Light displays bring holiday dazzle to region 

by Emily Canning-Dean

Whether it is a quick jaunt to the county fairgrounds or a two-hour road trip to a popular tourist location, there are plenty of chances to take in all of the bright lights and cheer this holiday season. 

Thanks to the help of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will once again transform into a winter wonderland for the sixth holiday season in a row.

The program, Wild Winter Lights, includes 1.5 million lights across holiday-themed areas in the zoo. 

“This year, guests will experience over a dozen walk-through displays, including larger-than-life holiday favorites,” said Kelly Manderfield, chief marketing officer for the Cleveland Metroparks. 

Along with the multiple light displays, the event includes music, a 50-foot tree, carousel rides, festive costumed characters and model train displays. Guests can also purchase a ticket for the holiday-themed Cleveland Metroparks Railroad and enjoy treats including holiday-themed donuts, gourmet popcorn and hot chocolate. 

Wild Winter Lights and the Wild Winter Lights Drive-Through experience runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on select days through Dec. 30. Advance online reservations are strongly encouraged. Visit futureforwildlife.org/lights to make reservations. 

For the 10th year in a row, the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds will host the Magic of Lights drive-through display and the Jolly Holiday Village. 

Visitors can enjoy dozens of displays from their vehicles including Prehistoric Christmas with life-sized dinosaurs, a 32-foot tall, animated Mattel Christmas Barbie and a Bigfoot Monster Truck. Displays also include the 200-foot Enchanting Tunnel of Lights. Guests can also stop by the Jolly Holiday Village and walk through a majestic holiday area that includes Santa photos, ice-skating, snacks and other holiday activities. 

Magic of Lights runs through Jan. 4, from 5-10 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  magicoflights.com. 

On a local level, Sagamore residents can enjoy “Lights on Acadia Drive,” a Christmas light experience with over 47,000 dancing pixels set to over 90 minutes of holiday music. The light display is at 8456 Acadia Dr. in Eaton Estates. It is free to view, but donations are accepted for the Summit County Humane Society. 

When visiting, tune the car radio to 98.3 FM to hear the music. The display runs nightly from 5-10 p.m. More information is available at facebook.com/lightsonacadiadrive.

Also in Sagamore is the annual light display at 8636 Brandywine Rd. The Rambacher family has decorated their 5-acre property with lights, archways, trees and holiday characters. It’s been voted the No. 1 Christmas lights display in Northeast Ohio. 

The display is free to view, but donations are accepted for St. Jude’s Children’s Research hospital; the Rambacher’s goal is $50,000. Kids can also mail their letters to Santa in a mailbox on site. Santa will reply if a return address is listed. The display is up through the week after the New Year.

For those looking for more of a road trip, Oglebay in Wheeling, West Virginia, offers Festival of Lights, which includes a six-mile driving route filled with more than 100 lighted holiday attractions. Guests can enjoy this tour in their own vehicles or via a guided tour inside the Oglebay Trolley. 

Festival of Lights takes place nightly from dusk until midnight through Jan. 9. Oglebay recommends taking advantage of reduced wait times by visiting Monday through Wednesday or beating the rush by arriving between 5-6 p.m. For more information, visit oglebay.com/lights-drive.