Christmas time in Kingfisher is always a magical time of year.

Its festive lights display in the park - Kingfisher Winter Nights - downtown lighted Christmas parade, fireworks and laser show and other holiday events draw visitors from all over the area and state to celebrate the season.

Another “big” feature is being added to that list this year.

A fresh-cut 50-foot Norwegian Spruce will soon make its way from a Michigan tree farm to welcome visitors to the annual lighted holiday display.

A collaboration of Kingfisher Winter Nights and the City of Kingfi sher, the tree is scheduled to be delivered the first week of November, then adorned with thousands of white LED lights in preparation for a tree lighting ceremony on opening night at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.

“We will have Santa there, the train will be running, food trucks will be available and we hope to have other entertainment as well,” KWN volunteer coordinator Terri Peck said.

“It should be a big night.” High Pressure Transports of Kingfisher has donated its time and service to make the over 2,000-mile journey to transport the tree in time for the holiday season and Kingfisher Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shauna Rupp is also helping get the word out about the upcoming event.

Having instituted the tradition in many of the cities he’s managed before, City Manager Jim Thomas presented the idea to the KWN board as another way to unite as a community during the holiday season.

“When Jim first brought up the idea, we wanted to give it a try and jumped on board,” Peck said.

With KWN providing the funds for the purchase of the tree, the lights and the labor to install them, Thomas said the city is taking on the responsibility of installing a dedicated power source for the tree and all other associated costs.

Not every city has an attraction like this and especially not most smaller communities, Thomas said.

Originally the idea came about when Thomas was a city manager in Maine and decided if they can do it in Rockefeller Center in New York City, then why not there.

Over the years he developed a relationship with the owners of Dutchman Tree Farms in Michigan and brought similar trees to more than 10 other cities he managed, including Claremore.

That particular tree farm also supplies Christmas trees to much larger cities such as Detroit, Chicago and Oklahoma City, and smaller trees to the public, he said.

Thomas made the trip to Michigan in early October to pick out the perfectly symmetrically balanced 50year old spruce, which will be secured in a 6-foot hole with a cement anchoring system just outside the entrance to Kingfisher Park once it arrives.

“There’s something magical about a green tree,” Thomas said.

Additionally, city commissioners approved the necessary funding to upgrade portions of the train track throughout the park, providing a more seamless experience for those riding the train each night to view the lights.

Last year, Peck said there were over 2,500 individuals who rode the train throughout the duration of the event.

She also estimated approximately 4,800 vehicles made their way through the light display, with roughly 20,000 people attending the event.

KWN is in its ninth season as the successor to Kingfisher In Lights, which began in 1996.

The park is open Nov. 30 to Dec. 28 (closed on Dec. 24-25) from 6 - 9 p.m. every day except Friday and Saturday, which is open until 10 p.m.

Santa will also be on hand during the weekends, Peck added.

Its a large community effort, with hundreds of volunteers involved in making the event possible each year, Peck said.

“Last year it took 380 volunteers to pull it off,” she added.

There are over 100 lighted displays and lighting on trees and other landscaping throughout the park which requires an army of volunteers to string lights beginning in September and then take them down when it’s over, she said.

Additionally, each night it takes 8-12 volunteers to oversee the park entrance, bridge and exit while the park is open.

There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted at the park exit which Peck said are then reinvested into the community by purchasing new lights and displays.

“We have purchased three large new displays this year and all the displays are totally LED lights now, which also reduces electric usage costs,” Peck added.

People come from all over the state to view the lights, Peck said, which also brings an economic boost to the community.

“It’s a positive attribute to Kingfisher which we hope people like and want to come back,” Peck said.

“We’re also excited about the tree as a new addition and are hopeful it’s a huge success.”

Commenting on the spirit of Christmas, Thomas said he wished he could bottle it up and spread it out over 12 months.

“It’sacommunityevent,” Thomas said. “It’s been fun and rewarding to be a part of it.”

For more information about Kingfisher Winter Nights and how to volunteer or contribute, contact Terri Peck at (405) 3689069.