Coulter Celebration of Lights Honored as Best New Festival/Event of the Year by ARPA

With over two million lights in just two years, the Coulter Celebration of Lights in Mountain Home, Arkansas, earned best-festival honors from the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association. At its annual meeting in Jonesboro on September 21, the association named the Coulter Celebration of Lights the Festival/Event of the Year for new festivals less than four years old.

The Coulter Celebration of Lights, founded in 2021, was the dream of Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams, who approached then-Chancellor of ASUMH Dr. Robin Myers about the idea. Adams says his inspiration came from visiting similar festivals around the state, including Jonesboro and Batesville. Adams began looking for a location and realized the ASUMH campus provided the perfect setting for a drive-through lights festival in the Twin Lakes Area.

"The accessibility that the campus offers, with College Street, Wade Street, and Highway 62, made it the natural location, but I didn't know if the college would go for it. When I talked to Dr. Myers about the idea, much to my surprise, he said, 'Let's just make it happen.' I knew that day we had a great shot at pulling it off."  

Adams and Myers began researching other holiday events across the state in February of 2021. They found that the key was to find one person to spearhead the project organizing the sponsorships and volunteers. Myers recommended ASUMH Development Officer Mollie Morgan for that position, and the dream quickly became a reality.

With the support of former ASUMH Chancellor Dr. Ed Coulter and his wife Lucretia, a significant naming gift made the possibility of beginning quickly a reality. To the surprise of Adams, the Coulter Celebration of Lights opened on Thanksgiving weekend in November 2021.

"I never dreamed that we would have lights on in just nine months," said Adams, "but it shows that with a great partner - which ASUMH is – and if you get the right people involved, anything is possible. Hundreds of people in this community have volunteered to make this happen, whether it's working the gate, serving hot chocolate, or getting those displays ready."  

With over 14,348 cars driving through the first two years and $77,407.36 collected from donations of visitors to the festival, not only has the Coulter Celebration of Lights grown in the number of displays, but the festival has provided $20,000.00 to fund scholarships at ASUMH. To date, 25% of the funds have supported students through these scholarships. Sponsors and friends have donated more than $450,000.00 towards the event allowing electrical work and more than 30 holiday displays to be purchased along with several thousand strings of unique lights.

"This entire event brings so much joy to the community," said Mollie Morgan, festival coordinator.  "Volunteers (over 150 each year) begin working in September, joining with friends, to untangle and test lights, string trees, and put together holiday characters. When the volunteers arrive, so does the holiday magic and the laughter!. The scholarships generated by the event provide a wonderful bonus for our students throughout the year.  There is no criteria for the scholarship awards; students who have a need for tuition dollars qualify to receive help as long as there are funds remaining. The community, ASUMH students, and our future workforce all win from the Coulter Celebration of Lights!"

Adams added, "I know this festival is a lot of work for Nickey Robbins and his ASUMH maintenance crew, the City of Mountain Home's Parks and Recreation crew, the Mountain Home Street Department, and others. In about October, they begin focusing on testing and hanging lights and, with the help of volunteers, create the displays."

ASUMH Chancellor Bentley Wallace credits developing the award-winning festival to Adams, Myers, Coulter and Morgan. "We are proud of the hard work and dedication of everyone who makes the Coulter Celebration of Lights a success every year," said Wallace. "The vision of Mayor Adams and Dr. Myers for a festival of this size shows their commitment to working together for the best for our community. The Coulters' legacy is felt in many ways on our campus, and this is one more example of their support of both ASUMH and Mountain Home. The hard work of Mollie Morgan, Nickey Robbins, Rosie Harris, and others on campus is the secret ingredient to the festival's success. That our students are the beneficiaries of everyone's support through the scholarships this provides makes it a win-win for ASUMH!"

Accepting the festival's award from the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association were Mountain Home Mayor, Hillrey Adams; ASUMH Development Officer, Mollie Morgan; former ASUMH Chancellor Dr. Robin Myers and Dr. Ed and Lucretia Coulter, naming sponsors of the festival. Daniel Baxley, Mountain Home Parks and Recreation Director, nominated the festival.

This year's Coulter's Celebration of Lights will open on November 24 with a lighting ceremony and Candy Cane 5K run/walk sponsored by the ASUMH Alumni Association. The drive-through displays are open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each night through December 27. In addition, a festival with holiday treats, food trucks, wintery slides and slopes, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus will take place December 14-17.