- It is Topeka at its brightest from dazzling light Displays to heartfelt memories, inspire, celebrates the holidays, the Topeka Way, experience Zoo Lights, winter Wonderland, and Nativities, and Noels that warm every heart, hometown, holidays coming up on Inspire.

Inspire is sponsored by the estate of Ray and Anne Goldsmith, the Raymond C and Marguerite Gibson Foundation, and the Lewis h Humphreys Charitable Trust.

Welcome to the Holiday edition of Inspire.

I'm excited to be here with my inspire sisters, Amy Kelly and Danielle Norwood.

And you of course, we're together for some holiday fun.

Of course, we're delighted that you are here and we've got so many great guests coming too.

- It's the most wonderful time of the year in Topeka when the lights twinkle, the cocoa's warm and the community spirit shines brightest.

- Bringing people of all ages together is one of the season's hallmarks, especially when it includes seeing hundreds of Nativities on display.

To tell us about the Nativities and Noel's community displays, we have Carol Christensen.

Thank you for joining us today here on - Inspire.

Yay.

My pleasure and delight.

- I know about it from previous years in talking to you, but for those who are not familiar with Nativities and Noels, please tell us about how you came up with the idea, how long it's been going on, and about the community involvement that goes on with it.

- Well, this is the 14th year that we have had displays from community members of Nativities scenes, of Christ's birth, of all different kinds, and live Christmas music, all Christ centered.

It's held at the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints.

On the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of December, this is our, as I mentioned, our 14th year.

We have had people from about 20 other churches participate, sharing nativities, sharing music.

We have a Saturday night music program, and we've had other church choirs and bell choirs and praise teams.

It's just a wonderful community event, and it's free.

It's a delightful way to just really focus on what we feel Christmas is really supposed to focus on.

And not that the other things are bad to do at Christmas time, but it just helps to keep Christ in Christmas, which we think is very important.

Absolutely.

- So what can a visitor expect when they come?

Is it outside?

Do they need to bundle up?

Do they go inside?

I mean, what someone gets there and what, what, what is their experience once they get there?

- Okay.

They will go in of the entrance on Kings Row Road and Topeka, and there'll be a friendly greeter who will send them down into our, what we call our cultural hall.

Sometimes people call it a gym, but it has been transformed.

And so we have, you know, lots of tables set up with hundreds of nativities from all over, about about a hundred different countries.

Children's nativities, homemade nativities, nativities made of recycled materials.

I mean, just really very unique and interesting things.

There's live Christmas music going on.

Some people may be playing the piano school group coming in, or a children's group, a choir coming in.

We have some really fun things that people can do.

We have a, a seek and find game so that, you know, so it has a list of, you know, like, can you find a nativity with a zebra in it, by the way, there is one, you know, or can you find baby Jesus in a hammock?

You know?

And so anyway, some interesting little things and it helps kind of focus people and engage them.

And then we also have for families with little kids or grandparents who have young grandchildren, we have a take home children's craft too.

A nativity children craft this year is gonna be little finger puppets that they can color and cut out and make anyway, of a nativity scene.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

So, and then the Saturday night program I mentioned that is always really nice, bringing together just different faith groups and, and individuals and such like that.

And, and we love it.

We have lots of people from the community who come and take part in it.

And we have people from all over.

We've had people from Wichita come and just to visit, and we have people participating and sharing nativities from as far as like Garnet and Burlington and Hiawatha and Lawrence.

It's, it's kind of, so it's kind of a regional event.

And - Yeah, I love it when, when I was there last, it was so fun to see groups of people going around and finding things, and then they yell and say, oh, I've got, like you were saying to Jesus and the hammock, or, or I've seen, I've seen, you know, the bullets, you know, and you brought the bullets here.

- Yeah.

- Which is a wonderful nativity.

Would you give us the story behind that?

- Yes.

This is one from Liberia.

They had had civil war going on there in the early two thousands for a number of years.

Finally had peace and a very creative inspired, I would say Artisan found the bullet casings, flattened them out and cut them into nativity pieces.

And so it took, so it's a symbol of war becomes a symbol of the peace birth of the prince of peace.

So it's really is a neat story.

And there's another, can I talk about the one, the wall?

This one belongs to a member of the community of Christ, and she put together over a year, she grabbed some headlines.

Yeah.

Negative headlines, bad news.

And so she saved all these, and then she had her daughter put them together and she wanted to have the bad news in the background.

And then in the front, the good news Have the good news.

Oh yeah.

A super imposing of the Holy family.

