Every night through New Year’s Day, visitors can treat themselves to a festive holiday display of lights unlike any other in the South Sound area. This year is the 20th anniversary of Pierce County Parks and Recreation’s Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park and the department has added even more displays to enhance the experience.
“I feel like every night I come to work, there’s a new display that affects me for different reasons,” said Recreation Supervisor Jennifer Spane, who manages the annual event. “It might be because there’s fog in the park or it’s an extra-crisp night or the rain is hitting the lights a certain way, but there’s always something new to take away.”
The largest holiday drive-through display in the Pacific Northwest features over 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights. The beautiful two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake has become a memorable lakeside tradition for families all over Western Washington.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy a magical world of animation and imagination where bears fly kites, Santa and Rudolf sail a tall ship, snow boys kick field goals, penguins slide down an igloo, and reindeer leap over cars. The county added more LED lighting throughout the park this year along with several new displays families are sure to enjoy.
“For the past several years, with the help of the county’s Public Works and Utilities department we’ve been replacing old lighting technology with new LED lights one display at a time,” Spane said. “It’s a significant cost up front but the long-term savings make it absolutely worthwhile.”
Spane noted there are several discount nights in honor of Fantasy Lights’ 20th anniversary this year, when carloads of visitors can get in for half price. Those upcoming evenings are Dec. 8, 9 and 10 and entry is only $7 (buses are not discounted). Revelers can purchase $11 tickets from the Lakewood Community Center (9112 Lakewood Dr. SW) or Sprinker Recreation Center (14824 C St. S. in Tacoma). A number of $3-off coupons can be found at retailers throughout Pierce County and at www.piercecountywa.org/parks.
Regular priced entry to Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park is $14 per vehicle and mini-bus (up to 14 passengers) and $45 for each bus with 25 or more passenger capacity, and is charged per vehicle at the gate. For more information visit www.piercecountywa.org/fantasylights.
