Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mailElectricity in the air
One of the most popular Christmas traditions around the region, the drive-through holiday lights display, will be glowing brighter than ever this year. Each of the three nearby major light-show destinations -- at Hartwood Acres in Allegheny County, Overly's Country Christmas in Westmoreland County and Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.Va. -- reports adding strings of twinkling bulbs and new displays to attract families.
Here's what's new for the holidays after dark.
Overly's Country Christmas
What's old is new this year at this display dedicated to its founder, the late Harry Overly of Armbrust. Stephanie Tomasic, executive director, says some vintage lighted displays, including a windmill, a bi-plane and a man pumping water -- one of Overly's favorites -- return to the attraction this year after several years in storage.
"We also have more lights. You can never have enough lights," Tomasic says.
She says what sets the Overly display apart is its Christmas Village, which encompasses five acres inside the lights display, where visitors can park their cars and take part in holiday singalongs and enjoy hot chocolate by a bonfire.
Hartman Station, a G-gauge model-train display, features a four-season layout designed by John and Jan Vogt of Brentwood Station. There also is a Santa's workshop, a talking Christmas tree, a general store, sweet shop and country kitchen.
Tomasic says as many as 160,000 people come through the lights display and village during its 52-day run, and it has become a family tradition.
"People who come here say they have memories of visiting our display with their parents, and now they are bringing their own sons and daughters," Tomasic says.
Overly's Country Christmas is open 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 1. Admission: $8 per car or family van, $10 per limousine, extended passenger van or minibus. Westmoreland County Fairgrounds, Mt. Pleasant. 724-423-1400 or www.overlys.com.
Hartwood Acres -- Eckerd Celebration of Lights
This 3.2-mile stretch of holiday lights, in its 13th year, features more than 400 displays along a road that winds through the woods to Hartwood Mansion, the Mary Flinn Lawrence estate. Twinkling holiday displays range from 3 feet to 40 feet tall. Co-sponsors are Eckerd Drugs and Allegheny County. Proceeds benefit Salvation Army's Project Bundle-Up, the Children's Miracle Network and other local nonprofit organizations, according to Clarence Hopson of the Allegheny County Parks Department.
Hartwood Acres -- Eckerd Celebration of Lights is open 6 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 9. Admission: $10 per carload, buses are $5 per person. Hartwood Acres, Saxonburg Boulevard, Indiana Township. Allegheny County Parks Department, 412-350-2455; Hartwood Mansion, 412-767-9200.
Oglebay's Winter Festival of Lights
Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.Va., has several additions to its light show, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary year, according to marketing director Caren Knoyer. A fireworks lights display, new lighted animals and large twinkling snowflakes add to the attraction, which draws as many as 250,000 to 300,000 people each year, she says.
Knoyer says participation by local school groups and other volunteers has helped the lights display remain a popular destination.
"The normal life of a light show is 10 years, because people lose interest," Knoyer says. "We have been working hard to update our display since it opened in 1985. We strive to make sure it appeals to all ages and to keep the community involved."
The Oglebay lights festival is visited by a large volume of motorcoach tours, numbering as many as 500 to 1,000 each year, in addition to cars and vans, Knoyer says.
Oglebay's Winter Festival of Lights is open from dusk to 11 p.m. daily through Jan. 1. Admission: $10 per car. Trolley tours are offered for $5 per seat from Wilson Lodge. Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, W.Va. 1-800-624-6988 or www.oglebay-resort.com.
