Lights on Lotta hosting Military Appreciation Night to benefit local veterans, nonprofits

Trent Abrego, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·2 min read
Lights and inflatables fill a front yard on Lotta Street on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.
Lights and inflatables fill a front yard on Lotta Street on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.

A popular Christmas lights display, Lights on Lotta, is back and is aiming to give back to the veterans' community once again.

This year, Lights on Lotta is aiming to raise funds for the Big Paws Canine Foundation and K9s for Warriors. Last year, homeowners on the street raised a combined $15,000 for the two organizations, which provide service dogs to military veterans. Big Paws Canine Foundation also provides service dogs to former first responders.

While the goal was to beat last year's total, Scott Ihnen, a resident of Lotta Street, said that traffic has been down to one-tenth of what it normally has been, which has impacted the number of donations.

This is the fourth year the display has been called Lights on Lotta, but Ihnen said that houses have been decorated there for years. Ihnen has lived on Lotta Street for many years and over the years it has developed, he said. Five years ago, his neighbor got in on it and from there it has escalated, growing to businesses and even empty lots.

"I mean, all these neighbors let us do what we want," Ihnen said.

More:Several Sioux Falls schools hosting winter or Christmas performances

There was a high amount of traffic strolling past Ihnen's display, and he noticed that another light display was taking donations for organizations. He figured with the amount of traffic that drove past, they'd be able to drum up some money for charities and nonprofits. So the next year, he did it and raised $5,000 growing into last year's high of $15,000.

This Friday, Dec. 16, the display will be hosting a Military Appreciation Night. In past years, there have been a dozen members or so with their canines handing out candy canes. This year, Ihnen is hoping for a bigger turnout and said there'd be appearances of child-friendly Christmas characters including Santa and the Grinch. There will also be a First Responders Night on Dec. 20.

The display Lights on Lotta runs from 5 p.m., until 11 p.m., at 311 W. Lotta St. There's also music synced up to the light display at 97.7 FM.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Lights on Lotta to hold Military Appreciation Night on Friday