Over the last 36 years, residents of Southern Illinois and beyond have flocked to West Frankfort for the breathtaking display of holiday light… âOne summer it started from a Christmas in July party,â Marilyn Murphy, Timâs sister, told The Southern in 2016. She added that the neighbors came together to talk about how to decorate collectively for the Christmas holiday. Ever since, she said it has become a stalwart part of Christmas festivities in West Frankfort, with last weekendâs opening bringing bumper-to-bumper traffic along the route. Murphy said she and her brother lived far from family, so seeing the childrenâs faces light up each year at the light display made the holiday for them.