Southern Byways

Do you need a jump start to get into that holiday mood? I just might know something that’ll have you feeling that holiday spirit in no time -  lights and a lot of them.

Not only does the days soon after Thanksgiving bring sales, but also large configurations of lights as well. From now until New Years, many towns and cities across the South will glow with different colors.

Prepare to be dazzled from the Holiday Trail of Lights that includes Kilgore, Texas‘ “Christmas in the Oil Patch” to Fantasy of Lights in Sumter, S.C., to Zoolights at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

In Arkansas, the 13th Annual Lights of the Delta in Blytheville runs through December 27. It features over 6 million lights, 30 displays and much more on 1.5 mile driving trail.

Celebrate “Iron Mountain Christmas” during Iron Mountain Lodge & Marina in Arkadelphia through December 31. The event features over 2 million lights.

By now you know it’s true that things are larger-than-life in Texas, including light displays. The town of Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights as 7 million lights (125,000 of those adorn the courthouse alone) and holds the distinction of being one of the largest Christmas celebrations in the nation. The event runs through December 31.

You’ll find a little bit of everything plus lights at Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail. 11 towns in Hill Country participate including Fredericksburg, Llano, New Braunfels and Johnson City. The lights last through January 1, 2009.

Bastrop’s River of Lights is set up from Fisherman’s Park to Ferry Park. The whole trail is glowing with lighted displays.

Even the unwelcome visit of Hurricane IKE couldn’t stop the 11th Annual Dickinson Festival of Lights at Paul Hopkins Park, November 29 – December 31. The entire community helps with the displays (over a million lights) and festivities.

There is a surprise at the end of the trail on the 11th Annual EmilyAnn Theatre’s Trail of Lights in Wimberley. The pathway, decorated with lighted exhibits, leads to the Christmas tree. Not only that, but also while you are on this hill, you are treated to a 360-degree view of Wimberley Valley. The event runs November 29 – January 1, 2009.

Don’t miss Christmas in the Park in Cuero. This driving tour lasts through January 1.

Enjoy walking through Gonzales Pioneer Village as it’s decorated in lights of all kinds. Don’t miss out on the other activities going on as well. This event takes places on November 28-29, December 5-6 and 12-13.

Drive along the route during the Grayson County Holiday Lights in Denison. Set in Loy Lake Park, this free event concludes on December 26.

In Louisiana, you can celebrate “Christmas Wonderland in the Pines” in Jonesboro. The over 5 million little lights are lit on November 29. The event runs through January 1.

One of the other stops along the Holiday Trail of Lights is Christmas in Roseland (PDF file). Taking place at the American Rose Center in Shreveport, it features a lot of lights entertainment and much more. This ends on December 26.

The Safari of Lights takes place nightly at the Zoo of Acadiana in Broussard on November 28-29, and then December 5 – 30. It features over 30 lighted displays.

Beginning on December 1 is New Iberia’s Christmas in the Park at New Iberia’s City park. You have the opportunity to walk or drive through to see the lights.

In Mississippi, half a million lights set to Christmas music will adorn numerous exhibits at Central Park during Southern Lights in Southaven.

If you are looking for lights in Alabama, the Christmas on the River in Demopolis is a week long festival that begins on November 30 and ends on December 6. During that time, not only can you see lights on the river, but there are other events, such as candlelit tours of antebellum homes and more.

In Tuscumbia, the Christmas Light and Water Show features lights and dancing spouts of water, jettison 150 feet in the air, all set to Christmas music. This free events at Spring Park concludes at the end of December.

It’s all about the lights during Bellingrath’s Magic Christmas in Lights. With over 3 million lights on over 800 displays, the garden is transformed into magical place.  After you stroll through the gardens, don’t miss the home that is decorated for the season. Located in Theodore, the lights conclude on December 31.

In Tennessee, you’ll find, Christmas on the Cumberland in Clarksville has over a million twinkle lights. Set in McGregor Park Riverwalk, it includes various scenes and displays. This ends on January 1, 2009.

Don’t miss your chance to drive on “The World’s Fastest Half Mile” at Bristol Motor Speedway during the Speedway in Lights happening through January 3, 2009. With over 200 displays and over a dozen scenes that include motorsports (of course), Santa’s village and more.

