Show lights up Grand Island

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — If you’ve been dropping by the 500 block of East 15th Street in Grand Island to view Christmas lights the last few holiday seasons, you now have a second place to check out Mark Fhuere’s handiwork.

Fhuere, a Grand Island firefighter and paramedic, designed the light show set to music that will be on display in downtown Grand Island for the next month and a half.

Fhuere’s show, which was unveiled Friday night, is something new both for downtown and Fhuere.

For the past four years, Fhuere has been creating synchronized light shows at his own house and those of his neighbors, and the downtown show offered a fresh challenge.

“To me, it was like a clean slate, because I was able to design it from the ground up,” Fhuere said, noting that with his other shows, he’s worked with his neighbors’ lights and lawn ornaments. “I could design the show entirely using trees and other features of the park.”

For downtown business owners, who organize the Downtown Christmas, Fhuere’s light show is not only another attraction but also another way to attract people downtown after dark.

Tom Ziller, who came up with the idea for a downtown display, said it would offer something else to see this holiday season for people who come downtown to the Grand Theatre or a restaurant.

“We’re trying to create activities and interesting things so that people will come away with a positive feeling,” said Ziller, a member of the downtown Business Improvement District board and Heritage Nebraska Main Street promotion committee.

« Metro/Region

Share