And then underneath, as if it's written as a ransom note, it says, for God so loved the world.

Wow.

You know, very symbolically, because we feel Jesus ransom us from sin and death.

And so anyway, so that is really powerful.

And, and it's very interesting to see people go through because it's fun, but also, I mean, I have seen people cry when I, they see some nativities and sometimes somebody will say, oh, I had one like this when I was a kid.

You know?

And it's very, you know, very emotional.

Emotional and very touching.

And we always have new nativities each year.

So even if you've been before Betty Lou, come back, be back, I'll be back.

There are new ones.

And, and the thing is too, there's so many, I mean, like last year we had like 900 and you know, you can't possibly read, see everything, read every little descriptive card for every nativity, but you'll pick up different things.

And the main thing is you'll go home with a better, a peaceful and a joyful feeling.

Right.

I know at Christmas time it can be so hectic.

- Hectic.

- Right.

You know, and people feel stressed and, and it, it's centering, you know, it, it kind of helps you think this is what Christmas is really about.

It Definitely.

You know.

- Thank you Carol.

We appreciate you so much.

A sneak peek of this year's nativities and no ELs.

And we're gonna take a short break and when we return, we'll learn some new ways to make your holiday decor sizzle with Cheryl Clark of Dare to Dream Event Management.

Please stay there.

We can't have a special holiday show without Cheryl Clark from Dare to Dream Events.

And look at this.

She has the most whimsical mini and Mickey Cheryl, thank you for being here.

And what was the impetus for Mickey and Minnie?

- Well, this is the first time I've ever done a childhood wreath or any type of children decor.

So I wanted to do something inspirational.

What Minnie actually was my inspiration.

'cause my granddaughter loves Minnie Mouse, so this is gonna be for her, for her bedroom or on their front door.

- Ah, was it a surprise?

Because if she's watching it, it's not a surprise.

She's three - Years old, she won't know.

And to personalize it, you even have her initials down here on the bottom.

- I did.

Yeah.

I put her initials there versus putting a bow Yeah.

On there just to personalize it for her.

- Yeah.

That is so adorable.

Now how - Can we common folk make this?

It's very easy.

Trust me.

This is a old reef that I had in my basement that I pulled out.

And then I decided to, once I decided to do Mickey and Minnie, I had to figure out what color scheme I kind of wanted to play off of in their outfits.

Yeah.

And so I just decided to do something, you know, kind of like candy canes.

Minnie has polka dots.

So the bulbs, the bulbs are polka dots, and then the lollipops just kind of tie in the colors together.

But you added this little bow down here too.

I did, just to finish it off, I'm cut of OCD when it comes to that.

But I wanted to finish off the lollipop with the, with the bow on it to kind of tie the red in.

- So how are these secured on here?

- So I secured these with some fishing line.

This is 50 pound weight fishing line, so it's more than durable.

And I just kind of wrapped it around the body of Mickey and Minnie around the hands and around the feet directly to the reef.

- Okay.

Ah, perfect.

Now one of my favorite toys happens to be Tickle me Elma.

So could I do something like this with a reef to like basically snatch 'em in with some fish and line and Absolutely.

Put him in the - Middle.

You sure can.

You can just cut it out with the fishing line, it's, it's easy to cut.

I have my little tool that I love to use.

Yes.

My floral tool.

Cut it right off and then put any figurine in that you want.

You can even use, utilize any Santas.

Oh, look at that.

Any other characters or anything you like.

- Okay.

Now there's a special way that you wrap these, which, you know, if somebody just pokes it in there, it may or may not stay Right.

What's the - Secret?

So let me show you.

You just take the pick, use the stems, just wrap it around one direction, counterclockwise, and then go clockwise.

Okay.

Now I'm gonna, and they'll stick right in.

So I want you to use this one over here.

Oh, this one on the right side.

Okay.

And stick it right in there.

Right - In here.

Wherever you want.

Wherever you want.

Okay.

But it's important that there's an odd number.

And why is that?

For balance.

Okay.

It just balances everything out.

Okay.

So you wrap one one way and then the next another.

Now you also have another term called shushing - Ush.

I think that's the word you made up for me last time.

You just kind of pull 'em out to make it fuller.

Yeah.

And then just pull out the stands just to make it full so that it's, it's kind of pushing out all over to balance it out.

Great.

- Okay.

So could you do something other than Mickey and Minnie?

I mean, I know you brought some really cool sandis.

Yes.

How would you do with those?

- Yes.

