Atlanta State Park holds annual holiday drive-through

Cass County Life

Atlanta State Park turned on its lights for two evenings before Christmas to tickle public motorists driving out to the woods and lake.

No primitive camps with tents, smoke and flashlights here.

Instead, the mobile sites were ablaze with colored lights, plastic Santa Clauses and children handing out candy

The Dec. 15 and 16 occasion was the ninth year for the park’s holiday drivethrough, a time when campers get to camp free if they’ll decorate for the event.

So, about 35 campers rolled into the park Wednesday, Dec. 13, with their packs and trunks filled with Christmas lighting.

“We counted the people in the cars as they drove through Friday and Saturday, and we estimate more than 2,000 came through,” park office manager Kayla Williams said.

The visitors got to see not only camp lights but also meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, the Grinch and Smokey the Bear. Hot chocolate and cookies were free, too.

The Christmas drive-through is an offering of many state parks across Texas. Williams said some campers stay and spend much of the holiday in the park. Families come out to celebrate or at least exchange presents in the park.

As motorists drove through, campsite owners would talk to the people in the slow-moving cars

All was serene in the park, however. No music disturbed nature. One could tell campers and visitors were having a peaceful, good time. The state park drive-through is a winning experience for everyone.

Staff photos by Neil Abeles ABOVE: John and Timothy Brady and Kabrean King and their dogs greet Atlanta State Park drivethrough visitors Dec. 16. LEFT: Don’t look now but that’s a fish atop the Christmas tree at Atlanta State Park. Santa is greeting Lilly Huddleston and the elf...

Holly Harp Kelton and family are having a cookie after having gone through the Atlanta State Park’s annual Christmas decoration drive-through.

TOP LEFT: The best part of Christmas in the park is getting to wear the red reindeer nose, said Kaydee Patterson, shown with Kristi Easley at the Atlanta State Park drive-through. BOTTOM LEFT: Oh, no, the Grinch is getting kissed. He’s not likely to...