TRADITION - Christmas lights will be lit at the Waseca County Fairgrounds, each Friday and Saturday evening Dec. 3 – 11 from 6 – 10 p.m. Guests can either walk or drive through. There is no admission fee to see the display. However, donations are being accepted for local food shelves, and Boy Scout Troop 85 and Cub Scout Pack 86 are accepting donations of toiletries, diapers and cleaning supplies at their light display.
Star Eagle photo by Melanie Piltingsrud
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
Vince and Virginia Peterson shared two passions in life: the Waseca County Free Fair and their Christmas lights display.
Each July the two organized the indoor booths at the Waseca County Fair, where Vince served on the board for 57 years. On December evenings Vince and Virginia delighted in turning out the lights inside their farmhouse to watch the cars slowly drive by, filled with families who had come to see the Petersons' extensive Christmas lights display, including a Ferris wheel, Santa's workshop, an organ player, a Nativity scene, merry-go-round, trees, and much more. Each year the Petersons added something new, and each year part of their Christmas budget involved replacing burned out bulbs.
After Virginia passed away in 2004, Vince continued their yuletide tradition until his own health began to fail. He and a neighbor, Jennie Johnson, who also serves as a director of the Waseca County Fair, had discussed putting a Christmas light display up at the county fairgrounds, but they concluded that it would be too much work.
Last summer, the Waseca County Fair awarded Peterson with a plaque for his 57 years of service on the board. In August, Vince passed away at the age of 89.
Perhaps it is only fitting that this year the fair board and community businesses have taken up the challenge of setting up a Christmas display at the fairgrounds. “We knew that he loved Christmas and he loved the fair,” Johnson said, “and finally this year when he passed away we knew we had to do it.”
The displays at the fairgrounds include several that once graced the Peterson farm. When he no longer felt able to continue setting up the lights, Peterson auctioned off his displays. Some of them were purchased by the fair board. Some were purchased by individuals, such as Diane Lewer, whose daughter, Bobbi Holtz, donated the bell display her mother had purchased to the Waseca County Fair. Peterson had a display that read, “Greetings from the Petersons.” This display, which Johnson purchased, now reads, “Greetings from the WCFF.” Those for whom visiting the Peterson farm was a family tradition will remember the display reading, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa.” This, too, can now be viewed at the fairgrounds, courtesy of Johnson.
Local businesses and organizations also furnished displays, including three 4-H clubs: the Homegrown Explorers, the Vista Busy Bees, and the Clover Clan. Other displays were provided by the New Richland and Waseca FFA chapters, the Waseca County Sheriff's Office, the American Legion, the Waseca Fire Department, Edina Realty of Waseca, and MinWest Insurance Agency. The displays are not limited to lights. Johnson Berkshire, a local farmer who raises pigs, brought two of them to the fairgrounds, while Kyle Johnson brought a sheep, goat and horse. Jennie Johnson brought a cow. And knowing how chilly it is at the fairgrounds this time of year, QuikTrip stepped in to donate hot chocolate for the visitors.
The Christmas lights will be lit at the Waseca County Fairgrounds, 409 Eighth Ave. NE each Friday and Saturday evening Dec. 3 – 11 from 6 – 10 p.m. Guests can either walk or drive through. There is no admission fee to see the displays. However, donations are being accepted for local food shelves, and Boy Scout Troop 85 and Cub Scout Pack 86 are accepting donations of toiletries, diapers and cleaning supplies at their light displays.
“We just want people to come and drive through and enjoy them,” said Johnson.
The Waseca County Free Fair board intends to keep putting up the display each year. Next year, the light show promises to be even more impressive as other businesses add displays.