You could just cut 'em out and put 'em in and then just make sure you find the right colors.

The white would go good in here.

Now the other one probably not so well because you don't have a lot of red to play off of.

But you would just pull some gold.

Would you find some - Gold?

Some gold green?

Okay.

Yep.

Pops of color.

And kind of make it like a foresty, foresty santa kind of a thing.

You - Could, and you could even do floral center picks with those as well.

- And of course add some lights.

- Yep.

- You love light?

I do.

I have to have like, would you use some clear lights, some colored lights or jerk?

Pre I would preference.

- Okay.

- Preference.

But I would use clear.

Clear on here and maybe gold on there.

And maybe get some wildlife animals.

Maybe a little chipmunk - And a deer or something like that.

Bread, man.

I mean, you can do anything with this.

So I'm looking for you ladies to do that the next time I'm here.

So this doesn't - Actually have to be a wall or a door hanging.

No, no.

You could use this as a - Centerpiece as well, right?

You could.

You can use it as a halo.

Cut these out and then just stand up your character and put candles in it however you want.

Do it.

Candles?

Yep.

Oh, it's perfect.

If you dare to - Dream, you dare to have Cheryl Clark as party, whatever.

She's been in business for over 20 years.

She does weddings, all kinds of things, but we love her here on Inspire.

Happy holidays.

Thank you for having me.

- Welcome back.

Topeka Glows, literally glows with holiday lights during the holidays.

And here to discuss a couple of the brightest displays that give back to our community.

Our Christina Castellano, CEO of the Topeka Zoo.

And Matt Fletcher, executive director at tarc.

Christina.

And Matt, welcome to Inspire.

Yeah, thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Having us.

So Matt, you are with tarc and TARC supports or puts on - Right, - Or is a is a beneficiary of Winter Wonderland.

We - Put it on with great support from Shawnee County Parks and Recreation sponsors and hundreds of volunteers every year.

- The - Winter Wonderland at Lake Shawnee's Campground.

This is our 28th year and it's massive.

The scope of it is just truly awe inspiring, - But people may not understand who it benefits.

What does TARC stand for?

- TARC has been in Topeka since 1954.

So since that time for over 70 years, we've been providing services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, allowing them to live independent lives in the community.

Last year we supported over 1400 children and adults and their families in helping them to live full lives.

And a big part of that is this fundraising event, winter Wonderland.

It's our major fundraiser for the year.

Ah.

- Now Christina, you are newer to the community.

As I was leaving, you were coming and so I haven't had a chance to talk to you, but the Topeka Zoo and the whole light display, tell me about it because are we at our sixth year already?

- We are.

Yeah, we are.

It's six.

We're going, we're in our sixth year and we hear all the time that it is a family tradition.

It's a tradition for friends to come to our zoo.

So in a relatively short amount of time, it's really warmed people's hearts.

It's a place to make memories and it's just become part of a tradition - And it's absolutely gorgeous.

- Thank you very much.

We're excited.

Wonderful.

- For this year.

So a little bit more, how did the, the Zoo Lights actually get started?

- What I was told and why it has such a special place for people.

The first year was during COVID - And - During COVID I, as everybody remembers, it was a time where we didn't really see each other, we didn't spend time together, everyone felt very isolated.

And then here comes Zoo Lights.

And it was an opportunity for people to get out, to meet, to be outdoors, and to do something special together once again.

So it really started as a place of really reuniting the community and for seeing people again after a time when we, you know, we missed each other.

- And now that's a walkthrough at the Topeka Zoo.

Yours is a drive through.

That's right.

With your wonderland.

Please explain that.

- Well, folks can load up in their favorite car, truck van, you name it.

Bring it on over to Lake Shawnee Campgrounds and they can drive through the Winter Wonderland experience.

It's, as I said before, pretty massive.

It's worth your time to come and visit.

And I think you might even want to go around maybe two or three times time.

I know my son really loves to, to go twice, three times through, so, - Well, I know the Topeka Zoo definitely is a walkthrough.

However, in comma, I was able to host an Igloo party one year.

That was absolutely was epic.

So much fun.

That's great.

Tell us about the igloos that are there, because it's a nice way to get warmed and have a little, something warm to drink, you know, to get you out of the chill weather.

Talk about that.

- Yeah, so I love Igloo.

So my family, we rented Igloo, igloo last year for the first time.

And it's festive, it's heated.

Our staff brings food to our guests.

There's a fire pit.

My kids were just running around.

But the really fun part of it was that there were a couple of igloos together and our family was hanging out with the family next to us and the other igloo.

