LIHU‘E — Work on the 27th annual Festival of Lights starts on Monday when retired and off-duty personnel work alongside volunteers from the utility companies to install LED lights from Ace Housemart on the trees in the park fronting the historic County Building using Genies and Man-Lifts donated by Service Rentals and Sunbelt Rentals.
“Each year, we endeavor to create an environment of magical holiday beauty that people can carry in their hearts,” said Festival of Lights founder Elizabeth Freeman. “This year, we will not be decorating the ‘interior’ of the historic County Building. We will be decorating the park and the building’s front porch due to the flooding earlier this year that impacted the Building and Engineering departments.”
The week’s efforts will culminate with the front porch decorating on Nov. 25.
“Families and individuals come from around the island — from Ha‘ena to Waimea — to see the Lights,” Freeman said. “They can stroll under the dazzling LED lights in the Royal Palms and monkeypod trees and enjoy the glorious handmade ornaments crafted out of recycled materials on the five front porch trees and displays,” Freeman said.
The Festival of Lights will turn on Dec. 1, the same night as the Rotary Club of Kaua‘i Lights on Rice holiday parade, which was voted Best of Kaua‘i in 2022 and 2023. The traditional time for the Festival of Lights is 6 p.m. with the parade starting from Ho‘olako Street and Rice at 6:15 p.m. to reach the historic County Building by 6:30 p.m.
The Festival of Lights, known for its use of recycled materials to create all the tree decorations, are illuminated every night through New Year’s Day.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Festival of Lights on Friday nights, including Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22, with free photos being taken by the festival’s Photo Elf.
“Recycled plastic water bottles, recycled aluminum cans, used CDs and more all become transformed when they go up on our beautiful trees,” Freeman said. “And, our entire event is always free of charge!”
