The City’s annual Winter Lights Festival opened for the season yesterday. This is a popular event, although personally I don’t usually get inspired to go until we get a blanket of snow to give the lights a white background. The event is held at Seneca Creek State Park, on Clopper Road west of Quince Orchard Road. Open from 6:00 to 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 6:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, admission is by the vehicle: $10 per car Sunday through Thursday and $12 per car on Friday and Saturday. Large vans and Buses cost more. $2 discount coupons — good only Sunday through Thursday — are available at Lakeforest Mall, and all proceeds go to the charities listed on the City’s website.

This year there will be six opportunities — twice on each of three dates — to ride the City’s open-air “trolley” through the display. The first chance at this is this coming Monday, November 27, at 6:30 and 7:30. Tickets to the trolley rides are $5 each. The trolley is also scheduled to run December 4 and December 11. Obviously you’ll need to dress to be outside for an hour in whatever weather those dates bring. According to the City, “Seating is limited, and is available on a first come, first served basis.”