Holiday Highlights

Christmas displays light up the night across the state

Downtown Blytheville’s historic Greyhound Bus Station is depicted in Christmas lights at Lights of the Delta.

Downtown Blytheville’s historic Greyhound Bus Station is depicted in Christmas lights at Lights of the Delta.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Few things make the spirit brighter than the colorful lights of Christmas.

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There is an abundance of light displays and events around the state, such as the traditional candlelight that imbues Historic Washington State Park, the blending of lights with the natural beauty of Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, the abundance of displays - including a new one celebrating Johnny Cash - at Lights of the Delta in Blytheville, the Victorian charm of Eureka Springs and the modern use of LED lights on three Arkansas River bridges in Little Rock.

Who would have imagined celebrating the season underground? The folks at Blanchard Springs Caverns have done just that, with Christmas carols in the Cathedral Room in the caverns.

And that’s not counting the many illuminated downtowns, historic buildings and neighborhoods around Arkansas.

Enjoy!

Caroling in the Caverns, Blanchard Springs Caverns, near Mountain View

What: Mountain View area musicians sing Christmas music in the Cathedral Room of Blanchard Springs Caverns.

When: Performances at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. today, Dec. 15, 21, 22.

Admission: $20, $27 for concert and a cavern tour before 2:30 performance only. Advance tickets are required.

Information: (888) 679-2859, yourplaceinthemountains.com

While you’re there: Take a short drive to Mountain View and take in Ozark Mountain Christmas, with the lighted courthouse and town square. Information: (888) 679-2859, yourplaceinthemountains.com

Lights of the Ozarks, 21 Block St. to Dickson Street, Fayetteville

What: half a million lights strung from the downtown square to Dickson Street.

When: 5 p.m.-midnight through Dec. 31

Admission: $5-$10.

Information: (479) 521-5776; thelightsoftheozarks.com

Other events: Area choirs sing on the square starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Friday and 5 p.m. Dec. 17; carriage and camel rides, weather permitting.

Lights of the Delta, 1405 Airbase Highway, Blytheville

What: more than 6 million lights and 45 in-motion displays on a 40-acre drive through site that is touted as the largest holiday lighting display in the Mid-South. New display celebrates Arkansas native and American music legend Johnny Cash.

When: 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Dec. 27.

Admission: $10 per vehicle; Tuesdays are half price

Information: (870) 762-9788, lightsofthedelta.com

Other events: pictures with Santa every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday; hayrides available nightly by reservation

While you’re there: The historic downtown is decorated with lights.

Christmas Wonderland Light Display, 123 Goshen Road, Crossett

What: more than a million lights with several animated scenes, snow machines, a drive-through tunnel of lights, a computer-driven light show and more.

When: 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 31

Admission: free; donations accepted

Information: (870) 500-3206

Christmas and Candlelight, Historic Washington State Park

What: walking tours of the historic village decorated for the season with pine cones, grapevines, evergreens and magnolias.

When: 1-8 p.m. Saturday; tours 1-5 p.m., candlelight tours begin at 5 p.m.

Admission: $10, $5 children

Information: (870) 983-2684; historicwashingtonstatepark.com

Other events: Christmas theme buffet at Williams Tavern Restaurant, 1-8 p.m., $10.99, $5.99 children. Horse drawn surrey rides, $3.

Holiday Lights, Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs

What: more than 4 million lights in 17 acres of gardens; numerous three-dimensional displays including the 50-foot Rose Tree, which plays Christmas music accompanied by an animated light show. New this year is a musical piano light show.

When: 5-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31; closed Christmas

Admission: $10; $5 ages 6-12 years; free for 5 and younger

Information: (501) 262-9300; garvangardens.org

Other events: free concerts in Anthony Chapel and on the grounds; Santa nights are 6 Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 17-19

Bling in the Springs, Eureka Springs

What: The downtown historic district and residential areas are decorated mostly in Victorian splendor.

When: nightly through Dec. 31

Information: (479) 253-7333; eurekasprings.org

Other events:

Santa visits Basin Spring Park at 5 p.m. Saturday Dec. 14; Ozarks Chorale Holiday, 6:30 p.m. Thursday Dec. 12, dinner show, dining hall at Crescent Hotel; 7:30 p.m.. Saturday Dec. 14, The Auditorium, $10.

