Get caught up in the magic of the season with these breathtaking holiday light displays in and around the OKC metro.
There’s something about the chill of a dark night lit by thousands of tiny twinkling lights that brings the holiday spirit to life in all of us. Hearts of all ages are warmed by the simplicity and nostalgia of spending time with loved ones marveling over glittering winter wonderlands. Such joy.
For families craving to slow down and enjoy quality time with one another amidst the bustle of the holiday season, what better way than to squeeze in the car with some hot chocolate to enjoy some of the metro’s most delightful holiday season.
Chickasha Festival of Light
Though guests can drive through the 43 acres of holiday lights in Shannon Springs Park, the walk-through option allows visitors to take their time as they enjoy more than 300 displays featuring 4.5 million lights.
Celebrating its 21st year, the Festival of Light in Chickasha is consistently recognized as one of the top holiday lighting events in the country and will be open from November 23 through December 31.
With four miles of lighted walkways throughout the park, families can stroll at their own pace to enjoy quality time together. Viewing the displays on foot gives visitors the chance to trek across the lake on a festive bridge adorned in 75,000 lights, which also offers a view of the lighted sea serpent. An animated nutcracker-inspired exhibit set to music is another annual favorite. The cornerstone of the Festival is the 16-story-tall Christmas tree, which will feature LED lights set to holiday music this year.
For families seeking a truly unique holiday experience, the Festival of Light offers much more than its lighted displays. A live nativity scene features local actors from community churches, and camel and carriage rides are offered nightly. Santa himself is available for photos in the gift shop, which also sells gooey homemade cinnamon rolls, toasty hot chocolate and a variety of holiday gift options.
The event is free to enjoy, and any donations received go back to the Festival to add new displays.
Shannon Springs Park • 2400 S. 9th St., Chickasha. Begins 11/23. Sun-Thur: 6-10pm; Fri–Sat: 6-11pm, 405-224-9627,
www.chickashafestivaloflight.com.
Christmas in the Park • Yukon
The City of Yukon’s Christmas in the Park offers unique drive-and walk-through opportunities to marvel at more than 4.5 million twinkling lights across 100 acres of city parks, lit nightly from November 23 through December 31.
For motorists, three miles of illuminated paths stretch throughout Yukon City Park (with the starting point located at 2200 S. Holly), Freedom Trail Playground and Chisholm Trail Park. An additional 2.2 miles of walking trails provides an intimate, up-close view of the creative displays.
With 6,400 LED bulbs, the Santa’s Workshop display takes a peek at Santa’s elves hard at work, and the 34-foot-tall OG&E Dancing Christmas Tree’s 77,000 lights dance to holiday music that changes each night. Chisholm Trail Park also features several displays with computer-animated lights synchronized to Christmas music. Visitors can park in designated areas, tune their radios to the posted broadcast station and enjoy the musical display. In addition to the 365 lighted displays, quaint glass-front village homes depicting a variety of holiday themes are intermingled among the holiday lights.
Perhaps the best view of the lights is from aboard the Santa Express Train, which offers rides nightly from 6–10pm, weather permitting. The train loops through the Christmas displays and passes twice through a new100-foot tunnel, festively adorned with lights and playing favorite holiday tunes. Passengers can purchase tickets ($2 per person; free for children 3 and under) at the 1800s-era train depot, located inside Chisholm Trail Park at 500 W. Vandament. Admission is free, donations are always accepted to support upkeep and new displays.
Yukon City Park • 2200 S. Holly Avenue. Begins 11/23. 6-11pm nightly, 405-354-1895,
www.cityofyukonok.gov.
Holiday Lights Spectacular • Midwest City
The City of Midwest City hosts its 18th annual drive-through Holiday Lights Spectacular in Joe B. Barnes Regional Park from November 22 through December 30.
As an expected 60,000 guests make the leisurely drive along the 1.5 mile path, they will be delighted by 90 brightly lit displays, featuring more than one million lights.
An 8-foot star adorns a stunning 118-foot Christmas tree in the center of the park, and Santa enjoys some R&R before his big night as he fly fishes by a 15-foot waterfall. A crowd favorite is “Illumination Celebration,” a dancing forest of lights coordinated to holiday music, which can be heard by visitors from the warmth of their vehicles on a dedicated radio frequency.
The free event offers candy canes to each visitor and even provides dog treats to canine companions who come to take part in the fun. Guests should plan to spend at least 30 minutes enjoying the brilliantly-lit animated displays.
For those who want a unique look at Holiday Lights Spectacular, the annual 5k Night Light Run is the only way to see the lights on foot. The run will be held December 14 at 5:45pm, and registration is available at signmeup.com/95389. Proceeds benefit the Holiday Lights Spectacular Fund, which is primarily funded through donations.
Joe B. Barnes Regional Park • S.E. 15th and Century Blvd.; Begins 11/22. 6-11pm nightly (weather permitting), 405-739-1293,
www.midwestcityok.org/holiday-lights.
For more festive holiday light displays in the OKC metro and around the state, visit www.metrofamilymagazine.com/holiday-lights.