So it's a great way on a really cold day to really experience new lights, but do it in a really comfortable way.

- Almost like a wintertime tailgate.

Yeah, - It is!

Yeah.

Kids are going between igloos and families and it's wonderful, but the walking experience is gonna be really exciting.

This year, the theme is holidays around the world.

Oh.

So each area of the zoo represents a different region, a different country.

It's lighted the way it would be in that place, so it's gonna be really exciting.

- So that's new.

- Yeah, our team, they're, they're just working round the clock.

The lights are high up in the trees.

Everybody's just gonna make this the, the best Zoo Lights year ever.

Nice.

- That's wonderful.

Okay, so both events have lots of different displays and things to look at.

What are each of your favorites?

- You know, that's so difficult.

I, I think everyone has a favorite.

I know my son certainly likes the drive through tunnels.

He likes the lights and the 3D glasses.

And I, I think for me, I really like the stars of life.

It's a memorial that folks can contribute to have their loved ones names put up as a part of the displays.

And I think that's just a really touching thing.

We have a new display this year that we're really excited to debut.

It's a kind of a three dimensional snow globe.

So I invite folks to be on the lookout for that as they drive through this year.

So I think that's gonna be my favorite.

- Okay, that's great.

Well, I learned recently that we have over 500 displays and 350,000 feet of rope lights.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

So it's really spectacular throughout the zoo.

But what I really love this year is Camp Cowabunga.

It's decorated with red, green and gold ribbon in the way that an African themed - Right - Festival would be.

Yeah.

And it's just, it's so unique.

It's beautiful.

I'm so excited to see all the, all the, the pavilion lit up and the exhibits lit up.

So this year I think it's gonna be Camp Cowabunga in Africa.

- And such an homage to our dear Gary Clark.

I just, that's a good point.

Yes.

With everything that you're doing at the zoo, this is a big fundraiser for you as well.

Why does the zoo need money?

- Yeah.

Well, I mean, we are an operation that cares for over 200 animals.

We deliver education programs.

Our on-campus experience is always important in terms of our profession is always evolving and getting better.

And we're always striving to do more for the animals and for our guests.

So for us, Zoo Lights is a very important revenue driver as well.

And we just wanna knock it outta the park so people feel excited.

We say every time you visit the zoo, it's an act of conservation because your dollars go towards something big.

It goes towards the conservation of wildlife and for taking care of the animals at your zoo.

- Why wonderful.

I know that there have been some special occasions that have happened during Zoo Lights, like some engagements.

- Yeah.

- Do you have some stories?

Do you have some stories of some beautiful things that have happened that memories have been created either through Winter Wonderland or Zoo Lights?

- Well, I, I, I can't top an engagement, but I, I think it's a tradition for a lot of families.

I think, you know, I've certainly talked to a lot of folks who love to, to go through at least once or twice during the season.

Sure.

We're open right before Thanksgiving and we go until New Year's Eve and it allows families the opportunity to see the displays two or three times if they'd like, but Sure, yeah.

No engagements that I can speak of.

- Well, I know you have some because I've seen pictures on Facebook.

- Yes.

So we do have engagements happening.

We do have displays where people pose in front of them and do get engaged.

But the, the truth is, when I walk around Zoo lights and just see people connecting, making those memories, every, every memory, every event, every evening is something special.

So even though we have these big things, it's kind, it's kind of the same thing.

It's just you walk around and you see life happening and people really coming out and spending time - Together.

Christina and Matt, thank you so much for joining us on Inspire and for telling us all about what your teams are doing to make Topeka a holiday destination.

So don't go anywhere in a few minutes.

We'll have some fun with the Inspire ladies that you won't want to miss.

So stay with us.

- Welcome back.

It's not every day that they inspire sisters have a chance to hang out together.

So I wanted to have some fun talking about some of our own favorite holiday memories and we have a little cup here with some questions that I have created and they don't know what I'm about to ask.

So this is gonna be even more fun than the typical wrap up.

But everybody gets a chance to answer.

So the first one is relatively safe.

What's one Topeka holiday event or memory that feels like home to you?

Who would like to start us off?

- Well, I'll just say Zoo Lights because I think that's fun.

You know, actually let me also say the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade because, you know, know I was with the station when we first started it.

So really back in the day.

Yeah.

'cause it went from a, from a daytime parade to a nighttime parade.

And that was really fun and it's still going on.

Did not know that.

- I would have to say, bear with me.

White Lakes when it used to be decked out for Christmas because it was the only place to go shopping.

