HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Nov. 25-Dec. 30 (Wednesdays-Sundays)
*(Closed Dec. 24 & 25)
5:30-9:00 p.m.

Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange

Carlisle Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange

Lorain County Metro Parks would like to thank their Holiday Lights sponsors:

Join us at Carlisle Reservation this festive season for our annual Holiday Lights display! The event runs from November 24th through December 30th, weekly from Wednesday through Sunday (closed December 24th and 25th). This event will be held at TWO locations - the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Road and the Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road in LaGrange.

The Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center (13630 Diagonal Road) will be hosting the drive-through portion of this festive event. This mile-long drive-through will feature our classic lighted features, such as Santa’s Castle and the Carousel. NEW this year will be even more lights and new features that can be seen from the comfort of your vehicle.

In addition to the drive-through, other displays can be viewed at the Carlisle Visitor Center (12882 Diagonal Road). The Children’s Nature Discovery Trail will be festively decorated for your family to walk along and enjoy the crisp early winter weather on Wednesday-Saturday evenings. On Sundays, during the event from 5:30-9 p.m., the Little Green Choo will be running on the trail. While walkers will not be permitted along the trail on Sundays during the event, all are welcome aboard the Little Green Choo.

The evenings from Nov 24th-Dec 23rd from 5:30-9 p.m. there will be cookies, hot chocolate, popcorn, etc., available for purchase inside the Black River Room, courtesy of Friends of Metro Parks.

Admission to this program is free, but we are asking visitors to bring one nonperishable food item that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. There will be a donation station at the beginning of the driving display at the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center, at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center inside the Black River Room, and at the beginning of the Children’s Nature Discovery Trail. We will also host a “Wildlife Giving Tree” at the Carlisle Visitor Center with items needed to care for the animals of Carlisle and other LCMP facilities, from our resident raptors and reptiles to wild songbird visitors.

As always, outdoor programs are weather-dependent. Please call ahead the day of the program in case of inclement weather or high wind advisories. For more information, please call (440) 458-5121.

Holiday Lights Activities:

Little Green Choo Rides
Sundays, Nov. 26, & Dec. 3, 10, & 17 | 5:30-9:00 pm
Children’s Nature Discovery Trail

Santa Nights
Thursdays, Nov. 30, & Dec. 7, 14, & 21 | 6:00-8:30 pm
Carlisle Visitor Center

Balloon Twisting
Wednesdays, Nov. 29, & Dec. 6, 13, & 20 | 6:30-8:30 pm
Carlisle Visitor Center

Santa Shop - Courtesy of Friends of the Metro Parks
Fridays & Saturdays, Nov. 24, 25, & Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23 | 5:30-8:30 pm
Carlisle Visitor Center

LIGHTS ON THE LAKE
Nov. 25-Dec. 30 | 5:30-9:00 p.m.
Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052

Experience a FREE lakefront drive-thru lighted holiday display at Lakeview Park! Enjoy “Lights on the Lake” with classic holiday scenes, festive décor, and thousands of twinkling lights spanning this 26-acre park. This after-hours event is intended for drive-thru only. You will not be permitted to exit your vehicle. Lights turn on at dusk and stay lit until 9 p.m. each night. We hope you find an opportunity to enjoy this cheerful and safe holiday activity!

Santa Nights at Lakeview Park
Nov. 25, & Dec. 2, 3, 6, 10, & 15 | 5:00-7:00 pm

Celebrate the holiday season with this annual favorite! Drive through Lakeview Park to see all the magical light displays from November 26th until December 31st. Visit with Santa at one of our Santa Nights inside the Sunset Terrace for some hot chocolate, cookie decorating, crafts, and photo opportunity!

Santa’s Holiday Lunch Party at Lakeview Park
Saturday, December 9 | 11:00 am-1:00 pm
$20/person (10+ years) | $15/child (3-9 years) | Kids under 3: free

Join Santa for a fun-filled holiday afternoon at Lakeview Park! Tickets include a pasta bar lunch, cupcake decorating, one family photo with Santa, crafts, and activities for kids. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Call 440-458-5121 for tickets and info.

