PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. (AP) A Johnson County suburb has approved an ordinance that could mean the end of a popular holiday spectacle.
The Prairie Village City Council passed an ordinance this week requiring permits for any special event that lasts five days or more and is likely to draw crowds.
Mike Babick feels the ordinance was directed at him because each December for more than four decades he’s been adorning his home with thousands of twinkling lights and hundreds of holiday figures and robotic elves. Gawkers come by the busloads.
The Kansas City Star reports city officials say Babick’s display can create crowd problems, and he likely would have to hire off-duty police officers most weekends during the holiday.
Babick says it’s unclear if he’ll be able to afford that this year.
