The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Metro Parks offers family fun with holiday light display
Lighting up the Carlisle Reservation
Anyone looking for a night out driving round town and taking in all the Christmas lights need look no further than the Lorain County Metro Parks Carlisle Reservation, 12882 Diagonal Road.
The display features a decorated half-mile long trail with different stops that represent over 25 holiday films such as How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas and many others.
The trail features something for everyone and park officials have described the display as “a wonderful experience that is inspiring and fun for the family,” and many of the stations have been decorated by businesses and organizations that call Lorain County home.
The visitor center will also feature train rides on The Little Green Choo Holiday Express, and the train runs through a separate lighted display, giving visitors two locations to take in and enjoy the holiday lights. The Little Green Choo will take children and adults through the children’s nature discovery trail, which is only available by riding the train.
The holiday light display is something that people can enjoy with their friends and children, it is an event that all ages can enjoy, naturalist Jennifer Breehl said.
“It is a very family-friendly event and many people have made it part of their holiday tradition year after year,” Breehl said.
Elyria resident Terry Douglas said she has been bringing her
“It is a very family friendly event and many people have made it part of their holiday tradition year after year ” Jennifer Breehl, naturalist
daughter Christine to see the holiday lights for many years and now brings her 5-year- old great-grandson AJ to see the lights each year.
“It’s so beautiful and they add new stuff every year, it’s always changing,” Douglas said.
“I’ve been bringing my family here for years and we all enjoy it.”
After walking the path and enjoying the lights, visitors can warm themselves up inside the visitor center and enjoy refreshments, for a small fee, provided by Friends of the Metro Parks.
Admission to the light display is free, but everyone is asked to bring a nonperishable food item that will in turn be donated to the Sec- ond Harvest Food Bank.
The holiday lights display runs until Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25) from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.