Each year, the Presque Isle State Park in Erie is transformed into a holiday light spectacle thanks to volunteers from FirstEnergy and Penelec. Known as the “Tinsel Team,” these volunteers illuminate the park with energy-efficient LED lights for the Presque Isle Lights event, which runs from December 6 to 29.
The drive-thru display relies on community volunteers who decorate the park extending into Lake Erie. Jon DeMarco, head of the nonprofit Presque Isle Partnership that leads this effort, appreciates all his volunteer “elves,” including more than two dozen employees from FirstEnergy and Penelec.
“Our FirstEnergy and Penelec volunteers have the unique skill set and equipment to help us hang our lights each year,” said DeMarco. “They’ve been here since the beginning and have the institutional knowledge necessary to get the job done.”
In 2023, Penelec contributed nearly 200 hours of labor for tasks such as engineering design work for infrastructure, hanging lights on structures and trees, and installing illuminated snowflakes on utility poles.
This year, an overnight windstorm required line workers to restore power instead of assisting with decorations. Kyle Brocious, a readiness coordinator at Penelec, volunteered as a substitute elf. “With our crews tied up with the storm, I found some time on my calendar to fill in and help out the community,” he said.
The event began in 2020 as a Covid-friendly activity allowing families to enjoy from their vehicles. It has since become a holiday tradition with over 1,000 cars visiting on busy nights. The light display features glowing wildlife figures native to the area and new additions like a waterskiing Santa for 2024.
Diane Palmer, a claims supervisor at Penelec, expressed her enthusiasm: “I love the community aspect of this. It gives people the opportunity to come out and enjoy the peninsula in winter.”
Admission is free but donations are welcomed by the Presque Isle Partnership.
For more information about operating schedules visit https://www.discoverpi.com/events/presque-isle-lights
