Athens Holiday Lights

Through January 1, 2008 @ Sandy Creek Park

originally published December 5, 2007

Tim Johnson

Jump in your wagon and fetch the camera - lights and action come courtesy of Sandy Creek Park and the third annual Athens Holiday Lights. The drive-through electrical spectacle features 30 large metal and light sculptures crafted by the nationally-renowned artisans from Brandano Displays. Inside the three-quarter-mile park drive, expect lucent favorites like the gingerbread man somersaulting over the road, as well as new animated inspirations such as a golfer knocking the ball into the cup, a “Peace on Earth” balloon brimming with children, and a giant sparkling vault. The event takes place every night through Tuesday, Jan. 1, from 6 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. On weekends, enjoy a Nativity scene, carolers, instrumental holiday music, hot chocolate and pictures with St. Nick.

Admission costs $10 per car or van and $25 per bus (minimum 15 passengers). Each light sculpture is sponsored by a local business, and all proceeds go to benefit two local organizations: Advantage Behavioral Health Systems, which specializes in behavioral health, developmental disability and addictive disease services for Barrow, Athens-Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties (www.advantagebhs.org); and Athens-Clarke County Family Connection Partnership/ Communities In Schools of Athens, which is a coalition of 90 organizations working with families to research the needs of children and families in order to redress problems within the community (www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/clarke/). For more information on the charities and Athens Holiday Lights, call or email Tammy Dalton at 706-296-8086 or tdalton@advantagebhs.org, or Tim Johnson at 706-369-9732 or timinathens@yahoo.com. For directions, call 706-613-3631 or go to the Sandy Creek Park website at www.sandycreekpark.com.

Donn Cooper