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-Editorial
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) delighted the community with its first-ever Festival of Lights, a dazzling drive-through Christmas lights display at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds. The event, which will run on select dates from December 7 through December 23, 2024, will bring joy, holiday spirit, and a new seasonal tradition to the region.
The festival kicked off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds, 200 E. 2nd Street in Imperial. Cars lined up to enter the fairgrounds from the north on 2nd Street, where families eagerly awaited their turn to experience the luminous wonderland. From the comfort of their vehicles, attendees were treated to a stunning array of LED light displays, transforming the fairgrounds into a magical winter scene.
Jamie Asbury, IID General Manager, expressed her excitement about the event, describing it as a new opportunity for the community to come together. “Our public affairs folks had looked around at other communities, and we really wanted to be splashy and do something really nice for the families that we serve — and we proudly serve,” Asbury said.
According to Asbury, the idea was born through a collaborative effort involving IID directors and the public affairs department. “We hope that this is our starting point. We just want it to get bigger and better every year,” she added.
The Festival of Lights is part of IID’s broader efforts to engage with the public. “This is an opportunity to celebrate the customers we proudly serve,” Asbury said. “IID has been here a very long time. Everybody loves Dippy Duck. We want this to be something that people start and watch grow with IID, where families can come together.”
The event highlights IID’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability. “It’s all energy-efficient,” Asbury noted. “It celebrates the agricultural community as well as the holiday season. We just think it’s something fun where you can grab a cup of hot chocolate, drive through, and enjoy the lights with your family.”
Asbury hopes the community embraces the event and its spirit. “We all like driving around and looking at Christmas lights — or at least I do,” she said with a smile. “I hope everybody enjoys this and accepts it in the spirit in which it was intended.”
Cherisse Alford, President of the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds, praised IID for spearheading the effort. “Our board, our fair manager, and our fair staff — we are so excited that the IID is doing something like this,” Alford said. “I think we’ve all seen it at different fairgrounds across the state, and it’s just amazing that the IID made it happen. So, congratulations to them, and thank you to them.”
Alford believes the event will become a signature holiday attraction for the Imperial Valley. “I can already see this will be a very popular event,” she said. “I think everyone in Imperial Valley — we really like to celebrate things a lot more than maybe some other cities. And I think everybody’s gonna love it.”
Looking ahead, Alford sees potential for growth. “I can see it really expanding over the years, getting even bigger and bigger,” she added.
Beyond the enchanting displays, IID took the opportunity to engage the community by distributing information on customer programs, holiday lighting safety tips, energy savings, and residential energy assistance. Children were treated to holiday goodies as they exited the event.
The Festival of Lights, which IID hopes will become an annual tradition, will continue on several evenings throughout December, providing multiple opportunities for residents to experience the holiday magic. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on December 8, 11, 12, 15, and from December 18 to 23.
