The Annual ‘Reflections in the Park’ Celebrates 30 Years in Dubuque

If you're bored during the holiday season in the Midwest, you're clearly not branching out and seeing all the state has to offer. Dubuque alone has a number of holiday markets, seasonal staples, and of course, one famous light display that illuminates one of the city's most popular parks.

Reflections in the Park, the annual Christmas light display, is celebrating 30 years of holiday cheer in Dubuque. It's set up where it always is: Louis Murphy Park in Dubuque, IA. John Bellini of Hillcrest Family Services was kind enough to stop by the studio to talk all things Reflections in the Park.

Reflections in the Park kicks off on Thursday, November 28th (Thanksgiving Day) and runs through January 5th, 2025. Bellini spoke about how special it was that Reflections in the Park has been a Dubuque holiday staple for three decades as of this year:

I love that we're able as an organization to bring families together to have a nice time, listen to some Christmas music, and see some holiday lights. That brings me the most joy. - John Bellini, per our interview

Reflections in the Park serves as Hillcrest Family Services' largest fundraiser of the year. Hillcrest is a nonprofit service that has been helping people in the Tri-States for years, be it with addiction or even adoption practices. The ways that Reflections in the Park helps Hillcrest with funding are enormous.

Bellini was also joined in studio by Bryan Vander Lee and Kathy McAllister, both of Fidelity Bank & Trust. This is Fidelity's first year being the title sponsor of Reflections in the Park. Kathy spoke with excitement about Fidelity's involvement, and revealed there will be a fun social media contest starting next week:

On our Facebook and Instagram pages starting next week, we will be giving away tickets when people identify where 'Frank at the Bank,' who is similar to Elf on the Shelf, will be hiding. People will just give a shoutout to where they think he is hiding at, and they'll be in a drawing to win free tickets. - Kathy McAllister, per our interview

Tickets to Reflections in the Park are easy to obtain, be it at the gate at Murphy Park for only $12, or at any Fidelity Bank & Trust location (discounted at $10). They are open every night from 5pm - 10pm through January 5th. To learn more about Reflections in the Park, take a listen to my interview with John Bellini, Bryan Vander Lee, and Kathy McAllister below!

Louis Murphy Park is located at 1700 South Grandview Avenue in Dubuque. Hillcrest Family Services is located at 2005 Asbury Road in Dubuque.