Festival of Lights Ready to Shine at Sinnissippi Park

Ted O’Donnell, foreground, and Carmen Greenberg carry pieces of the 100-foot tunnel of lights on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, as they prepare to setup Festival of Lights in Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

One of my favorite traditions is almost here, Festival of Lights at Sinnissippi Park! I talk about this every year because it’s something I’ve loved since I was a kid. Growing up, my grandparents and I would go see the lights back in the ’90s when there were only about 11 displays. Now? We’re over 115! The growth is incredible, and it’s all thanks to our amazing community.

Ted from the Festival of Lights committee stopped by the show to give us the inside scoop. This year, the festival is going to be extra special with more dimensional displays, flood lighting, and hundreds of beautifully lit trees including 35 brand-new glistening trees near Santa. Volunteers start in September and work tirelessly to make sure every bulb shines perfectly. It’s a labor of love, and you can see it when you walk through the park.

And here’s the best part: the festival is funded by donations, and every single dollar counts. You can donate online, by check, or even in the park with QR codes. NEW THIS YEAR: B103 has a specially curated playlist made by Santa and his Elves in the North Pole just for the Festival of Lights!

Listen to the full interview and grab the details below!

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