A nearly two kilometre long holiday lights display, viewed from the comfort of your own vehicle, is returning to a conservation area southwest of London.
Magic of Lights drive-thru light show is slated to open on Friday at the Longwoods Road Conservation Area. Snaking through the forested area, the display will be illuminated for 50 straight nights, wrapping up on January 6.
"Magic of Lights is a really great family experience," said Kyla Woodcock, founder of Woodlo Productions Inc., the company putting on the display. "It is the kind of event where you can put the kids into the backseat, in their pajamas with a hot chocolate and a snack and drive through the show in the warmth of your own car... It is so magical with all of the colours and Christmas scenes, so it is a very different experience than doing something like Santa photos at the mall."
Fan favourite displays including the 50’ mega tree and the 100 metre enchanted tunnel of lights will be back for a third straight year. Several new offerings have also been set up throughout the 1.8-kilometre drive-thru spectacular.
"We have got a display called 'prehistoric Christmas' which is full of playful dinosaurs," said Woodcock. "We have Santa's vacation this year where we will see Santa with some of his friends on the beach amongst the palm trees. We've got a display called 'Christmas on wheels' for all those kids who love dump trucks, race cars, and motorcycles."
The display is expected to draw more than 25,000 vehicles to the conservation area over its seven week run.
Woodcock advises anyone interested in attending purchase tickets in advance.
"There is a limited number of cars that can come through each evening, so we can't guarantee that tickets will be available at the gate," said Woodcock. "Anyone who arrives at the gate with a ticket will be permitted to enter anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. each evening."
Tickets, which start at $20 per vehicle, can be purchased online at www.magicoflights.com/london.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Children’s Health Foundation for enhanced care programs, new equipment, and research at Children’s Hospital, Thames Valley Children’s Centre, and Children’s Health Research Institute.
