“My favorite outdoor winter activity is ice fishing, but it’s not too bad out here right now,” said Zinniel who has been volunteering for the non-profit organization since it began putting Christmas lights in Sportsman’s Park in 2014.

On the ground, Kevin Olson and his son Matthew of Sleepy Eye unwrapped Christmas lights with other volunteers.

Kevin Olson said his setting up and taking down Christmas lights was his favorite outdoor winter activity. Matthew Olson said he prefers sledding.

Other volunteers included Sandra Ochoa and Raul Rodriguez of Sleepy Eye who unwrapped lights from around tree trunks in the park.

Mike Suess of Sleepy Eye, who co-founded Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion with Shari Hittesdorf, said it was another good holiday season for the organization despite some challenging weather.

“We had to cancel a couple Saturday night events due to snow and cold weather,” said Suess. “But overall, we’re pretty happy with how things went this year. It’s too early to tell what may happen here next winter. We’ll discuss that later this year. One thing for sure is we can always use more volunteers.”

His mother, Kris Suess of St. James, was unwrapping lights from trees.

“It’s quite a project. I help when I can. I just like doing this with Mike,” she said.

Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion began when Hittesdorf wrote and photographed a story about Christmas lights on Suess’ house. The two of them talked about creating a larger Christmas light show.

The idea became a reality in 2014 when Courtland retiree Bob Schabert donated five holiday light displays to the organization.

The next year, Schabert donated more lighted items including a ski slope, tree lights synchronized with Christmas music and a 33-foot “dancing” Christmas tree. Trolley rides, decorated cabins and a mailbox for kids to hand deliver letters to Santa Claus were added.

Schabert donated another large display in 2016. A concession stand, campfires and trolley rides were added.

A lighted U.S. flag was added in 2017 as event grew to 150,000 lights.

Hay rides were added in 2018 along with 85 lighted trees and 200,000 Christmas lights.

A handicap accessible wagon was built for ride nights with 360,000 lights and 110 lighted trees in 2021.

In 2023, Holiday Lights grew to 500,000 lights and 110 trees.

The event was not held in 2024 due to lack of volunteers.

Now, visitors can drive or walk through lighted exhibits that all use energy efficient LED lights. Music synchronized with lights can be heard by tuning to 89.1 FM.

Volunteer work continues next weekend with light winding at the St. Mary’s field house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 and 9 a.m. until done on July 19.

For more information, visit Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights on Facebook and sleepyeyeholidaylights.org.