With all the anxiety that comes with finals, many students might forget to soak up the joy of the holiday season. Fortunately, the Lights on the Lake event can help students get into the holiday spirit.
Better than viewing the average home’s decorations, Lights on the Lake is a drive through a large collection of innovative and exciting themed light fixtures. At 2 miles long, there are plenty of decorations to enjoy.
The event runs from now until Jan. 12 at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool, about 15 minutes from campus. The event is open from 5-10 p.m. daily, with the exception of New Year’s Eve. Visitors drive through in cars or motorcycles for $10 each Monday through Thursday, and then Friday through Sunday at $15 per car. Wegmans Shoppers Club cardholders are eligible to receive a $4 discount every Monday and Tuesday, since the event is sponsored by the grocery store chain. Only cash and checks are accepted.
Debbie Dennis, Onondaga Lake Park’s recreation leader, said Lights on the Lake is a long-held Syracuse tradition, and this year the event is celebrating its 24th season.
“There isn’t just one attraction that people come for,” Dennis said. “Everyone has a different favorite.”
As cars drive through the attractions, visitors are encouraged to turn their radio stations to the holiday sounds of Sunny 102, another of the event’s sponsors.
The themed attractions visitors can drive through are Fantasy Forest, Under the Sea, Land of Oz, Holiday Traditions, Santa’s Workshop, Victorian Village and Wide World of Sports. Many of the displays include animated scenes and towering light displays. The evening concludes with cars driving through a Fairy Tale Magic Grand Finale.
The names of the different attractions alone are reminiscent of what it means to truly be joyous during the holiday season.
The event also gives students a chance to bond with their friends they’ve made here at Syracuse before they leave to spend the holidays at home. And it is a quick and easy break from all the tests and papers many of them will have to complete.
“[Lights on the Lake] gets everyone in the holiday spirit,” Dennis said. “The students will see the bright lights, and it gets them thinking about the holidays and their family right before they go home.”
