NORFOLK — The annual Christmas light display adorning the USS Wisconsin and other parts of downtown was awarded a high prize for shining bright on a nationally televised reality competition last week.
Nauticus’ “Winterfest on the Wisconsin” holiday light display was featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” which aired Dec. 18 on ABC. It beat two other large-scale light displays in Texas and California to be crowned the heavyweight category champion for 2025.
A mix of Nauticus staff and Navy veterans took part in “decking the hull” of the longest Iowa-class battleship ever built by the U.S. Navy. The Wisconsin measures over 880 feet long, 108 feet wide and displaces approximately 58,000 tons when fully loaded. It was commissioned in 1944 and deployed in the Second World War, the Korean War and, after some modernization, in the Gulf War.
Designers described the light display on air as consisting of over 1 million lights that was set up by Nauticus staff and Navy veterans. It was a challenge to configure because the retired warship wasn’t designed around being lit up for the holidays. Over 5,000 yards of metal-wire fence were used to attach custom-made light fixtures to the ship. Designers said the high wind speeds and the military vessel’s design not being conducive to supporting lights posed the greatest challenges.
From the ship’s massive 16-inch guns to a glowing winter wonderland was on deck to illuminated arches on the decks surrounding the ship, lights were strung up all over to look like icicles, trees, snow and Christmas decoartions.
“This is incredible,” said judge Carter Oosterhouse on the ABC broadcast while touring the ship. “Naticus’ ‘Winterfest’ was an over-the-top heavyweight, something we’ve never seen before.”
Nauticus brought back to Norfolk the trophy as well as a $50,000 grand prize the maritime discovery center plans to use toward youth educational programs and the preservation of the Wisconsin.
“Winterfest on the Wisconsin” will be viewable though Dec. 31. The light display spans from the Pagoda to Town Point Park and features an indoor component. Tickets are available online at https://winterfestonthewisconsin.com/.
John Buzbee, 757-879-7421, [email protected]