Festival of Lights set

By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

More than 80,000 lights will greet visitors to the New River Trail State Park this month as the grounds transform into a festive holiday heaven.
For the fourth consecutive year, the park will host the Foster Falls Festival of Lights, and for the first time this December the festival will actually be festivals.
Due to increasing attendance numbers and with a desire to serve more people who might have a conflict with one date, the Festival of Lights will be held on both Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, from 4 to 9 p.m.
“We’re trying to cater to everyone’s needs,” said Patrick McFall, park interpreter.
On the two upcoming Saturday evenings, visitors can gain admission to the park and holiday display at no charge. Instead, a donation of a canned good and/or unused toy is the ticket needed for entrance.
Food and toys collected will go to the Agape Food Pantry and the Santa’s Shop, respectively. The Agape Food Pantry is located in Wytheville, while Santa’s Shop is an effort of the Department of Social Services to provide toys to needy children.
Families who have made the Festival of Lights a holiday tradition will find many familiar favorites at the event, but organizers have also worked to add fresh elements.
A notable expanded feature this year will be the use of inflatables. Last year, McFall said the display included five inflatables, while this time around there will be 12 or 13 – including a 12-foot tall snowman.
In addition, a large candy cane archway will welcome festival attendees.
“We’re just adding a few more decorations,” McFall said. “We’re trying to make it family oriented.”
Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, McFall said he and a team of workers were putting the finishing touches on the lights around the historic village and setting up the inflatables.
In total, the process to get everything decorated takes about three weeks to complete.
“It’s a lot of tedious work,” McFall said.
The effort, though, pays off in the form of hundreds of happy families.
Last year, McFall said 1,300 people came out for the single-day festival.
During this year’s two festival nights, tours will be offered by horse drawn hayrides and on an antique John Deere tractor. Santa Claus is also scheduled to make appearances during both evenings.
Foster Falls Church will offer cookies and park officials will provide hot chocolate and coffee to those in need of refreshment after a night of holiday spirit.
For people who can’t make it out to the two Saturday night events, McFall said the park will be lit up throughout December for groups to drive through.
He also said he wanted to remind people that only store-bought canned food items can be accepted. For safety reasons, food canned at home will have to be declined.
Additional questions about the Festival of Lights can be answered by calling (276) 699-6778.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or .