‘Magic of Lights’ Makes Its Return To Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park, N.Y. — The annual ‘Magic of Lights’ event returns to Jones Beach State Park.
The lights display is presented by the New York Community Bank. This drive-through lights display spans the length of the park’s west end. Through the usage of LED technology and digital animations, visitors can experience their favorite holiday scenes and characters.
In its third iteration, the event welcomes new additions to the display.
New additions and classic themes
“We are changing a certain percentage of the light show each year to keep it fresh,”Adam Citron, the venue’s General Manager for Live Nation, said.
The classic themes at the light display include “12 Days of Christmas” and the Nativity scene. The light show has now welcomed an ornament passage, a section of the drive-through that is lined with multicolor lights shaped as ornaments.
Other additions are the Candy Cane Lane and “Mega Trees,” over two-hundred-feet of lights in the shape of Christmas trees which are synchronized to music and light up in accordance to the beat of the music.
Other themes that can be found along the drive-through are sports, space and fairytales.
“My husband and I both ride Harley Davidson bikes so it was great to see the lights with a motorcycle theme,” Anette Ehmer, an event goer from Queens. “We are a motorcycle family.”
A family tradition
“We came last year with the four-year-old and she loved it,” Ehmer said. “Now we are introducing the six-month-old to the light show.”
The event brings in both returning and new visitors.
“I saw the Magic of Lights sign and I brought it up to my daughter-in-law and she said ‘Yeah, they have that every year,’” Alan Siegel, an event goer from Mineola, said. “I never knew it.”
Some attendees travel from other states to visit the lights display.
“I am from New Jersey and my family and I come out to Long Island every year to see the holiday lights,” said Rachel Thornton, an event goer from Morristown, New Jersey. “This event has truly become a family tradition for us.”
The Toyota Jolly Holiday Village
At the end of the drive-through, attendees can park their vehicles and enter the Toyota Jolly Holiday Village. Guests can enjoy hot chocolate, take photos with Santa, savor in holiday treats, play games, and spend time with loved ones in the warm facility.
“My children look forward to going to seeing the lights and then heading into the Toyota Jolly Holiday Village,” Thornton said. “It is a great way to spend time with family, bond over hot chocolate and take our annual picture with Santa.”
A s’mores stand and fire pits are located outside of the village which face the “Mega Trees” and Candy Cane Lane.
Entry prices vary depending on the type of vehicle and the day that one decides to attend.
The light show will run from Nov. 22 to Jan. 4.
