Holidays will Shine at Anderson Christmas Lights
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson Christmas Lights, one of the largest and most visited holiday light shows in the state, is celebrating 30 years with an expanded Christmas Village, more music and additions to the lights display (including a giant Clemson Tiger Paw).
In the village: The General Store will offer local handmade crafts, and much more. The Santa Lodge will again take professional photos, up to 12 poses for $20 (which will be given on a flash drive). Fresh baked goods will be served in the Bakery. Professional Woodcarver Duckett Karvin will be back with his chainsaw making art. Fresh Kettle Corn will be popped in the village, and Dennis’ Fillin’ Station will have hot chocolate, roasting marshmallows, and smores. A “snow” shower is also possible some nights in the village.
The Main Stage will host regional recording artist L.C. Branch, America’s Got Talent performer Ansley Burns, the Clemson University Steel Drum Band, Take Note, the all-female acapella group from Clemson, along with regional bluegrass and other acts in town to entertain the guests. For more information and schedule, visit www.AndersonChristmasLights.org
The 45-acre park hosts over 345 displays, millions of lights, including 2.5 miles of colored lights which line the roads. Look for: Waving Santa, the Dancing Santa, Nativity Scene, Toyland, the Marching Soldiers, alongside several new displays.
What began as the Lights of Hope as an Easter Seals fundraiser, the holiday tradition almost went dark in 2003 when Easter Seals closed the Anderson office. Co-Founders Dennis Lavold and Ben Phillips agreed not to let the holiday lights go out Anderson and saved the organization with their own funding and efforts when sponsorships fell short.
As it grew into a larger non-profit organization, changes came, including the move in 2015 to the county-owned Whitehall Park near the Anderson Civic Center. The new location provided better potential infrastructure and room to grow. Phillips and Lavold installed 8.5 miles of underground electric cable, a cost of $180,000 out of their own pockets, and improved the park with more displays and an expansive Santa’s Village which added the Veteran’s Stage in 2017 to allow for entertainment and music.
Today the holiday venue attracts more than 40,000 visitors every season to drive through the displays which feature more than millions of lights and annually updated and expanded displays.