‘ICONIC HOLIDAY’ DISPLAY
Nov. 24-Dec. 30 | 10 am-5 pm, daily
Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Rd., Avon
$2/person (under 3 free)

Celebrate the holiday season with a visit to Miller Nature Preserve's 'Iconic Holiday' - a seasonal display set within and outside the Conservatory! This year's focus is on recognizable American holiday traditions and will feature a blend of interpretive hands-on activities set among sensory-designed scenes. Inspired by pop culture and modernized classic Christmas traditions, we aim to share our holiday favorites with visitors of all ages this December! Look for related programming by searching 'Iconic Holiday' in the catalog!

Accompanying display programs below:

Iconic Holiday Preview Night
Tue., November 21 | 6:00-8:00 pm
Free (Miller Nature Preserve members only)

Attention all M.N.P. Members - You are invited to an 'Iconic Holiday' Preview Night! Celebrate the holiday season with a SPECIAL INVITATION to PREVIEW Miller Nature Preserve's 'Iconic Holiday' - a seasonal display set within and outside the Conservatory (open to the general public on 11/24)! Inspired by pop culture and modernized classic Christmas traditions, we aim to share our holiday favorites with visitors of all ages this December!

Iconic Holiday Party
Fri., December 8 | 6-8 pm
$5/person (kids under 3: free)

An evening of holiday fun for the whole family! Celebrate iconic holiday traditions with indoor games and activities, walk through our Conservatory's Iconic Holiday display, and explore lighted displays among the outdoor gardens. Cookie decorating, holiday movie, LIVE Santa photo op, and more! Food and beverage concessions available for purchase from the Orchid Cafe. Pre-register by Dec. 1.

Santa Lunch
Sat., December 2 | 11:30 am-1:30 pm
$20/person (10+ years) | $15/child (3-9 years) | Kids under 3: free

Enjoy breakfast, games, and activities inside the 'Iconic Holiday' Conservatory display, and a photo op with Santa! Admission to the Conservatory is included; must bring your own device for taking photos. Pre-register by Nov. 25.

OLD-FASHIONED HOLIDAY
Dec. 2 & 3 | 3-7 p.m.
Vermilion River Reservation (Mill Hollow side), 51211 North Ridge Rd., Vermilion
$3/person

Get in the holiday spirit with some old-fashioned fun-for-the-whole-family at Vermilion River Reservation! Step back in time to the 1860s as you tour the candlelit Benjamin Bacon House Museum, where members of the Brownhelm Historical Association portray Brownhelm residents celebrating the holidays. Outside the Bacon House, by the warmth of their campfire, enjoy visiting with re-enactors as they cook & share Bacon and Brownhelm history. Enjoy a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride thru Mill Hollow’s pretty, wintry backdrop, and then stop by the cozy & charming Carriage Barn to warm up and take Holiday photos by our beautifully decorated fireplace and 14-foot tall Christmas tree. Relax & roast S’mores around our outdoor firepits (while supplies last), and The Friends of Metro Parks will be selling light refreshments inside the Carriage Barn (cash only).

The program fee includes one Carriage Ride and the Museum Tour. Pre-register EACH person in your group for a 12-minute Museum Tour time-block (limit of 12 people per Tour). No walk-ins; pre-register by 12/1 at loraincountymetroparks.com/programs. On event day, please check in at the Carriage Barn Lobby, where you will receive your Carriage Ride ticket to be used either before or after your scheduled Museum Tour. Outside activities are weather dependent. For questions, contact the Carriage Barn at 440-967-7310.

ELF TOY WORKSHOP
Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2-4 p.m.
Wellington Reservation, 535 Jones Rd., Wellington
$15/child (under 3 are free)

This special holiday event will allow children to learn how to build toys from the experts- Santa’s elves! Each child will make three toys from the instruction of Santa’s elves and will be able to write a letter to Santa to be taken back to the North Pole. At the end of the event cookies and cocoa will be served. The cost is $15 per child (ages 3-12). Please register ONLY the child, not the adult caregiver who will be attending with the child. Please limit one caregiver per child. We are allowing one caregiver per child so that each child can have an adult supervising and assisting them with the building of their toys.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR
Sat., Dec. 2 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Henry’s Barn, 46223 U.S. Rt. 20, Oberlin
Free Admission

Join us at Henry’s Barn the first weekend of December for our second annual Winter Craft Fair! Shop for all of your holiday gifts and support local vendors during our one-day, family-friendly event. We will have hand-made, crafted goods of all kinds for you to purchase. Get in the spirit of the holiday season with us!