Light up your night with Christmas Magic 2013 A Festival of Lights, occurring nightly, in York, PA, now through Dec. 31. Come out to Rocky Ridge County Park with friends, family and festivity as you take in the awe-inspiring illumination of nearly 600,000 LED Christmas lights at work in making this holiday season a whole lot brighter.
Located among a mature oak forest in Rocky Ridge, Christmas Magic spans a half a mile long walking trail, through lighted displays, lights, animated holiday scenes, Santa Claus and much more. There are five enclosed heated pavilions along the pathway for those needing to come in from the cold through various intervals along the wintry trek.
Christmas Magic has been enchanting children and adults alike for 30 years now. With a humble start with 10,000 lights and props produced by the York County Department of Parks and Recreation, this community tradition has grown drastically since its 1984 inception and continues to grow each year. In 2011, this event even broke the record with a grand total of 43,800 visitors that season. Last year, Christmas Magic experienced the largest single night attendance record with 3,822 visitors. This year is already off to a fantastic start as well as many new additions to enjoy.
In addition to introducing the use of energy-saving LED lighting for this year’s presentation and presenting attendees with a new section of paved walking trail, this year’s event will also include a new Santa Claus scene as well as various other new trail themes and outdoor props. The Susquehanna Valley Garden Railroad Society had also provided an even larger G-gauge train display this year. Back by popular demand is the much enjoyed Light-O-Rama light animation program which is now at a new location with a new, synchronized lighting trail to enjoy.
Live entertainment and musical performers are scheduled to appear each night. Refreshments are provided by York County Parks Friends Food Stand and include Brown’s Orchard cookies, hot cocoa, cider, popcorn and water. The food court is also open with Bricker’s Famous French Fries and Food Service on site selling hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, nachos, funnel cakes, chicken strips, soups and much more.
Various special events take place on selected nights, each year. This past Wednesday was Pet Night where visitors were permitted to bring their pets out to have pictures taken with Santa with proceeds benefiting Friends of Canine Meadows. Also, this past Nov. 29 and 30 was Toys for Tots night.
Christmas Magic is open nightly, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Program times are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for ages 4 to 12 and free for children under 4. Seniors, ages 60 and older, get in for $7. Special group rates are available for children ($5) and adults ($7). Please bring bring along one canned good item to donate to the Park Rangers’ Food Drive.
Rocky Ridge County Park is located at Deininger Road in York, PA. For more information, call 717-840-7443 or visit http://yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/events/christmas-magic/christmas-magic.html
