LIGHTS OUT AT BLOSSOM

By Frank Lewis on Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 10:00 am

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Blossom will not host its Holiday Lighting Festival this year. Who pulled the plug on the Christmas lights? Live Nation says Hoosiers called Humbug; an Indiana company says Live Nation cut the cord.

Since 2006, the Cuyahoga Falls concert facility has opened during the holiday months for a scenic two-mile drive past 300 light-outline displays on its wooded grounds, from blinking snowflakes to sliding penguins. The penguins won’t be back, and the organizers are pointing flippers.

The event was promoted and hosted by the Cleveland Live Nation office, which runs the rural Cuyahoga Falls amphitheater. The visuals were run by Indiana-based light-park company Winterland. A marketing representative from the Cleveland Live Nation claims they’re not the ones who cancelled the popular Christmas event. The Live Nation rep said 2008 was the final year in a three-year contract, and Winterland chose not to return.

However, Winterland President R. David Fred told Scene Live Nation had tried to cancel the light show the year before, but did not want to pay the buy-out cancellation fee. According to Fred, the Indiana company wanted to return this year, as a “joint venture,” with Live Nation, which the local office declined. “It is shame,” says Fred. “It was a really great show.”

If you’re in the 330 area code and looking for lights, try Barberton’s annual Lake Anna Christmas walk or Stan Hywet's Manor House, which has expanded its display through the historical house and grounds. — D.X. Ferris