Christmas Lights are Flashing All Around OKC

 Throughout December, the joy and glow of Christmas is hard to miss in the Oklahoma City area, with some highly-lauded holiday light exhibitions that go far above and beyond the typical festive neighborhood. Always worth a visit and sure to help your family get in the holiday spirit, these special displays include: Downtown OKC You don’t even need a car to experience the beauty and joy downtown OKC offers this time of year. Instead, you and the family can hop aboard a water taxi on the Bricktown Canal, which is free Thursday through Sunday evenings. Then, once you and your loved ones have oohed and aahed over all the lovely lights along the water, you can still leave your car parked and climb aboard an OKC Streetcar to tour the entire beautifully-decorated downtown area. Just be sure you don’t miss Automobile Alley on Broadway between N.W. 4^th and N.W. 10^th. From Nov. 23 through Jan. 11, more than 180,000 LED lights are draped over the buildings there in a truly stunning display. Additional seasonal downtown OKC delights include the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on the Friday after Thanksgiving and the SandRidge Santa Run Dec. 14. Yukon’s Christmas in the Park Northwest of OKC, the city of Yukon offers tremendous holiday cheer at its Christmas in the Park. Chisholm Trail Park, near downtown Yukon, hosts an incredible drive-through seasonal wonderland from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. This brilliant annual event features more than 425 individual displays stretching over three miles and 100 acres. Admission is free, but donations are accepted at the end of the drive-through. In addition, you can pay to take a ride on the Santa Express Trail train at the Chisholm Trail Park train depot. Midwest City Holiday Lights Spectacular This aptly named extravaganza transforms Midwest City’s Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, at 8500 E. Reno Ave., into a must-see winter wonderland. The whole family will find themselves in a holiday mood after touring the more than 100 Christmas light displays, the most prominent being a 118-foot Christmas tree, complete with 9,000 festive bulbs. Open from the weekend before Thanksgiving through the end of December, admission is free. Chickasha Festival of Light The annual Festival of Light held in Shannon Springs Park in Chickasha is certainly worth the more than 45 minute drive from South OKC. An annual event since 1992, the festival has attracted visitors from across the U.S. It has been recognized as one of the top ten holiday light shows in the nation and features over 3.5 million twinkling illuminations. In addition to the animated musically-choreographed light show, attractions include camel rides, hot chocolate and strolls around the well-lit pond and park. The festival itself is free and runs from the weekend before Thanksgiving through the end of December. For a fee, visitors can also ride a Ferris wheel, have their picture taken with Santa, go on a bus tour or take a carriage ride. Down’s Family Christmas Display Once featured on ABC’s Great Christmas Light Fight, the Down’s Family Christmas Lights are set to music. Located at 2900 72^nd Ave. SE in Norman, the display features more than 18 miles of light strands. Visitors are invited to pull into the field on their right, turn off their lights and enjoy the display much like they would a drive-in movie. They can set their radios to 107.1 FM to fully experience the show. Although there is no cost to attend, the family does accept food and money donations for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The lights are on from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Nov. 28 through Jan. 1.