Hiking Holiday Nights and Lights

Holiday Nights and Lights is a lighted display in a local park sponsored by our community’s chamber of commerce and is typically a “drive through” display.  But once a year on the evening before the display is open for car traffic, people can hike the lights with proceeds going towards developing our local trail system.

Hiking the lights has become a holiday tradition for our family and was part of our holiday kick-off week-end featuring Festival of Trees the next day—click here to read more, and Santa Paws the following day—click here to read more.  It was a trilogy of holiday delights all in one week-end and each one a fundraiser for a local organization.  Win, win!

Each year, the light displays get moved around a bit to new locations.  One of our favorite displays is the Frog Tree.  Check out of the video below to hear the frogs’ song:

The lighted tunnel is another favorite.  Check out the video below:

In my opinion, the only thing the lighted tunnel needs is some music to go along with those dancing lights.  Ah, but that would make it like the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

We’ve hiked the lights in a variety of weather conditions, some even requiring boots and snowpants, but this year, the temperatures were unseasonably warm and the crowd for the hike responded accordingly;  higher the temperature the higher the crowd. 

What are your holiday traditions?

Hiking Holiday Nights and Lights

Holiday Nights and Lights sponsored by our local Chamber of Commerce is typically a “drive through” experience to view the sparkling and dancing lights of the holiday season.  But each year, before the path opens to vehicles, guests are invited to walk or hike through the lights.

The cost is $5 per person and proceeds help support the Wapello County Trails.

We have hiked the lights for several years and enjoy it each time.  It was particularly enjoyable this year, as temperatures were in the 50’s even after the sun went down.  This made it very nice as we’ve had some pretty cold hikes, too.

Guests wishing to hike the lights can find the entrance to the walking path behind our local mall.  Hot snacks are also available for purchase—chili, hot chocolate, etc.  Guests needing to toast their fingers or their nose will find a camp fire near the start of the trail.

The trail is illuminated with candles in milk cartons and the path is well marked.  We bring a flashlight, too.

What’s great about hiking the lights is that you can take your time and experience the lights at your pace.  A favorite display makes some holiday sounds, check it out:

The only thing missing when you hike the lights, as opposed to driving, is that Santa hasn’t arrived yet and his little house stands empty.

It took us an hour—start to finish—and that included visiting with people before, during, and after the hike.  We took our time and enjoyed the sights. (There’s a port-a-potty along the trail.)

(All the tunnel of lights needs is music!)

Since hiking the lights has become one of our family traditions at the holiday, the boy has certainly remembered that I sing the “12 days of Christmas” when we are near that display.  This year, he advertised this to any one nearby and I was directed to sing louder.  Check it out:

We’re grateful for our local Chamber of Commerce’s dedication to the Holiday Nights and Lights and the Wapello County Trails group for hosting this great event each year.  We’ll see you next year!

Click here to read about last year.

A Week-end of Giving

This past week-end was a week-end of giving.  And, it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet!



Friday night was the opening night of our local area Chamber’s Holiday Nights and Lights.  One of our parks is filled with displays of holiday lights, that guests typically drive through to see.  But on Friday, guests could walk or hike the lights.  The fee was $5 per person and proceeds went to support our local trails—for walking and biking.

This is the third year we have hiked the lights and we brought along Grandma Carol and our dog.  The weather was great and the lights put everyone in the holiday spirit.

The boy noticed that two of the usual light displays were not there. . . the “shark” and the Wizard of Oz displays were missing.  The boy decided that they had been traded in for the Candy Factory light display.  He’s still not sure if it was worth the trade.

From now until shortly after the new year, the lights will be on each evening for drive through traffic.  There’s a house for Santa to visit at least until Christmas.

Saturday we took in the Festival of the Trees, a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, held at one of our local retirement living facilities.

Young guests got to decorate a cookie and take in a holiday story read by a special elf.

Santa was on hand to hear the wish lists of all the boys and girls.  The boy asked for trains!

I always admire the creativity of those that decorate the trees.  There were great themed trees this year and many different sized trees.

Sunday was the day for the annual Santa Paws event held at our local Earl May Garden Center as a fundraiser for Heartland Humane Society.

Each year, Earl May donates the setting, Santa donates his time, a local photographer donates time, equipment, and skill, and a local photo shop donates the photo processing.  Guests receive a great 5 X 7 photo of their pet with Santa for $10.

The three events, all packed into one week-end, catapulted us into the holiday season.  Now, I just need to get our tree up!