VIDALIA, La. &045; Christmas displays will be lighting up the riverfront this holiday season.

Vidalia officials hope to start a new tradition this year with a drive-through display, with half of the proceeds benefiting United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou Inc.

The display would be set up the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Town officials met Tuesday with representatives from Winterland Inc., an Indiana company that sets up displays across the country. Monroe, La., has a similar display.

&uot;We’ll have over 400 displays on the riverfront with over a million lights,&uot; said Theresa Dennis, executive director of the Concordia Economic Development District.

The cost per carload will most likely be about $8, with part of that money going to Winterland and the rest of that money split between Vidalia and United Way.

Local companies can also help sponsor displays, and Winterland can create individual displays for those companies. For example, Dennis said, Winterland could create a light display that looks like the front of Concordia Bank. Many of the displays are animated lights.

She also hopes Winterland could create some displays that would be unique to Vidalia &045; such as a tugboat pulling a barge.

Some of the displays will also be spiritual, to reflect the Christmas season.

&uot;We’ll try to do a bunch of different things,&uot; said Glen McGlothin, marketing director for the town of Vidalia.

Vidalia will market throughout the region and hopes to make it an annual event.

David Fred with Winterland could not be reached for comment, but Dennis said he predicted people would drive up to an hour and a half to see the display.

&uot;We just need everyone’s help with sponsorships and marketing,&uot; Dennis said.