MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights to Come Alive Nov. 23
of North Texas’s most beloved traditions willcome alive at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov.
23, when the MSU-Burns Fantasy of LightsChristmas displays light up the night.
This marks the 41th anniversary of MSU’sassociation with the tradition begun by
Wichita Falls businessman L.T. Burnsand his wife Lillian in the 1920s.
MSU’s carillon bells will be ringing with Christmassongs from 5:30-5:55 p.m.
thanks to carillonneur Jim Quashnock. The IntermezzosChoir will sing at 6:30
p.m. and students from Ben Franklin Elementary School willsing at 7 p.m. in front
of the Hardin Administration Building. The MSU Fantasyof Lights Christmas band
concert will begin at 7 p.m. in Akin Auditorium insidethe Hardin Building. Santa
Claus will join the festivities to visit withchildren, and free hot chocolate will be
served.
Dr. Joey Greenwood, coordinator for the Fantasy ofLights, said that this year’s
opening night should be especially excitingbecause it will be MSU President Dr.
Suzanne Shipley’s first Christmas at MSU.“Each year is exciting but this year will
be special because it will be Dr.Shipley’s first time to preside over the lighting of
the displays,” Greenwoodsaid. “She’ll get to be part of this tradition that means
so much to MSU,Wichita Falls, and North Texas.”
Wichita FallsIndependent School District’s Carrigan Career and Technical
Centercontinued its tradition of refurbishing some of the older displays. Santa
andthe Flying Reindeer, and Raggedy Ann and Andy have been brightened up
with newpaint and have had their mechanics overhauled. Electrical junction
boxes havebeen disguised to look like building blocks.
For the second year, the Fantasy of Lights 5K Runwill provide an activity that will
give citizens a fun way to contribute to theupkeep of the lights. The run will take
place Dec. 19 beginning on the eastside of the Hardin Building, with a special
rest stop near the Burns’ former homeat the corner of Clarinda Avenue and
Harrison Street. That is the site wheremany first saw the magical moving displays
and lights. Registration for the runis $25 and begins at 9:30 a.m. The run will
begin at 10 a.m. Register online atmsuburnsfantasyoflights.com/5k-run.
The story of the lights began in the 1920s when Mr.and Mrs. Burns were
newlyweds and could only afford a tree with a single bulbon the front porch as a
decoration. With Burns’ success in the oil industry, hebegan adding more
displays each year. He died in a car accident in 1954, butMrs. Burns continued
adding to the displays at their home on Clarinda. Afterher death in 1971, the
lights were left to her son, who died in 1974. Thelights were then in the care of
Generated on 11/16/2015 2:20:20 PM, by iNews Publisher, Expinion.net
Archer City. The town offered the lights toMidwestern on the condition that they
be operated free of charge as a memorialto Mrs. Burns. A photo of Mrs. Burns
greeting visitors is posted near thewelcome sign. Descendants of the Burns are
active in the Fantasy of Lights workand sponsor several of the displays.
Future musical performances scheduled include the SouthernHills Elementary
School Choir at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4; Fain Elementary SchoolChoir at 6 p.m.
and the WFISD Elementary Honor Choir at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec.7; Jefferson
Elementary School Choir at 6 p.m. and the Burgess Elementary HonorChoir at 7
p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8; and the Tower Elementary School Choir from
Burkburnettat 6 p.m. and the Washington Jackson Academy Choir at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15.
MSU’s Department of Music will present a Galaconcert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4,
in Akin Auditorium, and the Oratorio,Midwestern Singers, and University Singers
choirs will present a concert at 3p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Akin Auditorium.
Admission to the Fantasy of Lights is free.Donations are welcomed and needed
to maintain the displays, and to keep theFantasy of Lights a successful holiday
tradition. Online donations may be madeat www.msuburnsfantasyoflights.com.
Donations also may be made to the FOL throughtexts to 41444.
The displays will be turned on each weeknight throughDec. 27 from dusk to 10
p.m. and weekends from dusk to 11 p.m. Special daytimehours for school groups
are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For moreinformation visit,
www.msuburnsfantasyoflights.comor call (940) 397-4352.
Fantasyof Lights by the
numbers         200,000
– Estimated number of visitors to the Fantasy of Lights each year.
         36– Number of
lighted animated
scenes.         1,300–
Approximate number of man hours spent setting up and maintaining
thedisplays.         20,00
0– Number of lights outlining MSU’s Hardin Administration Building,
MoffettLibrary, Bolin Science Hall, Central Plant, and D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Generated on 11/16/2015 2:20:20 PM, by iNews Publisher, Expinion.net