The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Magic of Light conjures its spell at fairgrounds
Moved to Berea in recent years, event draws thousands in cars
The holiday season during any other year is nothing but a blur-filled experience highlighted by events, parties, more parties and not enough days to fully enjoy the season.
Well, welcome to 2020, where the opposite is true during a pandemic. In terms of shared entertainment options for families, the options are limited.
One Northeast Ohio tradition that — was socially distance friendly to begin with — is returning in a big way this holiday season. With more than one million holiday lights stretched across a 1-mileplus pathway, Magic of Lights takes place Nov. 25 through Jan. 2 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.
“We look forward to providing a safe-and-comfortable holiday experience to Northeast Ohio this holiday season,” said FunGuys Events CEO and Magic of Lights co-producer Grant Reeves in a press release. “As unique as this year has been for all, we hope Magic of Lights provides some normalcy and tradition to the community.”
Magic of Lights fan-favorite light displays include “The Enchanting Tunnel of Lights,” “Candyland” and “12 Days of Christmas,” as well as the return of the “Illuminating Mega Tree.”
Part of the Magic of Lights operation involves giving back to the community. Last year the event donated more than $10,000 to charitable organizations. In 2020, the beneficiaries include The Coats for Kids Program and The Cuyahoga Farm Bureau Scholarship Program.
“We started the event at Victory Park Ohio in North Ridgeville prior to moving it to the Cuyahoga County
Fairgrounds because the traffic just increased so much,” said Victory Park Ohio Marketing and Communications Manager Christy Angie, who is assisting in producing the event.
In fact, last year more than 60,000 guests and 16,000 vehicles attended Magic of Lights.
“When we moved it, we had a great response from the public,” Angie said. “Every year we increased the number of cars that came through. This year, especially, we’ve sold way more tickets than we did last year at this time.
“Everybody is looking for something safe to do with their family because they can just stay in their car if they want to do something for the holidays. For older adults, it brings back memories from their childhood. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.”