Bright Nights at Forest Park in Springfield unveils new 50-foot musical tree

trying to cover up. Well, we're just one day away Well, we're just one day away from bright nights at Forest from bright nights at Forest from bright nights at Forest Park kicking off as rain. Park kicking off as rain. Park kicking off as rain. 22 news reporter and again to 22 news reporter and again to 22 news reporter and again to knock us is live at Forest Park knock us is live at Forest Park knock us is live at Forest Park in Springfield. in Springfield. in Springfield. >> With a special preview of a >> With a special preview of a >> With a special preview of a new attraction, Nick. new attraction, Nick. new attraction, Nick. >> Kaili Joy, that special >> Kaili Joy, that special >> Kaili Joy, that special attraction is this 50 foot tall attraction is this 50 foot tall attraction is this 50 foot tall giant Christmas tree that giant Christmas tree that giant Christmas tree that standing behind me and who standing behind me and who standing behind me and who better to talk about it than I better to talk about it than I better to talk about it than I have some special guests have some special guests have some special guests alongside me. First to my left, alongside me. First to my left, alongside me. First to my left, Judy met the president and CEO Judy met the president and CEO Judy met the president and CEO of Spirit of Springfield. of Spirit of Springfield. of Spirit of Springfield. And of course, the one behind And of course, the one behind And of course, the one behind bright nights here at Forest bright nights here at Forest bright nights here at Forest Park and to her left, we have Park and to her left, we have Park and to her left, we have built his ina, the manager here built his ina, the manager here built his ina, the manager here at Bright nights both. Thank at Bright nights both. Thank at Bright nights both. Thank you both so much for joining you both so much for joining you both so much for joining me. This bright and early this me. This bright and early this me. This bright and early this morning, too, introduce these morning, too, introduce these morning, too, introduce these new attractions. Now. Judy, new attractions. Now. Judy, new attractions. Now. Judy, I'll start with you. Talk to me I'll start with you. Talk to me I'll start with you. Talk to me a little bit about bright a little bit about bright a little bit about bright nights in general and some of nights in general and some of nights in general and some of the new attractions that are the new attractions that are the new attractions that are being implemented this year, being implemented this year, being implemented this year, including this giant tree that including this giant tree that including this giant tree that we have behind us will brighten we have behind us will brighten we have behind us will brighten 8 opens up tomorrow night for 8 opens up tomorrow night for 8 opens up tomorrow night for its 31st year. And we're really its 31st year. And we're really its 31st year. And we're really excited, too. Introduce people excited, too. Introduce people excited, too. Introduce people to this remarkable tree which to this remarkable tree which to this remarkable tree which is not only animated place. is not only animated place. is not only animated place. Music's your favorite holiday Music's your favorite holiday Music's your favorite holiday songs and, songs and, songs and, >> you know, we wanted to add >> you know, we wanted to add >> you know, we wanted to add something very special in this. something very special in this. something very special in this. Is it? It's 5 stories high. Is it? It's 5 stories high. Is it? It's 5 stories high. You can imagine just how big it You can imagine just how big it You can imagine just how big it is until you get near. Then you is until you get near. Then you is until you get near. Then you realize the size of it. But I realize the size of it. But I realize the size of it. But I would like to just say, thanks would like to just say, thanks would like to just say, thanks to build the scene and the best to build the scene and the best to build the scene and the best lighting crew in America. lighting crew in America. lighting crew in America. That's no kidding. That's That's no kidding. That's That's no kidding. That's lighting crew in America. lighting crew in America. lighting crew in America. And then Northrop Electric And then Northrop Electric And then Northrop Electric who's been with us since for who's been with us since for who's been with us since for 30. This is the 31st year for 30. This is the 31st year for 30. This is the 31st year for getting a solid for us. getting a solid for us. getting a solid for us. >> And ill turn it over to you. >> And ill turn it over to you. >> And ill turn it over to you. You've been involved in the You've been involved in the You've been involved in the operation. You've been involved operation. You've been involved operation. You've been involved in the operations of this tree in the operations of this tree in the operations of this tree for quite sometime your time. for quite sometime your time. for quite sometime your time. Right before we came on air, Right before we came on air, Right before we came on air, this is 9 entire panels. this is 9 entire panels. this is 9 entire panels. History is made up of tell me a History is made up of tell me a History is made up of tell me a little bit about the process of little bit about the process of little bit about the process of putting this behemoth together. putting this behemoth together. putting this behemoth together. >> It took a while. We >> It took a while. We >> It took a while. We understand everything. They understand everything. They understand everything. They gave us instructions and it gave us instructions and it gave us instructions and it eventually came together. eventually came together. eventually came