Lots of lights…..
Christmas eve I visited Shore Acres with friends.
To quote from their website:
A community tradition was born in 1987 when the Friends of Shore Acres decided to “string a few lights” to help celebrate the holidays. That first season, 6,000 miniature lights, one Christmas tree, and the decorated Garden House drew 9,000 visitors.
Now, 300,000 LED lights, 30 large landscape lights, dozens of small landscape lights, 26 large holiday trees, dozens of lighted sculptures, entertainment in the pavilion, and a beautifully decorated Garden House draw 40,000 to 50,000+ visitors or more each season. Numbers vary with the weather. Inside the Garden House, scrolls of names are a tribute to business supporters and the more than 1,500 volunteers who make it happen.
I attempted some shots, but can’t begin to do the spectacle justice.
For a far, far better look at the amazing holiday lights at our gem of a state park, watch the video (just 2:16 minutes – I suggest going full screen):
After reading your post, I so wanna go to the Shore Acres. It looks amazing and the pics and video on your post are awesome, pretty cool.
Looks like a really wonderful place, especially when it’s dark.
Yes, it’s truly magical when it’s dark and all the lights glow. The best part is watching the kids.
When we were at Shore Acres we had read about this event and I knew it would be special. Thanks for sharing it with us Gunta.
My pleasure, LuAnn… it really is something special.
Very pretty photos…and an enjoyable video, as well.
Seems like a very nice place to visit during the holidays.
Thanks Scott. It was certainly fun. The best part is watching the kids….
Though there’s a pull to become a kid again amidst all the pretty lights.
You’re welcome…and yes, I can see that it was fun…and would be fun to be a little one again amid all of those lights…would be wonderful.
How fun is that? Glad you were able to capture the lights….I know how difficult that can be. Hope the weather isn’t too challenging in Oregon. A tad colder that last few days here in Phx than I’d prefer, but I’ll take it over the 10″ of snow at our home in Colorado.
The lights weren’t all that tough (a tripod might have helped a bit), but I happened to go on Xmas eve (when friends were visiting) and it was CROWDED….. so, next year I might try to make it earlier in December.
The weather here seems to be in a cycle of alternating days of sun and rain, but the temps have been in the perfect 50 zone.
Looks like a great time at this wonderful display!
Perhaps I should suggest an alligator?
Oh you should absolutely insist on an alligator!
How glorious is that?! Nothing to match it here.
I just wonder where it will all end because they add to it each year… it’s a bit crazy, but wonderful at the same time.
Merry Christmas!!! those pictures are so cool!!!
Thanks, Belky and a Merry desert Christmas to you, too.
Those are spectacular! Love the hummingbird especially. It almost looks as if its wings are moving!
It’s wings are “moving”… they do a lot of the animated effects e.g. frogs jumping in the pond, whales spouting, etc I’m amazed at the effort and creativity. It’s quite a place to get the holiday spirit.
Wow! Actually moving. One of our local gardens did something similar but on a much smaller scale. They got a lot of stick for wasting power and haven’t done it since.
Well, hold on…. I didn’t mean ACTUALLY moving, but giving that illusion by flashing from one position to the other. These days with the LED lights, they don’t use quite as much power, but still that’s a hell of a lot of lights they have going there…. I have a friend who works at the park, I might ask her about their power bill when next I run into her.
Beautiful Gunta. I’m so glad you enjoyed the visit. Lovely pictures and the video was well worth a watch.
So glad you enjoyed it. I wish I could have captured all the magic. Those folks really go all out and each year there seems to be a new feature added. This year it happened that Christmas eve was the perfect weather (between storms) and the crowds were the worst I’d seen. They’ll be taking down all the lights after the first of the year, but next year I’m hoping to go out in early December to shoot when there might be fewer people there.
Those people really put in a great effort.
Yes, indeed. It started small and they’ve added to it each year. My visitors kept marveling at how much time and how many people it took to do all of that, but it’s mostly volunteers of various folks and groups, with a relatively small park staff. I bet it turns into a fun gathering pretty much.
What a beautiful park, Gunta. I loved the video, and your pics were lovely, especially that first one. Gorgeous reflections. I’m so glad you had a wonderful Christmas Eve.
The weather was perfect and we had a good time. The crowds really started pouring in as it got darker. It’s a pretty popular and wonderful tradition. I think I love watching the kids most of all.
Very different from here. Very lovely. Merry Christmas, Gunta!
Daylight and no snow in sight for starters?
Merry Christmas to you, too, Bente!
WOW!
Indeed!