Jason and Sienna Saunders clamped their small hands on the switch and flipped it together, illuminating hundreds of bulbs behind them, white lights spelling out "Welcome to Nay Aug Park" glowing against a black sky Friday night.
"The light show is official. It's open now," Mayor Chris Doherty said.
The two children kicked off the Holiday Light Show at Nay Aug Park, taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around the park to admire more than 100 light displays, ranging from leaping reindeer to scenes from the "12 Days of Christmas," colorful Christmas trees and various Santa characters riding dinosaurs and playing golf.
Santa waved to people in cars who drove through the park slowly to observe the colorful combinations of lights, and a concession stand server stood waiting to dole out hot chocolate and other treats near the end of the display.
More than 200,000 visitors are expected to drive through the park to check out the light displays, bringing in about $40,000 in donations, which will be fed back into the park, Mr. Doherty said.
"It was an honor when the mayor called," said Jason and Sienna's mother, Tammy Saunders. Her husband, Jay Saunders, a former city clerk, died last week after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mrs. Saunders said being invited to begin the holiday season by turning on the Holiday Light Show and the display was "beautiful Christmas spirit."
The display will light up the park every night from now until Jan. 7 from 5 to 9 p.m.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter