Winter Festival of Lights to sparkle at Wheeling resort
WHEELING, W.Va. – America’s largest light show, the Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, W.Va., continues through Jan. 4. This year’s show has been very successful, and the Oglebay planners are already looking ahead to next season’s show. Every year, Oglebay adds several new displays to the popular light show, and this season’s new additions have all been well received.
Seven new light displays were unveiled this year including two fire-breathing dragon displays at the Good Zoo.
“These displays honor our special exhibit at the zoo of a 6-foot-long live Komodo dragon,” said Penny Miller, director of the Good Zoo. “The dragon arrived in April as a special summer exhibit, but he has been so well received that we have extended his stay through the holidays.”
One of the dragon light displays is located at the zoo entrance road and another dragon light display is located on the zoo patio.
“The dragon light display on the patio roasts marshmallows by breathing fire on them,” Miller said. “But, visitors to the zoo on Friday and Saturday can make smores in the more traditional fashion, over a fire burning on the zoo patio, from 6 to 9 p.m.”
The Good Zoo at Oglebay also features holiday laser shows, and a large miniature train display with a nostalgic winter village.
The new light displays at this year’s show will take their place along side 60 other displays from previous years. Other new displays this year include the Nutcrackers at Wilson Lodge, a Snowman Family near the Par 3 Golf Course, Snoopy Tipping his Hat on the road to the Good Zoo just before you enter the Light Tunnel, the 75th Anniversary Sign near the entrance to the Festival of Lights, and the Christmas Tree Garden located next to the Visitors Center. “The Christmas Tree Garden is magical,” Knoyer said. “We’ve placed about 20 live trees in the garden area around the nativity display and decorated them all with lights. The trees will then be planted throughout the resort in the spring.”
Trolley tours of the Winter Festival of Lights are offered nightly at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Knoyer says that each tour has a driver eager to share their expertise and knowledge of not only the Festival of Lights displays but also the history of Oglebay and its many facilities.
The Winter Festival of Lights began in 1985 at Oglebay and spread throughout the City of Wheeling to become known as the Winter Festival of Lights/City of Lights Celebration.
For more information call 304-243-4000 or 1-800-624-6988 or visit www.oglebay-resort.com.
That first year, displays and landscape lighting at Oglebay covered about 125 acres over a three-mile drive throughout the resort. Since then, the show has grown into the nation’s largest light show, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort. The Winter Festival of Lights has been named as one of the American Bus Association’s Top International Events.
The Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay can be enjoyed nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. No admission is charged for the event but an $8 per car donation is requested. For more information call 304-243-4000 or 1-800-624-6988 or visit www.oglebay-resort.com.