Chehaw Festival of Lights opens Friday

ALBANY — The Christmas season kicks off in earnest at Chehaw on Friday as the park opens its annual Festival of Lights display to the public.

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The light display will be open to the public Friday through Sunday and on Dec. 11-14, 17-24 and 26-28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $12 a vehicle for Chehaw members and $15 a vehicle for non-members.

The park will also be opening the Festival of Lights a day earlier, today, for bicycle riders. Riders can pedal through the light display and also ride an additional two miles of wooded trail for $7 per person or $25 per family. A bonfire with a marshmallow roast and a dinner plate are also included with the bicycle rider admission.

Officials at Chehaw said they are also opening for an additional night Dec. 10 to benefit the Albany Rescue Mission (ARM). All proceeds collected at the gate that night will given to ARM.

Chehaw is also partnering this year with Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany as a Toys for Tots drop off location. Anyone who donates a new, unwrapped toy between Dec. 5 and Dec. 20 will receive a free ride through the Festival of Lights on the Wiregrass Express train.

The park will also have a regional snow pit Dec. 19 and 20 where visitors can come play in the snow for $2. Additionally Santa and Mrs. Claus will be dropping the park on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. and visiting again Dec. 13, and Dec. 19-24.

To learn more about the park and Chehaw’s other events, visit www.chehaw.org or call (229) 430-5275.