Chautauqua Isle of Lights

Christmas in Beloit took on a new dimension in 1999 when the Isle of Lights was established in Chautauqua Park. The Isle of Lights Committee took advantage of the horseshoe-shaped park. With the roadway circling the park and lined with small white lights, vehicle occupants are able to view the Spirit of Christmas lighted displays. Categories for the seventy-plus displays range from Religious to Winter Wonderland, Patriotism, and Toyland. Huge Christmas cards are the work of students, 4-H Clubs, and Scouts. Some of the displays are humorous while others are thought-provoking.

The spectacular displays are aglow every night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., beginning Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving and continuing through New Year’s Eve. Hosts are present nightly to regulate traffic and to hand out programs. There are no charges, but a donation box is available. Over 18,000 people view the displays during the holidays. They come from 168 Kansas towns, 40 states, and 11 foreign countries.