Oshkosh's Celebration of Lights named best light show in Wisconsin

OSHKOSH – Christmas time means glittering displays of lights that shine in the dark winter nights. And Oshkosh residents are lucky one lights display was deemed by a national publication as the best in the state.

The national website and magazine Travel + Leisure ranked Oshkosh's Celebration of Lights as the best display of Christmas lights in Wisconsin.

The Celebration of Lights, in its 21st year lighting up Menominee Park, was chosen by Travel + Leisure for its "half a million lights, carriage rides and Santa's workshop" and was called "one of the hottest tickets in town."

Norm Reichenberger, the vice president of the Celebration of Lights, said the ranking is something to be proud of for the many volunteers who help put the display together.

"It's a lot of work to put it on, so it's nice to be honored," Reichenberger said.

The nonprofit sets up a 1.2-mile track of holiday sights and sounds and works to give back to the community, as it collects items to donate for places like Toys for Tots, the humane society and local veterans organizations, Reichenberger said.

Reichenberger said the Celebration has new displays to make sure it's not the "same old, same old" every year and is thankful for the volunteers who help come up with new ideas and create new displays.

The hours for the Celebration of Lights are from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. until Dec. 31.

The ticket for one car is normally $20 — or $5 off if you bring asealed hygiene item (shampoo, deodorant, soap, etc.) or nonperishable in-date food item.

There are eight community nights when entrance is free, including Tuesday. Other community nights are Dec. 13, Dec. 16, Dec. 20, Dec. 25 and Dec. 28.