Luminary Walk Interview – Irene Parsons
The annual Luminary Walk at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a holiday tradition for many families as well as being the largest fundraiser for the Friends of the Arboretum. We couldn’t do it without the dedicated group of volunteers headed up by Irene Parsons. Here are Irene’s thoughts about this great event:
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How did you get involved with the Luminary Walk?
During my first year as a volunteer gardener at the Arboretum, I volunteered to help with the Luminary Walk and had a lot of fun. The next year I was asked to chair the event and have stayed in that position ever since. This will be my seventh Luminary Walk.
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What’s your favorite part of the event?
That first year, while I was lighting candles in the Marder Woods with Native American flute music drifting through the air, I was hooked. I love the serenity of the candlelit woods. You don’t get to see the Arboretum at night very often and I really enjoy that.
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What will be different about this year’s event due to COVID-19?
It takes a lot of volunteers to put on the Luminary, which would make social distancing difficult for us. So in order to reduce the number of volunteers needed, we are planning to convert about two-thirds of the candles to electric lights. There will still be candles in the Marder Woods, Legacy Garden, and Monet Garden, but far fewer candlelighters will be required. We are also limiting the number of tickets available, in order to maintain room for social distancing along the pathways. In order to space everyone out, tickets have to be purchased for a specific date and half-hour entry time slot. We extended the hours to 4:30-10:00 to make more time slots available. Finally, sadly, Santa had to stay home at the North Pole in order to stay safe.
It takes a lot of volunteers to put on the Luminary, which would make social distancing difficult for us. So in order to reduce the number of volunteers needed, we are planning to convert about two-thirds of the candles to electric lights. There will still be candles in the Marder Woods, Legacy Garden, and Monet Garden, but far fewer candlelighters will be required. We are also limiting the number of tickets available, in order to maintain room for social distancing along the pathways. In order to space everyone out, tickets have to be purchased for a specific date and half-hour entry time slot. We extended the hours to 4:30-10:00 to make more time slots available. Finally, sadly, Santa had to stay home at the North Pole in order to stay safe.
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When do preparations begin, and when does your team start setting up in earnest?
Planning for the next year starts as soon as the Luminary Walk is done, and continues throughout the year. I am always thinking about Luminary, it seems. We started in late October creating new displays and rehabbing old ones, and we start actually putting up lights November 2nd. We work 3-4 days per week until Thanksgiving, putting up lights and displays.
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How many volunteers are involved in setup? For the Walk itself?
I am very grateful for the dozen or so regulars that show up almost every day, and then there are probably another couple dozen that help more sporadically. There are five very artistic volunteers that work almost full-time September to November creating the gnome and fairy houses. During the Walk itself, about 90 volunteers are needed each night. It is a huge effort, but it is a lot of fun and raises a lot of money for the Arboretum, so it feels worth it.
I am very grateful for the dozen or so regulars that show up almost every day, and then there are probably another couple dozen that help more sporadically. There are five very artistic volunteers that work almost full-time September to November creating the gnome and fairy houses. During the Walk itself, about 90 volunteers are needed each night. It is a huge effort, but it is a lot of fun and raises a lot of money for the Arboretum, so it feels worth it.
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How many lights does it take and how many candles?
I think we are getting close to 300,000 lights now. It normally is about 3,000 candles per night, but we have pared that down to 1,000 for this year.
I think we are getting close to 300,000 lights now. It normally is about 3,000 candles per night, but we have pared that down to 1,000 for this year.
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Anything else you think our readers should know?
It has been so great to see the popularity of the Luminary Walk grow each year. It has allowed FOTA to raise funds for some nice enhancements to the Arboretum: expanding the Train Garden, a new greenhouse, the Whirlwind sculpture exhibition. Coming up, we are working towards an interpretive trail that will be accessible to everyone and anyone, as well as a new Visitor Center.
It has been so great to see the popularity of the Luminary Walk grow each year. It has allowed FOTA to raise funds for some nice enhancements to the Arboretum: expanding the Train Garden, a new greenhouse, the Whirlwind sculpture exhibition. Coming up, we are working towards an interpretive trail that will be accessible to everyone and anyone, as well as a new Visitor Center.
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Friday and Saturday nights, November 27 & 28, December 4 & 5, 11 & 12
4:30 – 10:00 p.m.
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Candlelight Stroll (adults only, please)
Thursday, December 3
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
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8909 W. 179th Street, Overland Park, KS 66013
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