Putting up lights and figures for the annual Shining Light display was about a week behind last Thursday.

“We started later than usual because of flooding and this cold spell has set back a lot of things,” said Barry McDiarmid who, along with wife Gwen, host the celebration at the KOA Campground south of Gothenburg.

Nonetheless, Barry said the show will go on and the light extravaganza will be turned on this Sunday at 6 p.m. for the 12th season.

Last September, heavy rain in the mountains and surges of water devastated parts of Colorado and continued downstream.

The Platte River overflowed its banks and flooded nearby areas, like KOA.

“We were closed most of October and didn’t really reopen,” Barry said.

Old Man Winter swept in with a vengenance last Thursday, keeping temperatures in the teens and single digits.

As the thermometer registered 14 degrees, McDiarmid was out in coveralls.

“It’s good therapy,” he said about the labor of love and giving. “And it’s worthwhile.”

Anyone willing to help supervise the display at night is asked to call McDiarmid at 537-7397.

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308-537-3636