Winterhaven, Tucson
N 32° 15.907 W 110° 55.790
12S E 506608 N 3569825
For sixty-three years, the residents of Winterhaven have hosted the Festival as their gift to the community. However, the event is a fundraiser for the Tucson Community Food Bank.
Waymark Code: WMJHT0
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 11/21/2013
Views: 10
Over 50 years of History
In 1949 CB Richards created a cooperative water company and a modern residential development north of what was Tucson at the time. By 1957 all but 19 of the 257 original lots had been developed.
The Festival of Lights began in 1949. Mr. Richards was inspired to create the Festival after visiting a similar display in Beverly Hills, California in the 1930s. He purchased the first set of Christmas lights in 1949 and donated them to the neighborhood. He purchased the Aleppo pines from a local nursery that was going out of business. They were planted at regular intervals throughout the neighborhood and electrical connections were hooked up near each tree for the lights.
For the first few years of the festival Richards personally judged all the displays and the winner was awarded $100.00. After he moved to San Diego, Richards continued to visit Winterhaven for the Festival of Lights.
The Festival has been held continuously since 1949 except for one year during the 1970's energy crisis when the residents of Winterhaven voted to stay dark.
Holiday: Christmas
When is this viewable?: From: 12/14/2013 To: 12/28/2013
Public or Private?: Public
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Visit Instructions:
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