Bolingbrook lights inspire symphony contest

There's no need to wait for a commercial to see it.

You don't even need to check out YouTube to take in the holiday spectacle.

Instead, holiday revelers can visit Promenade Bolingbrook on Saturday, Nov. 15, to get an up-close look at the Symphony of Lights. The glittering display features about 250,000 lights embedded into holiday foliage and choreographed to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra - and it's modeled with the help of YouTube sensation Carson Williams of Mason, Ohio.

Williams created a massive light display outside his house caught the attention of neighbors (who created traffic jams around his block to see it). A video of the display that Williams put on the Internet eventually caught the attention of Miller Lite executives, who used the footage in a TV commercial.

Williams' work also caught the eye of Jane Lisy, vice president of marketing for Forest City Enterprises, which owns Promenade Bolingbrook.

After collaborating with Williams and professional lighting companies, Lisy and the shopping center staff brought the sensation to Bolingbrook last year, attracting approximately 10,000 people on opening night, according to mall officials. This year, the event will merge with the village of Bolingbrook's 11th annual Festival of Lights and returns Saturday, launching a season of evening light shows that run through New Year's Eve.

"It's such a crowd pleaser," Lisy said.

Saturday's festivities will include hot chocolate and cookies for visitors, holiday carolers, carriage rides, crafts for children, dance performances and, for the big finale, the first light show of the year. Shoppers can also send holiday greetings to veterans, bring canned goods for a food drive and donate scarves and mittens for Operation Christmas.

Tom Castagnoli, Promenade Bolingbrook's general manager, said last year's official lighting was so popular, the parking lot filled to capacity.

"We definitely weren't disappointed," he said.

This year, local residents can do more than just admire the display. They can get in on the action, too, an possibly win a prize for their holiday spirit.

Forest City is holding a Symphony in Lights contest throughout the country and, locally, area residents can devise multimedia home light displays set to music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and upload video of their creations online at symphonyinlights.com. The contest, which is new this year, runs through Dec. 12 and has already attracted about a dozen entries, Lisy said.

"Every year there are more and more of these elaborate displays and we thought, 'Why don't we tap into that?'" Lisy said. "It seems to be a growing trend among families. You look at YouTube and the Internet and you see more and more people are getting into it, especially as technology advances for these displays."

Contest winners will be selected by a panel of judges, including a representative of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and will be announced on Dec. 22. The winning display will win prizes including a $300 gift card to The Promenade Bolingbrook for finalists; The national grand prize is a weekend excursion for two to downtown Chicago to see one of the last Trans-Siberian Orchestra concerts of the season.

For contest details and rules, see symphonyinlights.com.

For details on Saturday's events, visit promenadebolingbrook.com.

The opening day event runs from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Promenade Bolingbrook, 631 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook. Admission and parking are free. Following opening night, nightly light shows are set for 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, through New Year's Eve. For details, visit promenadebolingbrook.com.

SATURDAY

1 to 5 p.m. Carriage rides

3 to 6:30 p.m. Kids Craft Corner and storytelling

3 p.m. Santa arrives

3:30 p.m. Bolingbrook Park District Dance Force

4 to 5:30 p.m. Ice sculpture demonstrations

4 to 6:30 p.m. Santa's reindeer

6:30 to 7 p.m. Lighting ceremony