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Community Corner

A Holiday Drive Through Bull Run Festival of Lights

Light show brings the season alive.

 

With the holidays in full swing, I still needed a little jump start to get into the spirit of the season so I packed my family in the car for a ride through the . Before leaving the house, I visited the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority website and printed a $3 discount coupon, which unfortunately used a full page worth of my color printer ink. The full price weekday admission is $15 per car/van and $20 on weekends and holidays.

There were several cars in front of us at the gatehouse, but they had two windows staffed so it moved quickly. We paid for our entry and were handed a brochure containing information on the Festival of Lights that included a map.  Of course it was dark, and I didn’t want to miss any of the lights, so I didn’t look at it until after we left. While there are a few scattered light displays on the initial stretch of road, the official show is a bit further into the park, so don’t jump to the assumption that you are going to be underwhelmed.

We were finally met with the giant glowing wreath arching over the road and the wonderland begun. We dimmed down to parking lights for the next 2.5 miles, a stretch filled with about 100,000 LED lights that took the form of various Christmas and fantasy characters, stories and songs.

My daughter, who is intrigued by the residential displays in our neighborhood, was simply awestruck by the magic of it all. I tried to imagine what this must me like through her toddler eyes. She knows nothing of the mechanics of the display; she just sees a huge gingerbread man “jumping” over the car, and that is pretty spectacular.

My husband and I talked with her about the light displays, and we tried to remember the details of Christmas stories and songs that we hadn't thought about since we were children. The light show ended at the carnival grounds, which is now open through Jan. 1. The carnival is complete with rides and tickets are required. This would a good time to pull out that brochure you were handed at the entrance gate, it has coupons!

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The light show runs through Jan. 8, 2012.

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