by Alex Lloyd Gross
Thousands of people showed up on Red Lion Road last night to watch the “Grand Illumination” which was a fancy name for an elaborate holiday tree lighting. At the American Heritage Credit Union campus, on Red Lion Road, an estimated 400,000 lights were lit on the property to get people into the holiday tradition. Last nights event was way more than pushing a button.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com The Philadelphia Boys choir sings during the event.
There was about 90 minutes of performances and giveaways. Everyone was invited and it seemed as though everyone came. Red Lion Road was closed to traffic and people parked and walked from half a mile away just to see this.
from Bucks Counties Uptown String Band to the Delaware Valley Tribe Of Indians, there was something for everyone.
Credit union members won vacations and non profits got money and CHOP got millions of dollars from their charitable foundation. The hosts of the event was Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin host the event .
Before the event was over, thousands of cups of free hot chocolate were distributed to the many people that came out in sub freezing temperatures to see this. According to credit union employees, they had enough seating to accommodate 20,000 people.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo Delaware Valley News.com The Uptown String Band does their show.
When the holiday trees were lighted, there was a fireworks display for about 10 minutes. The American Heritage Campus is huge and they host one of the largest car shows in the region in May. As an added treat, as if the plethora of white lights were not enough, they were actually in 3D. Glasses were for sale for a few dollars. When put on, people can see the display as multiple snowflakes. Crews started to put the lights up in October, to be finished in time for last night.
Credit union officials said they will keep the lights on through the holidays but the show is like Christmas. It comes but once a year.