Most campgrounds sit empty each winter as people opt to stay indoors curled up in blankets, watching Christmas movies, and drinking hot cocoa on the coldest days of the year. However, the Pulpit Rock Campground is an exception to this rule. At the end of every year, it lights up, literally. From Thanksgiving through Christmas Helping Services for Youth and Families puts on a spectacular drive-through light display to help visitors get in a Christmas spirit.
Even though the light show is designed to be driven through, in November a parade rivaling the Macy’s show makes its way through the campground: a pedestrians-only kick-off event. This Thanksgiving-Eve event raises money for its hosting organization, Helping Services for Youth and Families, that serves eight northeastern Iowa counties by providing programs for domestic abuse advocacy, family education and support, substance use and gambling prevention, and youth mentoring.
Last year, we had the opportunity to see what the festivities are all about… As we wait in a line of cars outside the first parking lot by Will Baker Park, we immediately notice the flow of pedestrians. Accessible parking and a shuttle to the campground are available at this overflowing lot. We are comfortable walking a little bit to get into the campground, so opt to continue to the lot on the south side. We drive past the volunteers making their own mini-light show as they brave the cold to direct traffic and turned left into the less staffed but still stuffed (like tomorrow’s turkey) parking area. It is dark and we are aware that drivers may not see us, so we cautiously cross the rest of the parking area to get to the entrance of the campground. As we drove in, we could see some lights, but now as we follow the crowd toward the footbridge that will bring us to the light-show, we can see the full magnitude of it, and it is incredible.
Crossing the footbridge is like entering another world. Idyllic lights along the handrails draw us across the bridge until we reach, a handful of volunteers stand with buckets accepting free-will donations. There is no fee to park, to enter the grounds, or to enjoy any of the treats within. Full of the Christmas spirit, all the organizers ask is that you enjoy yourself and, if able, spread the Christmas cheer by donating to the Helping Services for Youth and Families cause.
And then we are in the park. The paths between the lights and shelters are all paved, and though it is busy, we can navigate our stroller with ease. The atmosphere is infectious as children skip from light to light, Christmas carols fill the air thanks to the carolers we pass, the smell of warm soup wafts towards our noses, and of course the twinkling of the decorations completes the show that affects all our senses. In the heart of the campground there are three treat stations: soup provided by different businesses across the city, ice cream from Sugar Bowl Mobile, and hot chocolate along with chocolate chip cookies.
We start our culinary adventure at the soups. A long line of tables held a variety of soups, the vegetarian and gluten-free options are marked clearly for attendees with dietary restrictions. About ten picnic benches sit in front of the soup tables. Every table is full of people warming their bodies and their souls. We opt for the Hungarian Mushroom soup and share a table with another family. The mushroom provides a hearty flavor that helps give us energy for our walk through the lights.
Next, we walk to the ice cream truck. I am initially skeptical. Do I really want to eat ice cream on this cool night? I decide I do and excitedly approach the truck skipping alongside the children all around me. They have vanilla, peppermint, and a dairy free black cherry. We try the peppermint and the black cherry; both are delicious. The black cherry is made with oat milk and is just as creamy as regular ice cream.
Finally, for our second dessert, we make our way to the hot chocolate and cookie shelter which was definitely a crowd favorite. Volunteers help moderate the cookie grabbing—only one per guest. With our cups of cocoa to warm our ice cream-full bellies, we are finally ready to view the lights.
By the entrance is a live nativity. As we move on to the next display, three children rush up to see what is in the manger. The actors playing Mary and Joseph patiently explain what they are doing. I notice a new Mary and Joseph weaving through the crowd, ready to relieve their counterparts.
Local businesses donated the lights and each has a sign showing which business contributed to the display. Your eyes are quickly drawn away from these signs to observe the moving parts on the lights, making plane rudders spin and gingerbread dance. Each one is captivating and exciting, and we stop to enjoy each of the individual displays for a moment before moving to the next.
At one end of the park, the Lions Club’s train waits for the children who have made it that far on the walk. Very few things in life are more magical than an evening train ride among-st the Christmas lights, transporting us to the Polar Express. Meanwhile, on the other end of the park, we see another massive line of children jumping giddily. Santa is here! Children can take a photo with Santa and tell him their hearts’ desires for the holiday.
After enjoying everything the campground has to offer, and as we drive away with the lights in the rearview mirror, all we can do is smile and look forward to coming back next year.
By Brady Bove
About the author
Brady Bove is a true believer in the beauty of humanity with an innate desire to understand the world. Her engineering background combined with her passion for poetry allows her to meld the mechanics and the emotions of life.
