Light Up Middletown structure damaged by wind to be rebuilt

Days after severe winds damaged the entrance-way to Light Up Middletown, the Grandpa Gang says the structure will be rebuilt on Monday morning, weather permitting.

Bill Becker, Light Up Middletown chairman and a member of the Grandpa Gang, said all of the damaged parts of the structure that holds 20,000 lights have been repaired.

“We’ve ordered additional heavier cable to better secure it,” Becker said.

The Grandpa Gang is a group of retirees that set up and tear down the annual holiday light display at Smith Park. This is the 20th year of Light Up Middletown. Other organizations, such as AK CARES, pitch in each year to help the Grandpa Gang get nearly 60 displays ready.

Becker said the wind damage to the entrance-way added an additional workday for the Grandpa Gang.

However, he said the holiday lights display will still open on Thanksgiving as scheduled.

“We’ll be ready,” he said.

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