'Like a Hallmark movie': Peteyville in Pelican Rapids set to wow holiday crowds

Contributed / Loans and Drones By Kevin Wallevand Today at 6:31 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. — It started small. A couple of friends simply decorating a walking bridge with Christmas lights in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. ADVERTISEMENT Now, volunteers have been working for weeks, getting ready for another "Peteyville." The holiday village extravaganza stretches across, and around Pelican Pete and the Pelican River that runs through downtown. Peteyville's lights will shine bright at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27. With just two weeks to go, the longtime volunteers at Peteyville are busy setting up the individual villages in the heart of Pelican Rapids. "I started in mid-September," said volunteer Jim Christenson. "It is one of the more unique aspects, we have so much nature here. We have the trees, the river, the bridges," Doug Bruggeman, one of the founders of Peteyville, said. Abby Makay / WDAY Bruggeman is the dreamer behind Peteyville. It was 2022 when he and a few others lit up the walking bridge downtown with some Christmas lights. ADVERTISEMENT "We started small, and it looked cool, but we wanted it to pop," Bruggeman said. Since then, it has grown. Big time. "We have three bridges in our park, which really is unique," Bruggeman said. From a few hundred lights it has grown to be "close to 500,000 lights," Bruggeman said. "It is like a Hallmark movie in here. We have the music, the fires going, families walking around, people going on a date night here," Christenson said. Contributed / Kvidt Creative Businesses, families and individual donors help the volunteers buy new displays that stretch across the three city parks. "It takes us two solid months to get it up and running. It is a lot of work but it is worth it," Christenson said. ADVERTISEMENT "We have people come up to us and say 'Our grandkids are coming and we want to bring them to Peteyville and go out to eat downtown,' and that is exactly what we want," said Trevor Steeves, another volunteer. Even high school students volunteered their time Thursday, Nov. 12, and helped with lighting yet another chunk of Peteyville. “Just to bring something special to a community, is, I don’t know, heartwarming. To spread that joy,” Bruggeman said. Kevin Wallevand / WDAY A lot will be happening the Friday after Thanksgiving in Pelican Rapids. It's also the 30th anniversary of the Lighted Horse Parade. Close to 30 horse-drawn wagons and floats will take part. Rules are it must be lighted and no cars or tractors allowed. All horses. Contributed / Loans and Drones People from all over the area bring their teams of horses to the parade, one of just a few in the country. ADVERTISEMENT The lighted horse parade started in 1985 as a way to celebrate an old, hometown Christmas experience. "Everyone is just in a festive mood and happy and it is just great to see the town bustling," said Audrey Wifall, the parade organizer. To see more drone footage of Peteyville, visit Loans and Drones on Facebook . READ MORE FROM KEVIN WALLEVAND He missed graduation because he was fighting in Vietnam. Now, a diploma for Rick 7h ago Pucker Power: Ben Franklin trumpet students compete for best 'siren' sound 2d ago West Fargo racer says Bonneville crash ‘changed everything’ 3d ago Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags KEVIN WALLEVAND PELICAN RAPIDS CHRISTMAS OTTER TAIL COUNTY By Kevin Wallevand Kevin Wallevand has been a reporter at WDAY-TV since 1983. He is a native of Vining, Minnesota in Otter Tail County. His series and documentary work have brought him to Africa, Vietnam, Haiti, Kosovo, South America, Mongolia, Juarez,Mexico and the Middle East. He is an multiple Emmy and national Edward R. Murrow award recipient. Reach Kevin at [email protected] or 701-241-5317 Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Minnesota Court documents: Human remains may be found in 1982 case of missing toddler near Bemidji 10m ago · By Matt Henson Minnesota Clay County reports 26 late ballots, will not be counted in District 4 Senate race 17m ago · By Michael McGurran Minnesota A wave of hospital mergers is changing healthcare in Minnesota. 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