Charleston Festival of Lights: A Great Way to Brighten the Holidays

With Christmas right around the corner, many people are busy shopping, decorating and preparing for holiday festivities. Often this time of year is so busy for many families that the simple joy of spending time together gets lost in the hustle and bustle. Don't let the impending visits from your in-laws, colder weather, or your to-do list take away from the spirit of the holidays.

One of the best ways to remind yourself and your family members just what the season is all about is by spending time together. Find some free time in your schedule to visit Charleston's Festival of Lights. Open now through January first, this spectacle offers over two million lights to view in what www.charlestonlowcountry.com calls an "enchanting 3-mile driving tour." This is an event for all ages, and is certainly the perfect activity to ring in the season.

The cost to embark on this driving tour is $10 per vehicle. If you're more adventurous, you can take a train ride around the lake for only $3 per person. Children two and under are free if they ride on a parent's lap. Given Charleston's mild winter weather, this is a great activity, especially for families with young children. If a couple million little bulbs aren't enough joy to lift your spirits, consider some of the many other holiday activities the Festival of Lights has to offer. According to the website noted above, there is also marshmallow roasts, carousel rides, a climbing wall, and over a dozen other engaging activities. You can even create your own light display at the Lakeside Lights Activity Center. Your children are sure to thank you!

Another exciting attraction at the Festival of Lights is the ninth annual Gingerbread House Competition. There are four different age divisions for this contest: Children's, Youth, Teen, and Adult. You can view entries at Santa's Sweet Shop. What a tasty competition!

According to www.charlestoniscooking.com, the Festival of Lights was ranked on the 2004 AmericasBest.com Top Ten Light Shows. This isn't an event to pass up! Grab the car keys, a thermos of hot cocoa, and the kids. Everyone will enjoy the beauty and enchantment that the Charleston Festival of Lights has to offer. Who knows, you may even see Santa while you're there!

The Festival of Lights is held at the James Island County Park. Hours of admission are 5:30am to 10pm. On Fridays and Saturdays the festival is open until 11pm. You can save two dollars per vehicle Monday-Wednesday with a canned good donation.

If you're still looking for the perfect gift idea, consider giving gift passes to tour the festival. Since the festival is open from now until January 1, 2007, your gift recipient has plenty of time to enjoy the view. Passes to the Festival of Lights are the perfect gift for your neighbors, postal worker, teachers, or anyone who you think would enjoy a little extra holiday festivity.

You can find more information on Charleston's Festival of lights by visiting www.ccprc.com. Other websites that offer information on this annual event are: www.charlestoniscooking.com, www.charlestonlowcountry.com and www.holidayfestivaloflights.com. You can also call the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission by calling (843) 795-795-4386.