When the flashing lights and siren of a fire truck go zooming down St. Rt. 725 tonight, it will be Santa making his way to the Washington Township’s Woodland Lights! Celebrating their 21st year with the traditional lights and sights people have come to love, they’ve added some extra sparkle to their month long activities at 895 Miamisburg Centerville Road. There are movie nights, coloring contests and even nights to bring your dog.
Visitors to the nightly event can enjoy the beauty of lights sparkling along a half-mile wooded path and reflecting against a woodland pond. Along the trail, whimsical characters and illuminated critters prepare for the holidays, while a real-life Santa Claus visits with children inside an historic log cabin decorated as a candyland.
“Woodland Lights is a place that’s magical and enchanting. Every year, we do our best to stay true to that vision,” said Linda Madden, Woodland Lights coordinator. “The front area feels more like a festival with lighting and animation. The mood at the back of the park is quieter, more pristine, and emphasizes the park’s natural beauty.”
Nostalgia Nights on December 9, 10, 16, 17
View the lights, enjoy refreshments, and visit with Santa before Christmas in an historic log cabin. Musical entertainment in the cabin the day after Christmas.
COST: $3 Free for kids 2 and under
Festival Nights on All Other Nights (except Dec 24 & 25)
For visitors who want the most that Woodland Lights offers. Lights, Refreshments & Santa Visits PLUS carriage rides, amusement rides, costumed characters, live deer games, and activities musical entertainment after Christmas. Festival Nights offer all of the fun of Woodland Lights, plus a full range of festivities including carriage rides, live deer, amusement rides, costumed characters, games and extra activites such as face painting. Kids can play on a fun slide and enjoy seven amusement rides including a small train, Santa swing, twister and pony carts.
COST: $7 Free for kids 2 and under
Woodland Lights & Movie Nights
After walking the Woodland Lights path, head to the Rec West building at 7:30 p.m. to see a free holiday movie, Polar Express. All movies end by 9 p.m.
December 7 – Polar Express
December 14 – Santa Paws 2
December 21 – Jim Carrey’s Christmas Carol
December 28 – The Rise of the Guardians
For more information about their special events visit the Woodland Lights website.
A WARM AND INVITING PLACE TO VISIT SANTA
At Woodland Lights, it’s easy to find Santa. Just walk down a sparkling path until you see an historic log cabin decorated in lights.Turn right at the split rail fence and Santa will welcome you to his cozy cabin every night through December 23.
The setting is an inviting alternative to more commercialized visits with Santa. While young visitors whisper their wish lists in Santa’s ear, parents are invited to snap a picture. Photos also may be purchased for $5.
“This is a real, historic log home that originally was located in Hillsboro, Ohio,” says Woodland Lights Coordinator Linda Madden. “Everything about it is authentic – from the large beams over head to the old limestone fireplace.” A fire burns bright each night in a large hearth near Santa’s chair, greenery is draped across the mantle, and a tree is decorated in the corner.
After Christmas, Santa returns to the North Pole but his cabin stays open for visitors to stop and warm themselves by the fire until December 30th.
TICKET GIVE AWAY
Most Metro wants to treat some of our readers to a family night out to see the lights. If you’d like to be entered in our drawing for a family 4-pack of tickets, just like this article, and fill out the entry form below. Feel free to add a comment below, it might sway the judges when we pick a winner! We’ll announce a winner on Saturday.
And our winners are:
Lauren Olgiate
Joanna Soehner
Margie Rivera
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