Duluth's Bentleyville gets moment in national spotlight, competing in ABC's Christmas light contest

DULUTH – Bentleyville's dazzling holiday lights will go up against some of the country's biggest and brightest displays in an episode of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" airing on ABC at 7 p.m. Monday.

A crew from the show visited Duluth's Bayfront Park last December to film the city's holiday attraction, a $750,000 annual production that features more than 5 million lights.

Bentleyville is competing with a display in Texas and two in California in the show's new "heavyweight division." Judges will select the winner, which will receive a $50,000 prize.

Organizers plan to gather at the Sports Garden from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a viewing co-hosted by WDIO, Duluth's ABC affiliate. The watch party is open to the public, and volunteers will be collecting food and toy donations for the Salvation Army.

"I'm the only soul here who knows if we won," said Nathan Bentley, the event's executive director, who started Bentleyville at his home in Esko, Minn., in 2001.

Bentleyville, which draws more than a quarter million people to Duluth each year, will be open every evening until Dec. 28. Admission is free.