
		Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004

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Trip the lights fantastic

Callaway Gardens illuminates the holidays

WHAT: “Fantasy in Lights”

WHERE: Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

WHEN: November 19 - December 31; Mon-Thurs 6-8 p.m. Fri-Sun and Holidays 6-10 p.m.

HOW MUCH: Mon-Thurs Adults $10.70, Children $5.35; Fri-Sun and Holidays Adults $16.05, Children $8.03

FOR MORE INFO: Phone 1-800- CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit callawayonline.com

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@thecitizen.com

For the ultimate Christmas light show, take 8 million lights, 3,500 extension cords, 444 speakers, 32 miles of cable, 1000 light switches and plug it all in. You will have what Callaway Gardens calls the “Fantasy In Lights Christmas Light Show.”

The lights first came on in 1992 with just five scenes and the fantasy ride has grown over the years to more than a dozen colorful scenes. “March of the Toy Soldiers,” “FIL the Frog,” a tribute to the Fantasy in Lights mascot, “Twin Trees,” “Snowflake Valley,” and the “Magical Christmas Garden” began the tradition that has delighted almost 2 million visitors to the Pine Mountain celebration.

The very next year “Christmas Tree Lane,” “Firefly Cove,” “Swan Lake & Hummingbird Fountain,” and “The Nativity” were added nearly doubling the length of the show. In 1994 “Nature's Wonderland” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas” joined the line-up with “The Night Before Christmas,” “Santa's Workshop,” and “The Skating Party’ added soon after. In 2000 the “Enchanted Rainbow Forest” made the magical five mile drive an even more festive experience with its 410 controlled images. The “Fantasy in Lights” tour is a great way to get the Christmas spirit. You can lose yourself and find your inner child in the 731 miles of lights that make up this one-of-a-kind holiday experience.

It takes 3,900 man-hours to install “Fantasy In Lights,” 1,780 man-hours to maintain it once the show is open, and 1,020 man-hours to disassemble it. It takes six weeks to install the entire show and each scene takes three to four days to install.

Celebrating their thirteenth year as the primiere Christmas light show in the Southeast, Calloway Garden’s “Fantasy In Lights” will be open to the public through December 31. The 2004 forecast for attendance is 170,000 people with projected retail sales at $500,000. The show begins and ends at Callaway’s Robin Lake Beach where two additional light shows entertain the Christmas guests, “The Nativity” and “T’was The Night Before Christmas”.

Also at this location is Christmas Village, a 22,000 square foot indoor, heated village bustling with crafters, Christmas retail items, food and beverage services, and admission sales. There’s even an opportunity to visit with Santa at the North Pole where it snows each day when he arrives.

The Fantasy Food Court includes fresh bakery goods and sweets from Mrs. Claus' Bakery and Candy Shop, Philly steak sandwiches, corn dogs, turkey legs, pork rinds, boiled peanuts, popcorn, pizzas, funnel cakes, burgers, assorted snacks and more. There is also a cookie decorating station for the artistically inclined.

The Christmas Village's Land of the Nutcrackers includes every size and color of these charming characters you can imagine. In Ornament Forest, you'll get lost in a collection of intricately decorated trees, each with a delightful theme. In Toyland, the little ones' eyes shine with excitement at all the glittering treasures.

Show tours are Monday - Thursday, 6-8 p.m.; Friday - Sunday and Holidays 6-10 p.m. Ticket prices are Monday - Thursday.

Adults $10.70, Children $5.35; Friday - Sunday and Holidays Adults $16.05, Children $8.03. For more information about this holiday event phone 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or order tickets online at callawayonline.com.

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Trip the lights fantastic

Callaway Gardens illuminates the holidays

What do you think of this story?

Click here to send a message to the editor.