together. And a lot of wiring underneath. And a lot of wiring underneath. And a lot of wiring underneath. It's a it's hard to get in and It's a it's hard to get in and It's a it's hard to get in and out are right now. And out are right now. And out are right now. And it definitely adds something it definitely adds something it definitely adds something to the area here. to the area here. to the area here. And tell me a little bit about And tell me a little bit about And tell me a little bit about Forest Park in general. Mean, Forest Park in general. Mean, of course, this place comes to of course, this place comes to life around this time of year. life around this time of year. life around this time of year. >> Tell me a little bit about >> Tell me a little bit about >> Tell me a little bit about those operations and how those operations and how those operations and how everybody's favorite lights everybody's favorite lights everybody's favorite lights actually come together at the actually come together at the actually come together at the end of the day, it takes many end of the day, it takes many end of the day, it takes many people to put all of this people to put all of this people to put all of this together. We start at Route together. We start at Route together. We start at Route 5. We got a couple of really 5. We got a couple of really 5. We got a couple of really large displays out there and we large displays out there and we large displays out there and we work our way to Sumner Avenue work our way to Sumner Avenue work our way to Sumner Avenue and every year it seems we and every year it seems we and every year it seems we don't have enough time, but don't have enough time, but don't have enough time, but somehow we managed to get it up somehow we managed to get it up somehow we managed to get it up and open on time. I wouldn't and open on time. I wouldn't and open on time. I wouldn't want to be the one that. want to be the one that. want to be the one that. To tell, Judy, and it's not To tell, Judy, and it's not To tell, Judy, and it's not going to be ready, but we we going to be ready, but we we going to be ready, but we we pull it together. You know, pull it together. You know, pull it together. You know, it's 2 days now. We're going it's 2 days now. We're going it's 2 days now. We're going to be working right up until to be working right up until to be working right up until the door opens. It looks the door opens. It looks the door opens. It looks fantastic. I will say, I mean, fantastic. I will say, I mean, fantastic. I will say, I mean, just driving in here early this just driving in here early this just driving in here early this morning getting to see. morning getting to see. morning getting to see. >> Some of the previewed >> Some of the previewed >> Some of the previewed lights. I mean, everything lights. I mean, everything looks so awesome. I mean, this looks so awesome. I mean, this tree is a testament to that, tree is a testament to that, tree is a testament to that, Judy, a throwback to to close Judy, a throwback to to close Judy, a throwback to to close out. What's your message to out. What's your message to out. What's your message to people in need? Of course, this people in need? Of course, this people in need? Of course, this is already a staple of the is already a staple of the is already a staple of the western Massachusetts area. western Massachusetts area. western Massachusetts area. But what's your message to But what's your message to But what's your message to people, too, come out to bright people, too, come out to bright people, too, come out to bright nights, see it for themselves nights, see it for themselves nights, see it for themselves and then how can they do that? and then how can they do that? and then how can they do that? Well, we want them to continue Well, we want them to continue Well, we want them to continue the tradition that we've been the tradition that we've been the tradition that we've been doing for 31 years. We've had doing for 31 years. We've had doing for 31 years. We've had over 7 million people come over 7 million people come over 7 million people come through. through. through. >> And we want you to be one >> And we want you to be one >> And we want you to be one of them. And if you've come of them. And if you've come of them. And if you've come before, we want you to come before, we want you to come before, we want you to come back tomorrow night to opening back tomorrow night to opening back tomorrow night to opening night, it's throwback night, night, it's throwback night, night, it's throwback night, which is $6 which week for the which is $6 which week for the which is $6 which week for the first years with what we charge first years with what we charge first years with what we charge in 1995. So go online. Get your in 1995. So go online. Get your in 1995. So go online. Get your tickets if there's any of those tickets if there's any of those tickets if there's any of those left and then come and we have left and then come and we have left and then come and we have about $10 Tuesdays. We have all about $10 Tuesdays. We have all about $10 Tuesdays. We have all different special activities different special activities different special activities and even go to the big lie and and even go to the big lie and and even go to the big lie and get the best price on a ticket. get the best price on a ticket. get the best price on a ticket. That's great. Judy. Bill, thank That's great. Judy. Bill, thank That's great. Judy. Bill, thank you both so much. You heard it you both so much. You heard it you both so much. You heard it here first. Come check out here first. Come check out here first. Come check out right night to begins tomorrow right night to begins tomorrow right night to begins tomorrow at a run all the way through at a run all the way through at a run all the way through January 4th. January 4th. January 4th. >> Giving you plenty of