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A dazzling display in Clear Brook
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Some of the nearly 500,000 lights featured in the “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” holiday display are reflected by a thin layer of ice that covers most of the lake in Clear Brook Park on Saturday night. |
With a grand illumination Saturday night to launch this year’s “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” holiday light show, spectators found the walk-at-your-own-pace tour offered a chance to enjoy a little seasonal spirit and get some fresh air.
“We have close to a half-million lights out here,” said John Turkel, program supervisor with the Frederick County Parks and Recreation Department. “The park staff, as soon as we tore down from Halloween, they knew they had to get on it in order to get all of these lights up and getting the place to look great.”
The park received some help from Dave and Kim Craig of Rugs Direct in Winchester, who added a computer-animated light display set to music. “It’s really mind blowing,” Turkel said.
Saturday’s grand opening of the annual light show offered all of the proceeds to charity, with half going to WINC’s Chain of Checks recipient NW Works Inc., and the other half going to the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley.
“It was fabulous; it was wonderful,” visitor Denise Schurtz said of the event. “We have just never walked through this before. We’re from Front Royal and have always heard about it, so we actually walked through it and it is really nice.”
Jason Schurtz said the entire walk through the park is enjoyable, even in Saturday night’s 30-degree weather.
“I love it,” Sarah Groom said. “For me, I’m home on vacation, and it’s just really nice to come and see everything for Christmas.”
Sarah, a Peace Corps volunteer currently stationed in Grenada, said such a festive show will make it hard for her to leave this area.
“I have to go home to my other home in Grenada,” she said.
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Jeanne Traylor of Winchester and her son Patrick enhance their viewing experience Saturday with holographic glasses that are available for purchase at the Clear Brook Park. |
Jonathan Williams said he had to stop and see the light show, whose powerful illumination could be seen easily from U.S. 11 next to the park.
“I was visiting friends [in Frederick County] and they told me about it,” said Williams, who is from Hagerstown, Md. “I have to admit that it is pretty amazing to find something like this in such a rural spot. There are so many lights here that you would think you are in Baltimore or Washington.”
Visitors on Saturday were serenaded by Living Faith Fellowship Church’s choral group, which performed Christmas carols.
The opening-night crowd continuously streamed through, taking in as many views of the lights as possible.
Turkel said he had no real estimate on the number of visitors.
“It’s hard to say what the crowd has been, but it’s been steady,” he said. “I’m really happy with the crowd that’s been out tonight because it is cold out.”
Turkel said the difference between the Clear Brook light show and other holiday displays is that it is a walking tour, rather than one experienced while riding in a car.
That difference, he said, means it can be taken in at a leisurely pace, with spectators stopping and spending more time at the lights that appeal to them most.
“You have the opportunity to enjoy fresh air, listen to music. You’ve got hot chocolate and cookies that you can enjoy, and there’s no pressure of anybody behind you or in front of you,” Turkel said. “You have got Santa and Mrs. Claus, and you have a computer-animated display, and these are things that take the time and make it what it is.”
The move to energy-efficient bulbs by the Parks and Recreation Department also makes the display environmentally friendly, Turkel said.
The “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” holiday light show will be featured in Clear Brook Park on U.S. 11 north of Winchester every evening through Dec. 30, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Visitors will be admitted from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and the lights will be shut off each night at 10 p.m.
Admission is $3 for people 12 and older, $2 for children ages 2 to 11, and free for children 1 and younger.
Financial support from Rugs Direct of Winchester will enable all children under the age of 12 to be admitted free Dec. 17-23.
...www.co.frederick.va.us/parks
— Contact Drew Houff at
dhouff@winchesterstar.com
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