Airlines + Airports An Airport in Wisconsin Installed a Drive-Through Light Display to Entertain Locals While Maintaining Social Distance About 400 cars drove through during their opening weekend. By Alison Fox Alison Fox Instagram Twitter Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on April 20, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Ian DeGraff An airport in Wisconsin is — literally — brightening the spirits of their community with an elaborate drive-through light display, perfect for social distancing. The free Flight of Lights display, which includes more than 2 million individual lights spread over 300 different displays, opened over the weekend at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. About 400 cars drove through this past weekend during their opening, marveling at colorful images of New York City, dice from Las Vegas, and even a nod to Mickey Mouse, spokesman for the airport, Nick Kazmierczak, told Travel + Leisure. Ian DeGraff Ian DeGraff Ian DeGraff The light show also paid tribute to first responders, including police and healthcare workers, and a few things that are currently not an option to enjoy in person; sports and a beach vacation. “Most people are starting to get bored in the house. There's only so much you can do,” Kazmierczak said. “A new event and outdoor activity they can go to with their family is something people are really enjoying, as well as the fact that they get to pay tribute to all these frontline, essential workers.” Wisconsin’s “safer at home” order went into effect on March 25 and prohibits most gatherings, closing public spaces like playgrounds. Ian DeGraff The idea for the light display was actually hatched in the beginning of the year with the goal of going up in mid-May, but the coronavirus pandemic led to some tweaking and an earlier start date. “COVID-19 hit and after about a week of a safer at home order here, we decided let’s alter this a little bit, keep the same spring, aviation theme, but add some tributes to the frontline workers,” Kazmierczak said, adding the airport was inspired by individual efforts to thank essential workers. “We wanted to do that on a larger scale and really say thank you to all these essential employees who are really getting us through the pandemic.” Ian DeGraff Ian DeGraff Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit