COEUR D'ALENE -- It's been a Coeur d'Alene tradition for almost 20 years. The annual holiday light show around the Coeur d'Alene Resort is all set for Friday night's big ceremony.
For the most part, the elaborate holiday display is ready. All 1.5 million lights are in place for the big event. And even though the setup is by now routine, that doesn't make it any less complicated.
John Eloe coordinates the setup of a display that has garnered national attention. Around the docks, around the trees and along the water, the annual holiday light display is up. A month and a half of tedious preparation.
"We have four semi-trailers filled with all these different displays. Wires, tens of thousands of zip ties," said Eloe.
A crew of 14 people started putting it all together in early October.
"Checking all the light bulbs is probably the biggest challenge for everybody. You're plugging in a million and a half lights, making sure everything is working," said Eloe.
But the snow on Friday night isn't just the lights. It's the music, the fireworks, the holiday displays and the thousands of people expected to fill downtown. And it all has to be just right.
It all starts Friday night at 5 p.m. with a parade down Sherman Avenue. Then there is the candle lighting, caroling and it culminates with the fireworks and official lighting Friday night at 6:20 p.m.