So everybody was there.

There was music, it was decorated, there was stuff, it was just, you know, when you're a kid in grade school, that was just a fun, fun place to be at the holidays.

So it was White Lakes at Christmas time.

- That's so neat.

I would echo that as well.

Yeah.

Plus I would also say Fairlawn Plaza.

Oh.

With can displays that they had for harvesters where different companies would use like all these different cans to make up holiday displays all up and down Fairlawn Plaza.

Yep.

That was one of my favorites.

That was really cool.

Another one, if you could spend Christmas anywhere in the world, where would it be?

And no Topeka is not on the list.

- Ooh, London.

A Dickensian kind of old fashioned Christmas.

- Ooh, okay.

- Yeah.

Very, you know, Charles Dickens and, and you know, that kind of Christmas carol type feeling.

Okay.

Be, I would do London.

- I'm going to go Norman Rockwell.

Okay.

Ah, - Nice.

- Yeah.

- And you, I'm gonna say Christmas in a bikini in Turks and Caicos.

See, I guess on the odd one out here, I'm like, I wanna be warm when it's Christmas.

I wanna be on some sand drinking, you know, some Christmas martini.

I don't know.

But that, that was my first thought.

Is there a Christmas song that instantly puts you in the holiday mood?

- Yeah.

Andy Williams.

The most wonderful time of the year.

Second, it is the, the quintessential Christmas song.

It is the official start to every Christmas season is Andy Williams the most wonderful time of the year.

Mic drop second.

Thank - You.

What about you?

White Christmas.

Okay.

White Christmas.

Nice.

You have traditional.

Traditional, now where did we mention Mariah?

But I digress early on.

Real Tree or Artificial Tree And why - Real?

I love the Smell Plus, you know, we used to have our little ceremony with the family when we'd, you know, chop it down together.

Yeah.

Didn't you have a song it down A song?

Yeah.

We had a song that I wanna hear the song.

Well my dad, you know?

Yep.

It's, it was, you know, somewhat off color now though, but I'll sing it for you later.

- Okay.

What about you?

I would've to say I love the real trees, but our artificial tree that we have was one of my parents got somehow and it's like a nine foot glorious artificial tree.

I mean, it's like weird.

We lucked into getting it and it's just beautiful and the lights are already on it.

There's probably a couple thousand lights on it.

It's just, so, it's our, the artificial Christmas tree, the one that we have in my house.

It's really cool.

- And it's lasted this entire time.

- Yes, yes.

But - Memories too with your family.

Oh, absolutely.

That that has to make it even more special.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

I would say a real tree.

But I've been overruled by the people in my household about having a real tree because I couldn't let it go.

Like it was black History month and the tree was still in the house and somebody in the house said, it's a fire hazard, Danielle, you can't have the tree up anymore.

So needless to say, the tree - Had to go.

Bye-bye.

- Yeah.

Fake trees ever since.

But I really like the real 'cause I like that set - The smell - As well.

Okay.

What's your go-to holiday movie?

Mine's gonna be, it's a wonderful life.

I don't think you can do anything better than, except for maybe white Christmas.

Okay.

- White Christmas.

White Christmas.

White Christmas.

It's white Christmas and Emett Otter's Jug Band Christmas.

- Okay.

Who?

- Emmett Otter's.

Jug Band Christmas.

It is amazing.

It is amazing.

Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas.

It is a Muppet derivative.

I mean, I think Kermit is in it.

Yes.

Emmett Otter's Jug Band.

Christmas.

- You know, I'm gonna have to Google an elf of, of recent Elf.

Okay.

I mean, I just made that so fun.

I know, I do too.

Okay.

- Get yours.

Okay.

So yeah, I'm still sticking with, It's a Wonderful Life.

And White Christmas, there's just, I just thought you might have a newer one now 'cause I don't like new stuff apparently.

Hence we don't do Mariah.

But anyhow, well, - I hate to do it, but it is time to wrap up our holiday show and thanks again to all of our guests for joining us.

As always, you can watch this program again@watch.ktwu.org.

- And if you are so inspired to learn more about our guests and wanna see what's coming up on future episodes, visit our website at wwwktwu.org forward slash inspire.

- Inspiring women, inspiring you to celebrate family, community, and the spirit of the season.

Inspiring you on KTWU.

Thank you all for watching.

- Inspire is sponsored by the estate of Ray and Anne Goldsmith, the Raymond C and Marguerite Gibson Foundation, and the Lewis h Humphreys Charitable Trust.