Lights still on for Christmas display in Pine Bluff

Recent vandalism will not delay start, organizer says

PINE BLUFF -- Pine Bluff's Enchanted Land of Lights will open on schedule at 6 p.m. Tuesday after workers spent dozens of hours repairing damage caused last month by vandals.

Greg Gustek, executive director of the Pine Bluff Festival Association, said Friday that a test run showed most of the displays were functioning, but some work remains before everything is up and running properly.

"It's been a lot of hard effort, but we will be ready to go on Tuesday," said Gustek, who admitted that he nearly broke into tears when he found out about the vandalism.

He said wires inside 35 displays were cut and removed, and 10 extension cords worth about $100 each were taken.

A spokesman for the Pine Bluff Police Department said an investigation is ongoing, though no suspects have been identified. Police are conducting extra patrols in the area to prevent further vandalism.

Gustek said someone likely hoped to strip copper wire from the electrical cords and sell it. However, the cords are not industrial and do not carry significant amounts of copper inside them, he said.

The vandalism came on the heels of flooding earlier this year that destroyed much of Regional Park's electrical system. Gustek said the control boxes for the lighting display had to be completely rebuilt after the water receded.

Touted as the largest outdoor Christmas light event in Arkansas, the Enchanted Land of Lights at Pine Bluff's Regional Park features more than 240 displays -- many of which are animated -- along a 1.3-mile path. The event began in 1997.

This year's lighting ceremony will feature the Pine Bluff High School band and Little Rock meteorologist Ned Perme, who will throw the switch to illuminate the display on opening night.

Gustek said guests should arrive at the Regional Park boat ramps no later than 5:30 p.m., as Tuesday night will be the only time a walking tour will be held. After Tuesday, the event is drive-thru only.

Many around Pine Bluff and southeast Arkansas have made the lighting display an annual holiday tradition for their families.

Pine Bluff resident Terry Hollace, who was flying a kite Friday afternoon with his 4-year-old son, Tristan, at Regional Park, said he has been going to the lighting display since it first began.

He said news of the vandalism upset him.

"This is a wonderful thing that we have here in Pine Bluff at Christmastime, and someone had to go and try to ruin it. That really bothers me," Hollace said. "I just want to say thanks to all of the workers who helped make the repairs, and I can't wait to take my son out there this year. It will be his first year to see the lights."

Nearby, Reggie Jones of Pine Bluff ate his lunch in the sunshine, watching as the Hollaces chased after their kite in the blustery fall air.

He said he had not heard about the Christmas display vandalism, but like many others, he plans to attend the opening night lighting ceremony.

"It's a can't-miss event," Jones said. "If you want to start your holidays off right, you have to be there. It's like Pine Bluff's Rockefeller Center."

State Desk on 11/16/2015

Upcoming Events