw all year.

“The campground is such a fantastic place all summer long, and that’s really what this program is about: building out these places and spaces that are already used,” Wiederhold said. “And now they’re going to have a complete new season to bring people into the space and build out in the winter time, the time when we could see some visitation. This is something new for them to do in Hancock and especially this is a perfect example of one that’s benefiting the local residents.”

Wiederhold said Hancock Lights the Night will definitely be something to highlight through the winter for Visit Keweenaw.

“This is something new and attractive to do. It’s almost like a mini Barvaria or a mini Helsinki. This is something very exciting that they’ll be having a new place to show off the spirit of Christmas and our winter spirits.”