Star-Studded Ceremonies Open Wonderland of Lights

MARSHALL, Texas, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rhema Marvanne, the 7-year-old gospel music phenom, and Twilight saga star Kirsten Prout will walk the red carpet at a star-studded lighting ceremony opening the 24th annual Wonderland of Lights at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 in Marshall's town square.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101110/DC99042)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101110/DC99042)  

The event features Marvanne's live performance of "The Prayer," one of the songs that have made her a YouTube sensation and inspired ABC's 20/20 news magazine to profile the Texas tot in an upcoming segment.

Prout, best known as Lucy in the Twilight saga "Eclipse," stars as the evening's celebrity hostess. Together she and Marvanne will flip the switch bringing Wonderland of Lights to life at approximately 6:10 p.m. on the main stage at Houston and North Washington streets.

More than a million lights in hundreds of displays will showcase Marshall's historic town square, the magnificent 1901 courthouse and landmarks around town in the 24th annual Wonderland of Lights, a 40-day festival of holiday lights, music and family fun Nov. 24 through Jan. 2.  

Marvanne appears live in concert on the square after lighting ceremonies, and Wonderland attractions, including open-air ice skating on the Samsung Rink, the Marshall Express trackless train, Santa's Workshop & Mrs. Claus' Kitchen, the Capital One Bank Snow Globe, carriage rides, bus tours and more, will entertain crowds until 9:30 p.m.

The opening ceremony is presented by Network Communications and is free to the public. Attraction costs vary, but admission to Wonderland of Lights is free.

The holiday festival is a Texas tradition and expands this year with new attractions including an all-star holiday concert series. The Four Tops, the Charlie Daniels Band, Roy Clark, and The von Trapp Children, members of the clan made famous by "The Sound of Music," come to Marshall Convention Center through Dec. 18 as part of Wonderland of Lights. Visit Marshall, Texas online for concert schedules or to buy concerts tickets.

Wonderland of Lights photographs and video are available.

About Wonderland of Lights

A 1987 Marshall News Messenger editorial made a wish that has illuminated this city for more than 20 years. The editorial, published in hard times for East Texas, imagined "Marshall's square, every tree, every bush, decorated with tiny white lights." Philanthropist and Marshall native Wendy Russell Reves responded with a generous donation to make that wish come true in the first annual Wonderland of Lights.

Today Wonderland of Lights is one of the largest holiday light celebrations in the United States, and more than 125,000 visitors make coming to Marshall a holiday tradition.

Wonderland of Lights is produced under the direction of Center Stage Productions, a newly formed organizing committee representing the Marshall Convention & Visitors Bureau, the City of Marshall and Marshall Festivals. Sponsors of the 24th annual Wonderland of Lights include Samsung, Steve and Penny Carlile/Celebrating Home, McKool Smith, Capital One Bank, Network Communications, East Texas Baptist University, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Good Shepherd Medical Center, Bancorp South, The Marshall News Messenger, KMHT, Design Media, Brownrigg Insurance, Camterra Resources, Knuckols-Duvall-Hallum & Co., Lewis Engineering, Logan & Whaley, The Made-Rite Company, Marshall Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Marshall Toyota, Panola National Bank, Mary Fitts, Flo Jasper, Ken and Celia Carlile, Jeff and Kim Scrivener, Dr. and Mrs. George Bennett, and Dr. and Mrs. R. Orin Littlejohn.

SOURCE Marshall Convention & Visitors Bureau