By Isabella Zarate
The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes a multitude of Christmas lights.
As homeowners adorn trees and hang lights, the Champaign County Forest Preserve will also create their very own light display. Glowing lights will illuminate the night for the first “Night Lights in the Garden” at Mabery Gelvin Botanical Gardens in Mahomet.
The winter wonderland will start on December 3 and run on Fridays and Saturdays from 4-8 p.m. until January 8th. This includes the evenings of Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Tours will be self-directed down a paved walking path; it will not be a drive-through display. Paths will be indicated by candy cane posts and rope lights.
The walk will also feature a few photo opportunities including a wagon, which will be located somewhere near the pond.
In total it should take about 15 minutes to walk all the way through.
According to Lisa Sprinkle, the marketing coordinator for the Forest Preserve, there will be “no particular theme. No shapes, just lights in the trees.” The majority of the lights will be white but there will also be a few variations with colored, multi, and solid lights.
For those familiar with the garden area, they can expect to find the pond as well as the bridge shimmering with bright white lights. Additionally, spotlights will shine on the waterfall.
“There will be around 50,000 lights,” Sprinkle shared.
“It’s just a nice place to be able to take your family and just enjoy the outside,” Sprinkle said.
To celebrate the start of this event there will be a grand opening of sorts on December 4th. The event, which will be both free and open to the public, will include holiday songs, the performance of live Christmas carols, a holiday scavenger hunt, and plenty of hot cocoa.
Gingerbread house kits will also be available for $10 for those who register ahead of time.
The registration link is here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ccfpd/activity/search/detail/1479
Don’t hesitate to register now as there is a limited number of spots available.
An additional and final celebration is to be held on January 8 to commemorate the event.
As advised by Sprinkle and the Preserve, “Visitors will park in the Museum of the Grand Prairie parking lot. Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve will close at 5 p.m. so all cars will need to be in the parking lot at that time, not in the preserve. There will be directional signs to follow from the parking lot to the sidewalk.”
For more information, you can visit this link: https://www.ccfpd.org/Museum-Education/Events/Event-Detail/evr/2/night-lights-in-the-garden
Bundle up and get your friends, family, and loved ones together to admire the bright lights and cherish this holiday season!
