Holiday Lights boot camp; expo hall comes together in five days

Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan is expected to open the 14th annual Holiday Lights show in the Exhibition Hall at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Friday at approximately 6 p.m. Preparations for the opening weekend of indoor activities had only a five-day setup window because of the monthly flea market that occupied the hall on Sunday.

Prior to that, lighting was strung across the ceiling to create part of the wonderland that Holiday Lights has become.

Work on Tuesday involved setting up the stage, putting together Christmas trees for the children's competition. There are eleven this year. Members of the Du Quoin Garden Club were in the hall decorating their organization tree.

The children's train, recently refurbished by Du Quoin Auto Service, was expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning.

The driving trail opened on Thanksgiving night and the $8 per car charge includes admission to the Exhibition Hall, which is open on weekends. There will be nearly 50 vendors in the Exhibition Hall this year along with live entertainment, food and hundreds of gift ideas.

The tree competition will be limited to the youth trees, but more than a dozen adult and organization trees will be on display, as well.