VIDALIA &045; Winter Wonderland of Lights, Vidalia’s month and a half long Christmas display, has come to a close.

&uot;Everybody I’ve talked to enjoyed it,&uot; Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said. &uot;Some people have gone through two to three times.&uot;

The light display ran from Nov. 19 until Jan. 2. Twenty percent of the profits were donated to the United Way, 20 percent to the Chamber of Commerce, and the remaining 60 to Indiana-based Winter Wonderland company for erecting the display.

&uot;It has been worth it,&uot; United Way Executive Director Rhonda Stevens said.

&uot;I have gone through it at least once a week and my children have had a blast.&uot;

Glen McGlothin, marketing director for the City of Vidalia, said the show was an attempt to bring back the enjoyment that had once been the International Paper Christmas display.

&uot;It was just to give people something to do,&uot; McGlothin said.

&uot;We had no idea it would be this well-received.&uot;

McGlothin said close to 4,000 vehicles visited the Wonderland and more than 900 people passed through during Louisiana on the Move, a walk aimed at collecting canned goods for the homeless while increasing health awareness.

&uot;People would bring two cans of food per person and walk through,&uot; McGlothin said.

&uot;It was about charity.&uot;

McGlothin said he attributes the success of the display to the backing it has received.

&uot;We probably had about 50 sponsors,&uot; McGlothin said.

&uot;Without them, we could not have done it.&uot;

McGlothin said the basic framework of the display will remain throughout the year, thus lightening the workload for future set-ups.

&uot;We have a lot longer (to get ready) next year,&uot; McGlothin said.

&uot;All the hard work was this year.

We hope to make it a little longer and put some displays on the levee.

We’re also going to have music.&uot;

McGlothin said 75 percent of this year’s lighting will be exchanged with new ones for the next season.

Winter Wonderland is responsible for similar displays in more than 65 cities across the country.