Newton - With the flip of a switch, the McCracken family lit the holiday trees lining the Newton Memorial Hospital entranceway during the 14th annual Festival of Lights celebration. According to Festival Chairman Doctor William Scarpa the kick-off to the holiday season “seems to have gotten better and bigger each year.” More than 500 people sponsored trees or strings of lights in memory of friends and family. All proceeds from this year’s event will help the new heart center to be built at the hospital. Last year the event raised more than $60,000. Before the tree lighting, donors were treated to a festive get together in the hospital lobby. Two bagpipers then lead the crowd outside to the tree-lined landscape where the ceremony took place. Onlookers cheered their approval and turned their gaze to the night sky for a fireworks display sponsored by Bell BMW. The late Edward McCracken started the idea for the Festival of Lights 14 years ago as a way to beautify the hospital for the holidays. He got the idea from a similar event he witnessed while serving in World War II. “We will definitely keep doing this. We have grandkids another generation,” said Edward McCracken’s wife shirley. Scarpa was thankful to the McCrackens for their continued involvement. “We appreciate what they have done for this hospital and this community immensely,” he said.