ST. CLOUD - For 29 years St. Cloud Hospital has delivered one of the highlights of the Christmas season in Central Minnesota.

The popular, annual Festival of Lights was Thursday night on the front steps of St. Cloud Hospital.

The event gave everyone a chance to go on horse-drawn carriage rides, meet and greet with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and a chance to pet some reindeer. CentraCare Communications Specialist Chris Nelson says they even added a way for patients in the hospital to see the lights this year.

"The new thing added this year is that we are adding a live broadcast to all patient rooms throughout the hospital in their bedrooms."

The idea to add the lights was brought up by a previous patient and required extensive adjustments to make it possible.

Nelson says it feels like the event has become a yearly tradition for many families.

"I think it is so touching that so many people have come for so many years. This is something St. Cloud Hospital wants to do for the community because it is there hospital."

This year a pair of brothers, 7-years-old and 9-years-old, were the ones to help turn the lights on at the Festival of Lights.

More From AM 1240 WJON