A holiday tradition in Xenia is kicking off a little early this year.
During the day Shawnee Park is quiet, but at night the park lights up with Xenia Lights.
“More people know me as the Xenia Lights guy than they know me as the Xenia Police Chief,” said Chief Randy Person.
Person is a Xenia native and has been Xenia police chief for 18 years and the and man behind Xenia Lights for more than a decade. He started the musical display at his home after a trip with the kids to see the lights at Clifton Mill.
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The display got so popular that Person moved it to Shawnee Park five years ago. And this year – in addition to his Christmas Lights, Person added a Halloween display.
“The show is 40 to 45 minutes and we still have two to three songs I’m working on. We’re going to do a pre-Christmas show. I’d like to have two weeks of that before we do Christmas proper,” Person said.
The show at Shawnee Park is free and it runs from 5pm to midnight, 7 days a week from now to at least January first. Those visiting can stay in their cars and tune into 104.1FM on the radio dial.
“Luckily with radio transmission, we don’t have speakers so we’re not disturbing anyone and with the lights. They’re not shining in anyone’s windows. It’s a perfect location,” Person said.
After this year, Person said he plans to hand over the power cords to Xenia Lights to Chris and Sheila Seiter of Seiter Services. And, sometime in 2023, he plans to retire as Xenia Police Chief.
“Retired from the police department and at the same time turn it over to the Seiters. I’ll be a consultant, but won’t be involved day to day,” Person said.
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