The Snow Village and Train Exhibit with 300 displays including the Polar Express, sponsored by the Eureka Springs Historical Museum, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, Dec. 15 and 22; 10 a.m .-7p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21; 5-7 p.m. Dec. 16-20 and Dec. 23, Carnegie Public Library Annex, $5, $2 children; “Experience the Light,” 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Dec. 21, Christ of the Ozarks. Christmas music, live Nativity also featured, donations accepted.

Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends, Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Regional Park, U.S. 65 B, Pine Bluff

What: This 1.3-mile Christmas lights drive through has more than 260 displays, many of which are animated.

When: 6-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 31

Admission: Free, donations accepted

Information: (870) 536-7600; pineblufffestival.org

Wild Winter Country at Wild River Country, 6820 Crystal Hill Road, North Little Rock

What: The water park is transformed into a winter park with a snowball alley, polar bear playground, snow deck, snow tubing, Christmas lights and more, through March 30.

When: park opens 5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday, noon Sunday through Dec. 22; open daily during Christmas week and week after, opening times vary, see website for details. Santa appears noon-8 p.m. Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22 and noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 23.

Admission: $6; snow tubing sessions are $18.

Note: this is wet snow; appropriate clothing recommended.

Information: (501) 753-8600; wildrivercountry.com

While you’re there: Burns Park Holiday Lights, Burns Park, 400 W. Military Road, North Little Rock. 6-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 30. $5 per car, $10 vans, $20 motorcoaches or RVs. Information: (501) 791-8538; nlrpr.org

River Lights at the Rock, the Arkansas River bridges, Little Rock

What: High-tech LED light displays have been installed on the Main Street, Junction and Clinton Presidential Park bridges.

When: Opens 5 p.m. Dec. 19; the Natural State Brass Band and the Big Dam Bridge Horns will perform. Christmas lights will continue 5 p.m.-midnight daily through Dec. 31; the lights are a permanent installation and the bridges will be lighted for other events.

Admission: free

Information: littlerock.com

While you’re there: Check out the lights at the Arkansas Capitol, 500 Woodlane St., Little Rock. Through Dec. 31; Information: (501) 682-1010; sos.arkansas.gov

MORE BRIGHT LIGHTS

Boone County Christmas, Boone County Courthouse and historic square, Harrison, dusk to dawn through Jan. 1. Information: see Harrison City of Lights on Facebook.

Holiday Lights, 500 E. Main St., Batesville, dusk till dawn daily through Dec. 31. More than a half million lights. Other events: Festival of Lessons and Carols, 4 p.m. today at Lyon College; The Rudolph Run, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Information: (870) 698-2432; cityofbatesville.com

Festival of Lights, courthouse, city hall, 101 N. Washington St., El Dorado, through Dec. 31.

Drive under one of the largest man-made Christmas trees in the state. Information: (870) 862-4747; goeldorado.com

Downtown Christmas Celebration, 900 Oak St., Conway, dusk through dawn through Jan. 2, includes what is described as “the largest Christmas tree in Arkansas”(more than four stories tall), new lighting scheme, more. Information: (501) 548-9950; downtownconway.org

Trail of Lights, Bell Park, Greenwood, dusk-9 p.m. through Dec. 31.

Nearly 100 light displays, live animals, more. $3 per vehicle. Information: (479) 252-6183

Holiday Light Extravaganza, Oil Field Park, Smackover, 6-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Dec. 21; also Dec. 22-23. Walking tour with some 200,000 lights and music by Santa’s Rock Band.

Lighted vignettes include ice castle, gingerbread village, more. $5, $3 children. Information: (870) 725-2877

Winter Wonderland Drive Through Light Display, Pleasant View Park, Russellville, 6-10 p.m. Wednesday-Dec. 22,$5 donation per vehicle. Live nativity, petting zoo. Information: (479) 967-1762; discoverrussellville.org.

For more illuminating opportunities, visit arkansas.com.

Style, Pages 43 on 12/08/2013