Excelsior Springs, Mo. — The Lane of Lights didn’t linger into the new year this season. On Dec. 27, volunteers took down the full display in just one day, a turnaround organizers say may be the earliest and quickest teardown yet, thanks in part to unusually warm post-Christmas weather.
Lyndsey Baxter, director of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, said the quick turnaround was made possible by the number of people willing to show up and help, and shared that the teardown is often easier than setup, but still requires coordination and commitment.
The Lane of Lights, overseen by the ES Christmas Committee in partnership with the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, opened the Saturday of the city’s Christmas Kickoff and remained open nightly through Christmas Day. While the committee hosts several key nights, including opening night, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, the majority of evenings are intentionally handed over to local nonprofits, youth teams, and community groups.
Those hosting nights are selected through a volunteer-based system. Groups that log the most setup and teardown hours receive first choice of hosting dates, followed by additional volunteer organizations, and later, the general public. Typically, five to 10 nights remain available for public hosting each season.
Each hosting group collects donations during its assigned evening. Visitors are encouraged to give between $5 and $10 per vehicle, though the drive-through display remains fully donation-based. Proceeds from each night are split evenly between the hosting organization and the Christmas Committee, helping fund both local causes and the continuation of the event itself.
This year’s total fundraising amount is still being finalized, but organizers expect it to be near the $25,000 figure. It remains consistent with the amounts raised in the past two years and reflects steady community support.
Volunteer involvement is essential beyond hosting nights. Setup and teardown relied heavily on donated labor, with the latter completed on Dec. 27. To encourage participation, the Christmas Committee introduced a new incentive this year. Any group that assisted with breakdown received an additional $100 credited toward its future hosting night, in addition to volunteer hours counting toward eligibility.
Groups and individuals who contributed their time this season included members of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership Christmas team, Eric Bartlett, and several volunteers who assisted with tunnel teardown. Also contributing were committee member Amber Schmidt and her husband, Justin Schmidt; After Prom; Clutch Baseball; Girl Scout Troop 6599; and more.
Organizers estimate that nearly 1,500 volunteer hours were invested in making the Lane of Lights possible this year. Those hours, logged during both setup and teardown, will count toward hosting eligibility for next season.
Baxter said that the high level of volunteer participation is what allows the event to continue year after year.
“It truly is a team effort, and on behalf of DEP and the Christmas Committee, we are so grateful and thankful for all of the hours donated to help make Christmas a little more special in our community.”
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
