Growing up, Christmas always meant a visit to Whipple’s
Chapel. Every year. Whipple’s Chapel was a vast Christmas display
of over 6,000 lights in our current hometown.
It featured Macy’s window style displays of Christmas scenes. Occasionally, a new display was added, but it
always remained almost the same. Run
entirely by volunteers, it was a holiday tradition. I looked forward to visiting with my
family and meeting Santa Claus. For 35
years, people traveled from all over the country to visit. Father Christmas, Mr. Whipple himself, was
there every night, shaking hands and counting visitors, always with a smile on
his face.
Christmas Eve, 2001, I brought Einey, my daughter, with a tear in my
eye. It would be her first and only time
to visit this wonderful place. Santa
wasn’t there – he was out circling the globe, delivering toys to all the good little girls and boys.
But I had to bring her, just that once.
I slowly carried her through, despite her young age of 364 days. Knowing she’d never remember, never look
forward to this right of passage.
We’ve since found another wonderful place to visit. It’s a bit of a drive, and thus, we’ve only
visited a few times. Bright Nights
Springfield is sure to put a smile on your face, young or old. More than 600,000 lights line the 2.5 mile drive
of Forest Park, Springfield
(rumor has it there’s a zoo here, but we’ve never visited during the day). At a cost of $15-$18 per vehicle, it’s an
inexpensive way to usher in the season.
As you enter the park, you’re advised to tune into a
specific radio station which is set to accompany your drive through the
park. Yes, it’s a drive-through display,
so no matter what the weather is outside, you can stay nice and warm in your
vehicle. Once you pass through Who Ville,
make sure you stop in at Santa’s Cottage to say hello to the Jolly Old Elf
himself. While you're there, grab a cup of
hot cocoa to sip on your way.
We look forward to making memories in Forest Park,
and giving our girls that special once a year event that they can look forward
to every year. After all, new traditions
can be just as memorable as old traditions.
Growing up, Christmas always meant a visit to Whipple’s
Chapel. Every year. Whipple’s Chapel was a vast Christmas display
of over 6,000 lights in our current hometown.
It featured Macy’s window style displays of Christmas scenes. Occasionally, a new display was added, but it
always remained almost the same. Run
entirely by volunteers, it was a holiday tradition. I looked forward to visiting with my
family and meeting Santa Claus. For 35
years, people traveled from all over the country to visit. Father Christmas, Mr. Whipple himself, was
there every night, shaking hands and counting visitors, always with a smile on
his face. 
Oh, WHEEE! That around the corner from where I grew up! I remember going through this spectacular display the first season it opened, when I was a young adult, and I felt like a giddy kid. Now that I've moved away, I've been dying to take my own kids there-- but think it will wait until they can handle the 2-hour car ride without making us lose the holiday spirit! When we do, we'll cap it off with dinner at Springfield's Red Rose Pizzeria, the best pizza ever. Anywhere. EVAH!
Posted by: Mrs. Q. | December 08, 2009 at 03:16 PM