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Well, here we are, six weeks out of nine total into the inaugural season of the Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival! Three more weeks are left, and as such we are in the final stretch. It’s hard to believe that I was writing a column announcing this new festival just a short three months ago! What a season it has been, and what a season it will continue to be for the remaining weekends. We cannot thank you, our patrons and visitors, enough for making this new festival such a success.
Back last December when we debated whether we should jump in the swimming pool, so to speak, and launch this festival, there was a lot of uncertainty. 1) We would have to commit somewhere around $130,000 in funds to host and hold the event – which means we stood to lose big if the event failed. 2) Staff would have to commit time and energy to yet another evening event when we hadn’t even finished up the 2024/25 epic, record-breaking Magic Christmas in Lights season. 3) Even though WE thought it was a great concept, would guests and visitors feel the same way, and would they turn up? 4) On the other hand, would too many people show up and overwhelm us?! Six staff at the “director” level and a few at the “manager” level met with me so that we could hash out the pros and the cons. We decided, unanimously, that now was the time to do this – “Damn the torpedoes,” so to speak, from a certain nearby historical landmark!
What do I feel we have accomplished, as a staff and an institution, in holding this new event? 1) We’ve come together to initiate something new and grand, the likes of which we haven’t done since 1995 when Magic Christmas in Lights was launched. 2) We’ve made gigantic strides in improving the quality of our offerings of meals, concessions, and beverages throughout the BGH campus. 3) We’ve greatly streamlined the check-in process, successfully integrating pre-paid ticketing into our daily operating procedures. 4) We pivoted extremely well in being able to close the Gardens an hour early, allowing us critical time to set-up and be ready for “opening” by 5:00 p.m. 5) Lastly, but most significantly, we have delighted tens of thousands of you, our patrons, with a high-quality show that has never before been seen in this region! Our positive reviews stand at 98%, and local partners such as Visit Mobile couldn’t be happier with what we have done.
So, …… where does this lead, you might ask? Well, first off, it will lead to two more years of the Gulf Coast Chinese Lantern Festival, because we signed a three-year contract with Tianyu Arts and Culture! Secondly, it will lead to even better shows in the future, because we will have an entire year to plan the 2026 show instead of only three months to plan this year’s show. Lastly, it will allow what so many of you are already saying, the chance to develop a new family tradition at Bellingrath Gardens & Home!
Thank you, all, for your tireless support and appreciation of Bellingrath. We exist to fulfill the mission of serving as a permanent and fitting memorial to Mrs. Bessie Bellingrath’s artistry and genius, and we’d like to think that she, and Mr. Bell, are smiling down upon us right now.
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