Southern Byways

Holiday Traditions in the South: Lights, lights and more lights, part I of III

by Apryl on November 22nd, 2008

You think you have a lot of lights to put for the holidays? I can guarantee you that they don’t even come close to these elaborate displays. So, put away that box and see how the professionals do it.From Athens, Texas’ Land of Lights (through January 1, 2009) to Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden(through December 30) in Columbia, S.C. to Winterfest of Light (through January 1, 2009) in Ocean City, Md.,  the South is glowing in holiday colors.Here’s a brief round-up of some of the current light displays:In Arkansas, discover the splendor of over 1.7 millions at the Garvan Woodland Gardens’ “Lights on the Landscape” in Hot Springs, happening through December 31. Through January 3 in Russellville, holiday lights are set to music during the 3rd Annual Sport Scene Holiday Light Show.Looking for lights in the Lone Star State? Well, you are in luck. There are many to choose from.Nine Flags Festival, taking place in Nacogdoches, features over 3 million lights. This festival runs through December 13.Riverbend Nature Center’s 7th annual ElectriCritters (Wichita Falls), happening through December 20, features over 150 lighted silhouettes that are found along the trail. See the various light displays that adorn the shoreline of Lake Marble Falls during the Walkway of Lights in Marble Falls. The displays, which contain 130 sculptures, will be lit until January 3, 2009.You can’t help but to start to feel festive when you see the 110 light displays along the trail of Nature in Lights in Ft. Hood. The event concludes on January 4, 2009.Until December 31, you can the lighted scenes at Moody Gardens’ Festival of Lights in Galveston.In Mississippi, you can find snowflakes in Bay St. Louis/Hancock County. Okay, so they aren’t real, but they are still pretty. These snowflake shaped lights on the trees are part of the 2nd annual Snowflakes on the Bay that runs until January 3, 2009.The lights are bright in Alabama with Huntsville Botanical Garden’s 13th annual Galaxy of Lights.  What makes this special is that volunteer are responsible for building the very large, 600 light displays. This event concludes on December 31.In Georgia, for 17 years Callaway Gardens’, in Pine Mountain, Fantasy of Lights is a must-see event. With over 8 million lights and scenes, it’s a holiday experience that you won’t forget. This ends on December 30.Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta is hosting Holiday in Lights. This features numerous displays that unique year after year. The event ends on January 4, 2009.Lake Lanier Island’s Magical Night of Lights is dubbed as world’s largest animated light displays. It’s six miles of lights and lighted displays. This event runs through December 30.The Sunshine State kicks off the pre-holiday feel with Silver Sands Holiday Lights in Concert in Destin. Over 60,000 lights in holiday colors (red, green and white) are set to holiday songs. The “lighted” concert finale is December 4.South Carolina’s first holiday light event is Charleston’s Holiday Festival of Lights in James Island County Park. Saying that this event has grown over the years is an understatement. What started out with 18 displays has now grown into over 2 million lights and 600 lighted displays for its 19th season. The event ends on January 1, 2009.In North Carolina, you find Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights in Clemmons. In its 17th year, the event features over a million lights with over a hundred displays, depicting everything from holiday scenes to storybook scenes. This concludes on January 1, 2009.Started 30 years ago, the Meadow Lights in Benson is still going strong. It features a number of lighted holiday decorations, including an authentic manger scene. The lights end on December 31.In Kentucky, one of the holiday light traditions is the Southern Lights. Taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the event has over 1 million lights in over 100 displays. This ends on December 31. Happening until January 1 is Mountain Top Lights in Breaks Interstate Park, starting in Pike County. What makes this different from the others is that it is shared by two states. The light displays also go into Dickenson County, Va. The displays represent scenes from the area.And speaking of Virginia, there’s the 100 Miles of Lights, which takes place from Virginia Beach to Richmond. Not only is it a round-up of light displays, such as Virginia Beach Boardwalk’s Holiday Lights, Newport News’ Celebration in Lights and others, it also features a little bit of everything to get (and keep) you in the holiday mood.In West Virginia, Oglebay Resort & Conference Center’s (in Wheeling) Festival of Lights covers over 300 acres through the resort. Expect to see elaborate light displays during the six mile drive. The event runs through January 4. photo credits: (top right) Christmas Wish (Winterfest of Light), flickr, creative commons by Royal19; (middle left) Xmas 2004-01 (Walkway of Lights), flickr, creative commons by jmtimages; (middle right) Galaxy, Christmas Tree, courtesy of Huntsville Botanical Garden; (bottom right) Scene from Southern Lights, courtesy of KHP Foundation

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POSTED IN: Holiday Traditions in the South, Holidays, Southern Byways, Things to See in Alabama, Things to See in Arkansas, Things to See in Florida, Things to See in Georgia, Things to See in Kentucky, Things to See in Maryland, Things to See in Mississippi, Things to See in North Carolina, Things to See in South Carolina, Things to See in Texas, Things to See in Virginia, Things to See in West Virginia, Things to See in the South