March 2024

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The organizers of the popular Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion event at Sportsmen’s Park are suspending the event for 2024 while they plan additions, retool how they use volunteers and search for more long-term help.The three primary people behind the attraction – Mike Suess, Shari Hittesdorf and Andy Pelzel – said in separate interviews last week that the demands of setting up, running and taking down the light show were becoming so great that they decided it best to take a year off, both for their own well-being and for the event.“This grew bigger and better than we ever dreamed it could be, so we need to step back and re-evaluate what we need from the community,” said Pelzel, who like the others volunteers his time.Hittesdorf said the year off should help the group rejuvenate – “the main players are burned out,” she said, herself included – and return with an improved show in 2025.“We have full intentions of coming back bigger and better,” she said.