MEDINA, Ohio -- Enjoy one of the safest holiday activities available and fill yourself with the spirit of the season by taking a driving tour through the shimmering displays of Holiday Lights at the Medina County Fairgrounds.
The mile-long display -- which opened the day after Thanksgiving -- continues Friday through Sunday (Dec. 11-13), then each day from Friday, Dec. 18, to Wednesday, Dec. 30. Hours on Fridays and Saturdays are 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays and weekdays, the parade of lights is open from 6 to 9 p.m.
Enter the display via Fair Road, which is off West Smith Road. (The fairgrounds office is located at 720 W. Smith Road and can be reached at 330-723-9633.)
Admission is charged per vehicle. Fill the car with family and enjoy the show for $10. Large vans and mini-buses enter for $20. Full-size buses are $60. Visitors typically pay cash, but loose change is strongly discouraged.
The displays at Holiday Lights seamlessly integrate with rustic structures and the pastoral landscape. (Chris M. Worrell, special to cleveland.com)
Attendants will make change, though the staff is working hard to keep the event as socially distanced as possible. Checks are accepted with proper identification. Holiday Lights does not take credit cards.
The display typically draws about 3,500 vehicles per season, though more than 2,000 passed through the gates during the first weekend of 2020.
“It’s going to be a record year,” said Barb Nixon, fair director and chair of the Holiday Lights Committee. “People want something that is safe to do, and it’s cheaper than a movie.”
The charming assemblage is well worth the modest admission fee. Lighting displays seamlessly integrate with vintage fair buildings and farm equipment to give the entire affair a rustic, traditional feel.
In addition to glimmering holiday bulbs, lighted cutouts and vintage holiday figures dot the grounds. (Chris M. Worrell, special to cleveland.com)
Although the lighting itself is every bit as good as some larger commercial displays, little touches set Holiday Lights apart.
Lighted wooden cutouts are abundant and feature everything from Disney characters and the gang from Sesame Street to a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” as well as various animals and traditional holiday figures.
Lovers of all things vintage will not be disappointed. Classic lighted snowmen, Santa figures and pop culture references dot the grounds. A vintage truck, adorned in lights, is a fan favorite. Old sleds and sleighs hearken back to simpler times.
Holiday lighting highlights include the large grandstand, which is imbued with both Christmas and patriotic spirit. The tunnel of lights slows drivers to a crawl.
Wish upon a shooting star, and enjoy hundreds of other displays at Holiday Lights. (Chris M. Worrell, special to cleveland.com)
Several displays -- including a horse-drawn carriage, rockets heading for space and a snowball fight -- provide the illusion of live action.
Traditional holiday themes abound. Some of the more interesting displays involve elevated strands, “floating” orbs and geometric forms featuring alternating light and color schemes.
Holiday Lights, which began in 2001, is staged by a handful of hardy souls, filled with community and Christmas spirit. Ticket takers and attendants volunteer their time. A number of area businesses and other patrons sponsor the effort.
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The Link LonkDecember 08, 2020 at 12:07AM
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Brighten your night with a driving tour of Holiday Lights at the Medina County Fairgrounds - cleveland.com
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