It’s considered to be Memphis’ largest holiday lights, the Zoo Lights, presented by Sun Trust, has over a million lights in different displays.

If you’re heading to Georgia, be sure to take in the million lights on various displays during the mile long trail on 2008 Lights of Life presented by Life University in Marietta. The events ends on December 31.

Starting on December 1, Tallapoosa Festival of Lights takes place in the downtown area and Helton Howland Park. The event concludes on January 1, 2009.

In Florida, Northwest Florida Zoo in Gulf Breeze is glowing during ZOOlights (PDF file). Lights are decorated around the animals’ homes.

Oaks by the Bay Christmas Lights Display, located in Oaks by the Bay Park in Panama Beach (St. Andrews) features lighted displays. The event lasts through December 31.

Be sure to see the lights during Amelia Island Plantation’s Holiday Light Celebration. This event also features a carousel, horse & carriage ride and much more.

Thousands of lights transforms downtown Lake City and the park into a holiday magical place during the Festival of Lights, happening through January 1, 2009.

‘Tween Waters Inn is glowing for the holiday season. Over 100,000 lights adorn this Captiva Island property from now until the end of December.

When you are in North Carolina, take a hayride through the 2008 Festival of Lights at Mike’s Farm in Richlands. Sights include a live nativity scene. The event runs through December 27.

Grab a map and go on a self-guided tour of the lights in Rocky Mount during the Festival of Lights. The lights conclude on January 1, 2009.

With around 100,000 lights, the Trail of Lights (Waldensian Trail of Faith) in Valdese features Christmas scenes as well as displays depicting the Waldensian culture.

Did you know that there are over 800,000 lights in the over 50 displays in Ashland, Kentucky’s Winter Wonderland Light Festival? Walk the 52 acres to see all of the holiday scenes. The event ends on January 2, 2009.

Lee’s Ford Resort Marina’s (in Nancy) Christmas Village includes a Festival of Lights through December 31.

Over a million lights are in the over 100 displays found at Christmas in the Park in Elizabethtown. Taking place at Freeman Lake Park, this event ends on January 1, 2009.

In Virginia, you’ll find that with over a million twinkle lights, the Norfolk Botanical Garden is glowing for the holidays. The Garden of Lights is a two mile driving tour that takes place through December 31.

Ride the chairlift to the Natural Tunnel ( referred as the “eighth wonder in the world” by William Jennings Bryan) in Duffield to see the Christmas light below. The event, Christmastime Lighting of the Tunnel runs through December 27.

Staunton’s Celebration of Holiday Lights in Gypsy Hill Park takes place December 1 – January 3, 2009. The 214 acres of the park features lighted holiday displays created by the businesses, groups and individuals in the community.

Enjoy Hunt Club Farm’s petting farm light displays as well as other activities, such as live animal nativity and bonfires, during the Winter Wonderland. Located in Virginia Beach, this ends on December 31.

In West Virginia, the lighted displays at the St. Albans Festival of Lights are created by park employees, and include holiday, animal and other scenes. The event ends on December 23.

The lights have taken over the 40 acres of Tony Lotito City Park during Bluefield’s Holiday of Lights Festival. This ends on January 10, 2009.

Christmas in the Park at Chief Logan State Park in Logan features lighted displays accessible by car. The lights conclude on January 1, 2009.

The light displays keep growing at the Winterfest 2008 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley. Happening through January 5, the activities also include sleigh rides, concerts, performances and of course, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Yuletide in the Park in Hurricane features animated lighted along the trail as well as other surprises and activities. The event runs through January 1, 2009.

Don’t forget about the others lights going on as well. There’s also Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights, Smoky Mountain Winterfest and Gaylord properties’ ICE!

And come back next week for more lights around the South.

photo credits: (first page, top) ZooLights-Mama and Baby Panda, flickr, creative commons by robinpresta and ZooLights-Mama and Baby Elephant, flickr, creative commons by robinpresta; (first page, middle) magic of the holidays 17: when it’s christmas time in texas (johnson city), flickr, creative commons by jmtimages (first page, middle bottom) All Aboard, Train at Bellingrath Gardens, flickr, morganharrison; (second page, middle) Holiday Lights @ Norfolk Botanical Gardens, flickr, creative commons by amberinnorfolk

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