Iconic Reynolds Farm Equipment Lights at A Merry Prairie Holiday Get New Life
Conner Prairie and Duke Energy partner to create a more sustainable festival by converting hundreds of light fixtures to LED.
FISHERS, IN (Nov. 27, 2023) – A Merry Prairie Holiday festival at Conner Prairie is shining brighter thanks to Duke Energy’s efforts to help convert all the iconic Reynolds Farm Equipment lights to more energy-efficient LED fixtures.
The Reynolds Farm Equipment lights were donated to Conner Prairie in 2019. Beginning in 2021, a team of 10 volunteers began the tedious process of converting the hundreds of iconic incandescent light fixtures to energy-saving LED lights. In total, volunteers have spent more than 2,015 hours replacing thousands of lights. This year’s A Merry Prairie Holiday will be the first year 100% of the lights are LED.
“We are thrilled to partner with Duke Energy to make our festival more sustainable,” Conner Prairie President and CEO Norman Burns said. “Not only are the lights shining brighter thanks to the work of our incredible volunteers, but we anticipate energy costs will decrease by more than 90% now that all of the lights have been converted.”
Volunteers from Duke Energy joined the Conner Prairie team to help continue setup of the newly converted Reynolds lights in preparation of A Merry Prairie Holiday, which began November 24.
“As the longest-standing corporate partner of Conner Prairie, Duke Energy is proud to support this year’s A Merry Prairie Holiday and the Reynolds Farm Equipment light display,” said Mark LaBarr, government and community relations manager at Duke Energy. “Transitioning the lights to new, energy-efficient LEDs will provide positive environmental benefits and significant cost savings, while bringing new life to a time-honored holiday tradition for central Indiana families.”
To learn more about A Merry Prairie Holiday and purchase tickets click HERE.
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About Conner Prairie
Spanning more than 1,000 wooded acres in Central Indiana, Conner Prairie welcomes more than 400,000 visitors of all ages annually. As Indiana’s first Smithsonian affiliate, Conner Prairie offers various outdoor, historically themed encounters and indoor experiential learning spaces that combine history and art with science, technology, engineering and math to offer an authentic look into history that shapes society today. Conner Prairie is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization – accredited by the American Alliance of Museums – that relies on grants and philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations for sustainability and growth. For more information visit ConnerPrairie.org.
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