Hundreds turn out for Festival of Lights

With the mercury at a warm 64 degrees, the weather Saturday didn't do much to invoke thoughts of Christmas.

That's especially true for a Canadian like Bud Reiser, the new morning host for Star 92.9 FM. The native of Newfoundland oversaw the ceremony kicking off Springfield's Festival of Lights. The centerpiece of the event was turning on the lights for a 33-foot Norway spruce growing near Mediacom Ice Park.

Reiser's northern roots were on full display when he referred to the weather as a nice fall day.

"Bud, this is winter in the Ozarks," said Bob Stephens, the mayor pro tem.

More than 1,000 people joined Reiser and Stephens for the official tree-lighting ceremony. First- and second-grade students ran around the park shaking silver jingle bells and talked about meeting Santa Claus. Other children and adults stood in line for cups of hot chocolate or other goodies.

Christmas is still five weeks away, and Reiser stood outside in a sweater. But the Canadian said he's used to seemingly unseasonable winter weather. Before living in Missouri, Reiser and his wife, also a Canadian, lived in Honolulu. He said they returned to Canada for just two years and two winters -- long enough to realize they wanted to live somewhere warmer.

"The first one was kind of a novelty," he said "The second one last year was like, 'Oh, brother.'"

Timing the festival right is difficult because of a variety of considerations, including the city's desire to have a full six weeks of activities, said Vince Crunk, the city's co-interim public information director. Weather is also a factor.

"It would be more seasonal if it were colder, but it's more comfortable if it's warmer," Crunk said.

Crunk said he was happy with the turnout, especially after the city decided to cancel the annual fireworks display because of high winds.

Even if the temperature didn't invoke thoughts of cold weather and cozy fires, Springfield residents said it wasn't too early to be in the Christmas spirit.

"No, it's never too early," said Chastity Chew of Springfield.

This was Chew's first Festival of Lights. Chew brought her children to the event. It was also the first time the Jordan Valley Park crew put a special lighting system on the tall spruce allowing the blinking bulbs to synchronize with music. It's called a Monster Brain, said Jeff Cumley, the park's manager. The system, once set up, allows lights to dance in syncopated patterns up and down the tall spruce