The
AT THE BLUE EARTH PLAZA
MANHATTAN, KANSAS
*Update* On December 15, 2021 the State of Kansas endured a horrible wind storm. The 65 foot tree and the other features were severely damaged and were not able to be put back up before Christmas. While the main attractions for Festival of Lights have been relocated for repair and storage, there are still thousands of lights in the area for visitors to enjoy. The tree will not be back in 2021, but Whoville representatives will ensure it is back for the 10th anniversary in 2022.
Special thanks for helping us
clean up after Storm Grinch...
You are very much appreciated!
Manhattan Parks and Recreation
Manhattan Hilton Garden Inn (Brad, Jay & Rodney)
City of Manhattan, Kansas - Municipal Government (Electrician and staff)
Jerry Snyder
Holiday Display Services
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
"The Festival of Lights has become our family's favorite tradition. Every year just after Thanksgiving, we meet at the tree and celebrate the season of giving."
— Patti C., MHK Local
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IS BROUGHT
TO YOU BY LOCAL BUSINESSES
FOR THE GREATER MANHATTAN COMMUNITY
Whoville, Inc. is a group of local Manhattan business owners and community leaders who love to give back. They formed a not-for-profit collective in order to create the Festival of Lights.
Their mission is to bring our community closer together by providing curated events and magical displays that are open to the public throughout the holidays. Since it began in 2013 the Festival of Lights has been embraced by the Manhattan community and has become a place to create family traditions and lifetime memories. The Festival of Lights is fully funded annually by generous local individuals and businesses.
.png)
IT ALL STARTED WITH AN IDEA...
It was springtime in 2013, tulips blossoming, trees swaying in the wind...and the foundation at the south end of Manhattan freshly settled. Poyntz Avenue was shaping up with new businesses opening and just beyond, the town had expanded to include a diverse array of new opportunities for our community: The Discovery Center, Hilton Garden Inn, Blue Earth Place, Candlewood Suites and Fairfield Inn anchored the newly named Blue Earth Plaza, and in 2014 were followed by Radina’s Bakehouse, CivicPlus and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites.
It was longtime local businessman, Colin Noble, who first had the vision to inaugurate the area with a grand holiday tree in Blue Earth Plaza. He called upon Brad Everett & Gwyn Riffel to expand the idea, wherein Wade Radina joined, ultimately forming Whoville, Inc. It was this group of leaders, together with Ward Morgan and June Schnittker of Master Landscape, Inc. who caused a simple idea of a holiday tree to expand into Manhattan's Festival of Lights! And so the overarching goal in one short year has grown into a commitment by this group and many more to hold an annual event at the beginning of the holiday season to bring our community together in celebration.
Be part of something spectacular!
5
GOLDEN RINGS
$10,000+
2021
Master landscape, inc.
Kansas Fencing, Inc.
Fairfield Inn
Foley equipment
Heineken Electric
kansas pro sound
kstate CREDIT UNION
radina's bakehouse
steel & pipe supply company
4
Calling Birds
$5,000+
3
french hens
$2,500+
hy-vee
Community First National Bank
holiday inn express & suites
CANDLEWOOD SUITES
Charlson & Wilson Insurance Agency
era high pointe realty
holiday display services
MERAKI ROUSE HOME staging
Midwest Concrete Materials
palmer law group
realty executives - weis real estate
thomas outdoor advertising
wtc
BANK OF THE FLINT HILLS
Bayer Construction
BRIGGSAUTO.COM
Capitol Federal Savings
Central National Bank
City of Manhattan
civicplus
coldwell banker real estate advisors
home depot
Jerry & Belinda Snyder
JS Sign & Awning
KS STATEBANK
LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Manhattan Parks & Recreation Department
SITEBOX STORAGE
bill & sharon snyder
vista drive in
Hayden & Kohlmeier orthodontics
2
turtle doves
$1,000+
Santa's
helpers
$50+
WYNN & MARY ANN BUTLER
HOLIDAY INN AT THE CAMPUS
bhs construction
BASKIN-ROBBINS
BOB & TRACEY DEBRUYN
COMMERCE BANK
ihg army hotels
kansas lumber homestore
mark & ann knackendoffel
THE TRUST COMPANY
AJ'S NY PIZZERIA
THE FRIDGE
Manhattan fire department
MCCULLOUGH DEVELOPMENT
JAYSON & ELIZABETH CYR
bcl properties
AGGIEVILLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
jason, melissa, calvin & carina scuilla
gary & Elaine gordon
byron & michele lewis
rhonda cook
riley county police department
riley county ems
usha reddi & brian niehoff
Blue skies brass quintet
Thank you all for your generous support!
