Gowing reindeer, a snowman tipping his hat, bicycles circling the sky, a towering Christmas tree and a lit up water tank house are just a fraction of this year’s HOLIDAY LIGHTS drive and walk-through display at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The family-oriented event started Nov. 29 and runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas eve.
“Because many of our guests have a Christmas Eve tradition of coming to HOLIDAY LIGHTS on December 24th, we will have two Bonus Nights this year – December 23 and December 24,” said Ron Haedicke, marketing director for the Fairgrounds Foundation.
Over the past year, volunteers have been working to not only create the lighted characters and other dazzling shapes, they’ve added scores of more lighted goodies, including large flowers, reindeer and candy canes to view as you drive through the three-quarter mile course.
Put on by the Fairgrounds Foundation and the Agricultural History Project, the event this year includes two special Walk-Thru nights, Dec 6 and 7, that ties in with the 47th Annual Holiday Craft and Gift Fair. Visitors will be invited to leeave their cars behind and stroll the course on foot. The Gift Fair, presented by the Fairgrounds Foundation, runs from noon to 9pm each day at the Harvest, Crosetti, and Fine Arts buildings.
Lights kickoff each evening at 5:30pm. Haedicke said that last year over last year 15,000 cars came to HOLIDAY LIGHTS. For tickets, visit fairgroundsfoundation.org or call 786-9698.
By TARMO HANNULA
