The holiday season is about coming together be it family, friends or community and this year’s theme for the 13th Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights reflects just that. `Celebrate Our Differences,` which looks like a collection of over-sized Christmas light displays and spans two miles in Albany’s Washington Park, will feature new themed areas like `Salute to Americans,` `12 Days of Christmas,` `Santa’s Toyland,` `The Victorian Village` and `Celebrate Our Differences.`
`It’s basically a celebration of the Capital Region. When we started talking about this year’s theme, last year, we were discussing how it’s the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and about what a melting pot the Capital Region really is relative to race, religion and ethnicity,` said Executive Director of the Police Athletic League (PAL) and retired Albany Police Sgt. Lenny Ricchiuti. `It makes it a great place to live, work and grow, and we thought we would celebrate it.`
Ricchiuti said that perhaps the main representation of this theme will be toward the end of the spectacle, where a huge display with the word `peace` and a symbol of the holidays from 15 different countries will loom.
Capital Holiday Lights features a total of 125 displays, so planning must begin early. Ricchiuti said a committee of about five to 10 people sits down throughout the entire year to talk about the current show, past shows and future shows. Once it agrees upon a theme, the display vendor gets involved and draws up an artist rendering of what it can do. Last year’s theme was `Christmas Around the World` and featured Santa visiting the Sydney Opera House, the London Bridge, Mount Rushmore and other landmarks. Ricchiuti said that discussing designs and viewing drawings beforehand helped expedite the production process and gave the committee a good idea of what they could expect everything to look like.
The event is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. until Jan. 2. There are photo opportunities, holiday characters, music and refreshments in the Lake House most nights. All proceeds ($15 per car, $25 per limousine or 15-passenger van and $75 per bus) go to support PAL, a juvenile crime prevention program in its 21st year that engages kids, cops and the community together outside of a law enforcement setting.
`We do a lot of things within the community and offer after-school programs in about 15 locations,` said Ricchiuti. `We have chess competitions, track and field, bowling, computer club, publishing club, karate club, drill and step team and Youth Leadership Council, among others. There is no cookie cutter for our services, we just do things the kids ask us to do, within reason.`
PAL doesn’t accept the assistance without giving back. Different groups of kids that are involved with and benefit from PAL volunteer on at Capital Holiday Lights on various nights; some dress in holiday costumes and entertain younger visitors and others take photos, hand out stickers and help with refreshments.
`Thousands of people and hours go into setting up and running the event. Young and old from across the community ` whether it’s an electricians union, carpenters union or school group ` give up time and talents to make this work,` said Ricchiuti.
The Comptroller’s office has been volunteering at Capital Holiday Lights since its very first year. Dennis Tompkins, spokesperson for Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, said a core of volunteers donate their time for up to a week.
`Basically they [volunteers] do whatever is necessary ` set up, direct traffic, whatever,` said Tompkins. `There was originally a team of people who were very into the charity that it [Capital Holiday Lights] supports and their enthusiasm spread and has been infectious. Like any great volunteer effort it takes a few people to light a fire and they inspire others to get involved.`
Mel Biegel has worked in the comptroller’s office for 30 years and been volunteering for six. He said he’s helped direct traffic, greet people, set up for the event and helped organize volunteer groups. Having fun while helping the community is what keeps him coming back.
`It’s just fun and gives you a sense that you’re helping someone else ` in this case the children associated with PAL and also anybody who comes through there. There’s a sense of excitement and it’s neat to be involved,` said Biegel. `Going as a group also helps promote volunteerism within our community and fosters a sense of community among our coworkers.` “
