Winter Wonderland Festival of Lights brightens season

As the holiday season draws near, an annual event of lights and food and community returns to the area.

“Winter Wonderland Light Festival,” presented by The Light of the World Church,  returns December weekends including Dec. 1 and 2, 8 and 9, 15 and 16, and 22 and 23. The event takes place on church grounds at 1306 Thomason St, Lexington.

Visitors will enjoy internationally inspired foods, displays using more than 500,000 lights and a visit from Santa from 7 - 10 p.m. each evening.

Volunteer Atalia Cardenas says the church designed the festival to create a welcoming and joyful environment for area families. 

It is "an event where everyone feels welcome and wants to try different things in a safe and family-originated environment," she said. "We realized there are so many people who are not able to take their families to places during this beautiful time of the year" due to limited resources. She added that the event is designed for families, with no entry fee and a safe environment "in their own backyard.”

"There is no other event like this and we want our community to feel welcome to come and enjoy this during the season,” she said.

The event is staffed by church members. Dozens of volunteers spend months preparing the magic of the massive collection of lights, dedicating an average of 100 hours each. 

“Our church has a big membership from residents of Lexington and Davidson County and have been working on being part of the community,” Cardenas said. “Different food stands are always a hit. You always see people trying something for the first time. The lights are always spectacular with the dedication from our awesome members.”

Visit the church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LLDMAnnualFestivaloflights/ for more information on the festival incuding dates and times.