The City of Callao has accepted the Latchford family’s donation of the Latchford Christmas Lights, the walk-through display that has drawn visitors to town for more than 30 years, and is forming a volunteer committee to keep it running.
The city announced the donation in an Oct. 21 post on its Facebook page. "We are excited to carry on this beloved tradition that has brought so much joy to our community and helped put Callao on the map," the post said.
The city credited the Latchford family and the helpers it called their "elves" with more than three decades of work on the display. It said it now needs a crew of its own and asked anyone interested in joining the committee to message the page or contact City Hall.
The post named groups it hopes will take part, including Callao Harvest Fiesta Inc., the Callao Heritage Society, Callao Christian Church, Masonic members, 4-H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, along with local businesses, clubs, churches, and families. "Our goal is to make this a true COMMUNITY EVENT," the post said.
Bruce and Vicki Latchford built the display on their family farm. It started as a nativity scene and grew into a walk-through display that spilled onto a friend’s property across the street. The Latchfords told the station they spent about nine months a year building it, much of it from handmade plywood pieces with motorized parts run by hand, and added something new each year.
That year, KRCG reported, the lights ran every night from Thanksgiving night to New Year’s Day and drew several thousand visitors, including guests from Canada and South Africa.
The dates and hours of operation for this year’s display are not yet known.
Chariton Media Group asked the city on Monday, Oct. 26, when the lights will open, where they will be set up, and who is organizing the volunteer committee. Chariton Media Group did not receive a response in time for publication.