Rochester’s Big Bright Light Show will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Nov. 23. With plans for over a million lights to cover Main Street, the city of Rochester is back at it, installing strand after strand. Every year, the show is debuted on the same day as another major downtown event called Lagniappe. Together they are expected to bring in over one million people to Rochester this holiday season.

With any project of this scale, there comes an enormous cost and an exceptionally busy management point-person, Kristi Trevarrow. For 10 years, she has been running, coordinating, and allocating every detail in order to make the Big Bright Light Show possible for Rochester’s residents and guests.

Mrs. Trevarrow describes how difficult it was to start the event in the first place, including several unexpected challenges.

“To get it going, that was quite the task. The city was very supportive. The city council, DDA board — that wasn’t the problem,” Mrs. Trevarrow said. “[The problem was] the city of Rochester actually doesn’t own mainstreet. That’s actually owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation.”

When Mrs. Trevarrow began the process, she had to make several phone calls, including to the Governor of Michigan to try and get the ball rolling.

“We had to go to MDOT to ask for their permission for the lights, which was not an easy task and they gave us the runaround up until the very last minute,” Mrs. Trevarrow said.

Junior David Kim says he looks forward to the event, but wonders about the energy usage.

“It brings people to the city and it becomes another thing to do with friends and family,” Kim said. “This is beneficial to Rochester, but I understand there may be an issue about with energy usage.”

Mrs. Trevarrow explains that the only lights they’ve used for the past 10 years are LEDs, which create a more energy and cost efficient method.

Freshman Andrew Sheldrick is looking forward to this year’s show.

“It encourages shopping even though it’s bitterly cold outside,” Sheldrick said. “For me, I usually end up window shopping or just enjoying the lights.”

Mrs. Trevarrow says her favorite part of the experience is seeing everyone’s faces when the lights turn on the first time, bringing the crowd to awe.

“The best night is on Lagniappe night when we see all the families come out, and you see all the little kids faces light up when they see the lights go on,” Mrs. Trevarrow said. “It’s pure magic and there’s nothing better.”