Lebanon's Winter Wonderland of Lights!
This annual event is a step back in time, a trip to a much simpler era with scenes depicting several of the area's attractions, wonderful childhood memories, and fantastic ideas.
A trip through Lebanon's Winter Wonderland is truly different from other attractions in the area. A beautiful Victorian style holiday show that you will enjoy as you meander through the mile-long road.
Watch out for the live deer living in the park as they wander through the light displays.
It's a view of the holidays that everyone remembers!
Put your car in slow, dim your lights and stop to take a close look at all the hand painted scenes and wonderful reminders of a much simpler time. (Please be very careful in the gulley at the hair-pin turn.)
Horner Park is a 58-acre recreational park located at 11119 Widicus Road, Lebanon, Illinois. It is estimated that Horner Park will attract more than 10,000 visitors each year LWW is in operation.
Plans are to have the holiday display every year from around the third weekend in November through January 2. Opening day is in sync with the yearly Victorian Holiday Celebration in downtown Lebanon.
Our initial 3-year plan (originating in 2008) was to change Horner Park's roadways, buildings and landscaping into a beautiful winter wonderland with 100,000 plus lights illuminating over 100 trees and the one-acre lake and fountain. Though we have completed the first 3 year plan, we haven't stopped. As we move forward we are adding attractions, stringing more lights, and planning for even more. All are welcome to join in the fun and excitement of moving forward with LWW.
The Salute to the Military display brings many visitors from Scott AFB. The Respect for First Responders was built by a local EMT, Julie Hansen, and her family. A life-size Nativity built under the pavilion, was donated by the church's of Lebanon. Lebanon 4-H members and their families built the Recognition of Midwest Farmers display. The O'Fallon IL Boy Scouts built the Penguin Village. Lebanon High School Art Department put their hearts into building a huge Gingerbread Town.
The Victorian Village and Mermaid House was built by the Centralia Illinois Prison Workshop. We supplied the wood and paint and they did the rest-perhaps the most significant community involvement of all!
McKendree Art students built the Santa's Workshop - always a delight with its 3 dimensional display. Our 'In Memory of 'Angels have become a community favorite. Watch for the Light House on the Lake as the beacon shines over the water. The lighthouse was built by Rick Schmitt and Family.
Irene's Garden was built in memory of Irene Sulana, an LWW volunteer who died of cancer in 2009. She envisioned a beautiful garden full of butterflies and flowers for children to enjoy in the midst of winter. We were able to tell Irene the future plans for the garden two days before her death. More than a dozen people started working on her garden that week and would continue working on it for the next year. The final garden is beautiful and worth stopping to look at all the tiny details that love put into the display.
Landscaping designs, a host of Polar Bears, Deer (both cut-out and real!) are through-out the park. There will also be beautiful professional light scenes to delight the whole family. Don't forget to check-out the one-ton forty-foot tall Santa Claus waving good-bye as you exit the park!
Winter Wonderland is an enormous community wide event complimenting Lebanon's historic downtown, which specializes in antique stores and characterized by a classic Victorian style.
We do not charge to go through the light display but donations are requested to help defray the cost of running the exhibit and assist in buying new lights each year. Thank you for your donation. Please come back and see what we do with the funds raised.
