Christmas drive-thru Holiday Fantasy of Lights is back to brighten your dreary 2020
The year 2020 might feel like a dumpster fire as directed by Quentin Tarantino, but at least it’s ending on a brighter note.
The yuletide show known as Holiday Fantasy of Lights is back to salvage our dreary year with its twinkling drive-thru at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Nov. 20 through Jan. 2, 2021.
Listen, we need this. COVID-19 already sank December’s Winterfest Boat Parade. Forget about the canceled Nightgarden, Jungle Island’s Luminosa! and the Morikami Museum’s in-person Lantern Festival. Besides, our current quarantine hobby is tracking packages on Amazon and it’s time to get out of the house.
The drive-thru, perfect for the era of social distancing, is a three-mile-long path with winding, snow-covered walkways animated by millions of twinkling lights, which take the form of houses, giraffes, palm trees, carousels, Santa and his reindeer. In 2019, the festival attracted 125,000 visitors in 25,000 vehicles.
But there are noticeable changes to the festival’s 26th edition. To curb the spread of COVID-19, its 5K Run and Fitness Walk and Family Bike Nights are both postponed until 2021. All staffers are required to wear masks (but not visitors). The entrance will include an extra entry lane for patrons paying with exact change.
The Holiday Fantasy of Lights will open from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly Nov. 20-Jan. 2, 2021, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, in Coconut Creek. Admission is $18 per car, $40 per bus. Call 954-357-8870 or go to HolidayLightsDriveThru.com.
Seeking more Christmas lighting festivals? Most are canceled and choices are slim.
In Palm Beach County, Okeeheelee Park (7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach) will host its mile-long drive-thru 2020 Holiday Light Show 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6-9 p.m. Sundays Nov. 20-Dec. 27, with proceeds to benefit nonprofit Lights 4 Hope. Cost: $12 for cars and trucks, $20-$30 for vans and busses. Call 561-571-5721 or go to Lights4Hope.org.
In Miami-Dade County, Pinecrest Gardens (11000 SW 57th Ave., Pinecrest) will host Nights of Lights, a walkable display of lights, light bites, live music and Christmas-themed cocktails, 6-10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays Nov. 27-Jan. 3, 2021. Cost: $5-$8, free for children 2 and under. Call 305-669-6990 or go to PinecrestGardens.org.
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