(La Porte County, IN) - This past holiday season, a prominent Christmas lights show at the La Porte County fairgrounds lost money.
However, the company putting on the show indicates it wants to set up the display again next season.
According to La Porte County Councilman Mike Rosenbaum, who’s also treasurer of the Fairgrounds Management and Events Corporation, both sides view the colossal light show as very successful despite the show not making a profit.
Company officials believe incoming revenue was good for a first-time event, and the fairgrounds received exposure outside the area as a place to host major events.
“The people at Magic of Lights are planning to come back to our knowledge from what they’ve expressed to the FMEC,” Rosenbaum said.
Rosenbaum said people with the Magic of Lights show did not reveal any monetary figures, but he feels the red ink was minimal, or they wouldn’t express an interest in returning.
Admission starting at $20 per vehicle was charged to enter the gates and drive past the wealth of displays. Officials said there was no cost to La Porte County, which received a $10,000 stipend for renting the fairgrounds to the company to put on the show.
The display was open for viewing from November 19 to January 2.
Total attendance was unknown; however, Magic of Lights officials reported 1,300 vehicles drove the 1.5-mile route during a three-day period leading up to Christmas. Magic of Lights is a national company that builds displays at more than a dozen other locations in the U.S. and Canada during the holidays.
