By Barbara Arnstein
It’s the season once again for kids and their families to enjoy a fun-filled, genuine winter wonderland: the very popular Hamburg Fairgrounds Festival of Lights. Besides the fun of the familiar, much-beloved seasonal various experiences there, including The North Pole Experience featuring visits with Santa, the illuminated pixel show set to music and Santa’s Christmas Express Train Ride, there is new entertainment including a variety of talented performers.
On Sunday, December 10, Friday, December 15 and Sunday, December 17, from 6:30-8:30pm, musician Craig Wilkins will perform music honoring the legends of country music. On Friday, December 8, and Wednesday, December 20, at 6:30, 7:15, 8, 8:45 and 9:30pm, there will be creative hilarity, thanks to the improv group “Cheese and Slackers”, while on Tuesday, December 19 and Saturday, December 23, at 6:30 and 8:30pm, vocalist and improv comedian Cryss Marie will perform. On Saturday, December 9 and December 16, at 6:30, 7:45 and 9pm, you can hear Noah Koningisor play classic acoustic folk and country music, and on Monday, December 18 at 6:30 and 8:30pm, you can hear Judd Sunshine play the piano and sing in all genres. On Thursday, December 21, and Friday, December 22, at 6:30 and 7:45pm, you can be entertained by Santa Zuitar.
For thirty dollars per car and fees, visitors can drive through the display of lights and walk around all its attractions. In addition to those mentioned above, there will be the train display from the Western New York Garden and Railway Society, Frosty the Snowman’s Dance Party, Santa’s Barnyard, Santa’s Magical Midway and kiddy rides. The family-friendly activities include kid’s crafts, cookie decorating, and the Family Scavenger hunt. Kids can also write letters to Santa and veterans/troops in the Winter Wonderland Workshop. The letters for veterans/troops will be distributed to local WNY Heroes.
There will be many food and shopping vendors and an outdoor European Market. The vendors include: At Home Creations, Belov’d Creations, Crafts by Sandy, Essentially Well-Oiled, KD Custom Boutique, Nickel City Designs, Tupperware Lady, Sew Fluffy Kitties, Retro Buffalo, Kelly’s Country Store, Smokin’ Oak and We’R’Nuts, and Erie County merchandise will be on sale. The food available at the Festival includes: homemade chili, mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers, nachos, fried dough, Oreos and Twinkies, kettle corn and donuts. Alcoholic beverages are available from “Frosted” Grapes & Hops wine and the beer garden. There’s hot cider with cinnamon whiskey and hot coffee with Irish cream, and slushies with alcohol.
The remaining dates for the Full Festival Experience are: December 8, 9 and 10, and December 15-23. The remaining dates for the Drive-through only are: December 14, and December 26-30. The drive-through experience tickets cost $20 per vehicle plus fees. The drive-through experience ticket only includes the drive-through displays on those dates. The walk-through components are NOT open at that time.
The buildings, including the Agriculture-Grange Building, the Expo Hall and the Winter Wonderland Workshop, when they are in use, are open between 5-10pm.
When driving through the light displays, only use your parking lights in order to fully view the light displays. At the festival, tune into 1620 AM to listen to the Festival of Lights’ Ho Ho Radio Station for music and holiday messages. Drive slowly through the drive-through area. Include #Hamburg Lights in your posts and your photos may be shared by the Festival of Lights and Erie County Fair’s social pages.
Attention, Santa’s Helpers: On Saturday, December 9, the Armor Volunteer Fire Company will be hosting a boot drive on site. If you bring a new, unwrapped toy to the drive-through gate, up until December 17, you can help support the News Neediest Fund.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Festival of Lights website: the-fairgrounds.com/festival-of-lights. The Hamburg Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is located at 5600 McKinley Parkway in Hamburg, NY. For more information call (716) 649-3900 or go to FairgroundsHoliday.com or front desk at ecfair.org