Making a Wish at Jolly Holiday Lights - ABC5 News Des Moines, IA

Making a Wish at Jolly Holiday Lights

by Phil Prazan

pprazan@myabc5.com

@PhilPrazan

For many families this is a holiday tradition; and after the blizzard delayed it for a couple days, families are heading back to Water Works Park.

When the winter sun goes down on the metro, Allen Knudsen turns on the lights to the Jolly Holiday Lights.  The Christmas light displays that have been wowing the metro for 17 years.

Make a wish, the charity which grants dying children one final wish, is where all the money goes.

Many of the volunteers greeting drivers at the entrance dance and give out candy canes to 104.1 Christmas music; the recommended music for the 2.5 mile drive.

Everyone agrees that it's popular, and visitors pay the $10 a car ticket to make a difference.
 
 
"So they know the real reason that we're out here is to grant wishes for kids with life threatening disease," says Allen Knudsen.
 
"It just brings tears to my eyes.  It just shows me that all the more kids will be able to get wishes," says Linda Mason, who's son was a Make-A-Wish kid.

Jolly Holiday Lights is open every day from 5:30 to 10 pm until January 1st.