David Chappell, director of maintenance at James Island County Park, can’t believe some of the little details he remembers about the very first Holiday Festival of Lights.

And he never, ever expected it to become as big as it is today, last year drawing more than 200,000 visitors in 52 nights, with as many as 5,000 to 7,000 people at the park at any given time.

The festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The three-mile driving tour that boasts more than 2 million lights and 600 displays has become a tradition for many families both local and from across the continent.

The event was originally inspired by a trip to Oglebay Park in Wheeling, W.Va. Then Executive Director Tim Eubanks thought it would be a draw to the park during slower months.

And it started small – with 18 purchased displays.

When maintenance staff member Rich Raab decided to try to save the park some money by making displays himself, it all began to change. He started by making 80 snowflakes.

“He did such a great job … and has such an unbelievable artistic ability,” Chappell says.

Raab, now light show supervisor, designs, plans and builds displays from scratch and from ideas inspired by coloring books or friends, staff and community members.

Although all the displays are close to his heart, Raab’s favorite one is the eagle with stars, which took him six weeks to create and is an optical illusion on approach as it appears to be one piece, when it is actually two separate displays.

A year-round endeavor

It’s truly Christmas in July in the maintenance shed at the park.

Full-time staff brave the sweltering heat of summer as they work to create new light displays and refurbish old favorites.

All year they perform preventative maintenance duties, including reconditioning, restringing and repainting each and every display.

“There’s a lot of pressure to make them continually look good year after year,” Chappell says

It also takes all year to prepare and plan for the event itself and requires assistance from every department and many volunteers to make it happen. Chappell has a strict schedule that must be followed in order for the festival to go off without a hitch.

Host campers come to stay at the park and help with set up. These volunteer ambassadors assist with everything from changing light bulbs to spreading the word about the event to campers within an intricate camping network all over the country. Chappell says about 50 percent return every year.

Tasks must be performed in order and on time. Palmetto trees must be pruned and rid of snakes, chiggers and ants before stringing the trunks with lights. Bucket trucks are then brought in to lift staff up to string lights on the treetops.

“It’s all one big puzzle. You’re just moving around the pieces. It takes all the pieces to make it work,” Chappell says.

Efficiency is key to both saving money and keeping everything running smoothly.

“We change every colored light bulb so the display will be bright and crisp.”

There are somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000 light bulbs that must be changed. It takes a solid 45 workdays to get the show up and running, Chappell says.

“We always worry about storms and hurricanes.”

During this time, every hour counts. This is when they shake out any kinks and work out any problems.

“It’s a true labor of love.”

New this year

This year, Chappell says they are trying to be more energy-efficient and eco-friendly by incorporating LED Christmas lights into some of the displays. LEDs use about one-tenth of the electrical current than incandescent light bulbs.

He hopes the mixture of old and new technology will keep costs down and help equipment last longer. They also are cognizant of wasting energy and turn lights on almost at show time and off right after.

Families with pets can bring them three designated days this year to have their photos taken with Santa Claus. And for the first time this year, fireworks will light up News Year’s Eve during the Winter Carnival.

If you go

The Holiday Festival of Lights opens Nov. 13 and runs through Jan. 3, 2010, at James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive. Hours are 5:30–10 p.m. Cost is $10 per vehicle for 1 to 15 guests, $25 per vehicle for 16 to 30 guests and $100 per vehicle for 31 or more guests. There is a $2 discount per vehicle on Mondays and Wednesdays with the donation of a canned food item. Donations benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank.

Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Village, open in the park throughout the Festival of Lights, feature giant greeting cards, photos with Santa, a climbing wall, carousel, train rides, gift shop and Santa’s Sweet Shoppe.

For more information and schedule of activities, events, movies and more, call 795-4FUN or visit www.holidayfestivaloflights.com.

Behind the curtain

The Charleston Ballet Theatre launched its Children’s Series last year with the extremely successful “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”

The heart-warming tale of the “Mean One” who learns the true meaning of Christmas from the sweet-faced Cindy Lou and the rest of the residents of Whoville will run again this year for two consecutive weekends.

“Everybody’s nostalgic for that story,” says Kyle Barnette, administrative director at the Charleston Ballet Theatre. “They always watch it on TV every year growing up so it’s really got that same kind of feel about it.”

The professional company along with a few dance students will perform the ballet. Jill Eathorne Bahr, resident choreographer, created her own adaptation of the Dr. Seuss tale.

“It’s very colorful. It really seems to put people in the right kind of mood for Christmas,” Barnette says.

Dancer Alexander Collin, now in his third season with the dance company, is playing the part of Max the Dog. The Charleston Ballet’s version of the story isn’t verbatim, he says, but they do try to play it very close to the story.

Steven Boston is new to the company this year and will play the role of the Grinch.

Rehearsals for Boston and Collin started in September, prior to the rest of the cast, so they could perfect the gymnastics elements required of the roles.

Their costumes can get quite warm, he says.

“Especially for the Grinch and myself. He’s got a lot of padding in his, and I’m wearing a big fur suit.”

Collin’s day begins with warm-ups before an early ballet class and then rehearsals until early evening. He must be careful not to overexert himself.

“If you do a lot in rehearsal, the next day you come in and you might be tighter than the day before. Your body is subtly different every day. You really have to pay attention every day.”

All of the dancers know the Grinch monologues by heart and say them along with him backstage.

It’s a lot of fun, Collin says.

If you go

“The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” runs Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22 in the Black Box Theatre, 477 King St. Show times are Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $20 per adult and $10 per child.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 723-7334 or visit www.charlestonballet.com.