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The Lights of Christmas is on its way! The team is currently transforming the 14-acres of Warm Beach Camp into the dazzling wonderland of The Lights of Christmas. Here are some interesting facts about the event and its history. In 2022, nearly 100,000 individual mini donuts in about 14,000 bags were sold during the event! Yum! It takes both staff and volunteers approximately 85 days to set up The Lights of Christmas. In addition, we have volunteers that work throughout the year sorting, testing, and repairing lights in preparation for the event! The biggest night for cars was in 2021 with 1,348 cars in one evening! 1.5 million people have attended the event since 1997. Nearly 40 miles of extension cords power up all of the displays. There are approximately enough light strands (at least 18,000) to stretch from Stanwood to Qwest Field stadium in Seattle. That’s over 1.2 million lights! We quit counting after that. People come from all over to experience The Lights of Christmas. We have had guests from the Puget Sound and Lower Mainland, not to mention other US states, and as far away as Europe, Australia, South America, and Africa. Last year there were attendees from 87 Washington cities, 41 other states and Canada. In the development of The Lights of Christmas, Warm Beach Camp staff traveled to Nashville in the 90’s to attend Opryland Theme Park’s lighted event. There, Bruce the Spruce was inspired! He is now an event icon! The Lights of Christmas is a Pacific Northwest tradition. Admission tickets are available now! Buy Tickets We hope to see you this year at The Lights of Christmas!

Do you have questions about The Lights of Christmas? We have answers! . . . There are only 27 days until opening day! We hope these answers will help in planning your trip to come see the lights this season. What is an Activity Stop? An Activity Stop is a designated area within the drive-thru route where you can park-and-get out of your car to experience the different opportunities at the stop. Joyland is the Activity Stop near the beginning of the route and Santa’s Village is about two-thirds of the way through. Don’t miss these great options. What activities are there? In Joyland – Wander through the new light maze to a large Christmas tree with snow falling every 15 minutes and many photo opportunities. Get your holiday chuckles with Bruce the Spruce, the talking Christmas tree, and purchase a hot drink or snack before continuing through the drive-thru route. In Santa’s Village – Drop off your Christmas letters with Santa until December 23rd. Bring your camera and take a photo with him and Mrs. Claus (at no charge) and do some Christmas shopping at the gift shop. What’s new this year? Re-designed drive-thru route, to keep each year fresh and magical. Several new light displays have been added including a new underwater themed display. New Activity Stop! Activity Stops are great for those wanting more of a get-out-of-your-car experience. Santa’s Village and Joyland hold lots of fun activities perfect for creating long-lasting holiday memories! Can you buy gifts and snacks? Mini-donuts and kettle corn can be pre-purchased online or purchased upon arrival. Gift shops and snacks are also available for purchase at both Activity Stops. Is it a walk-thru or drive-thru? It is a drive-thru format with two optional park-and-get-out Activity Stops. We are so glad that many people enjoyed The Lights of Christmas Festival in the past. This was possible because of the dedication and hard work of incredible seasonal staff and volunteers. The walk thru event required around 250 people nightly to operate and the drive-thru format takes about 60 people. As with many businesses around the country, finding enough seasonal employees and volunteers to carry on as a festival has been impossible. We know this permanent change may be hard, and this style may not appeal to everyone, but we hope you’ll give it a try. We are exited to offer TWO optional Activity Stops this year for those who want a park-and-get-out option, providing guests more than a typical drive-thru experience. How do I buy tickets? Pre-purchased vehicle ticket required. Purchase online at www.thelightsofchristmas.com/admission . Select the desired day and time at checkout. Remember, only one ticket is needed per vehicle.

The Lights of Christmas can’t wait to lavishly celebrate Christmas with the community again this year! New fun activities have been created for guests! These two optional get-out-of-your-car activity stops come included in admission at no additional cost. Here are a few highlights to look forward to at each stop! Joyland That’s right! Joyland is back! Light Maze: This iconic area will feature a new and improved indoor light maze! Traverse through the lighted paths, smell the scent of freshly baked cookies, and enjoy imitation snow as you create new memories with family and friends! Bruce the Spruce: Our dear friend Bruce the Spruce the Talking Christmas Tree is back! He is so excited to see you and make you laugh! Shopping: Check out the Joyland gift shop! Great for getting Christmas presents or reminders of your time at The Lights of Christmas. Santa’s Village SANTA IS COMING! He’ll be here from opening night through December 23. After that, he’ll be on vacation in Hawaii. He can’t wait to visit with you! Don’t forget to bring your wish list! Letter templates can be found here under the costume character section. *Santa and Mrs. Claus meet-and-greet is free. Bring your own camera if you would like photos. Snacks: Need a little treat? Pick up refreshments at Santa’s Village before you finish the drive-thru portion of the event. A great way to fill your belly with Christmas spirit! Shopping: Another shopping opportunity to get some gifts or mementos. Photo Op Areas: New and fun photo areas to capture your fun and share it with friends and family! The Lights of Christmas runs select nights November 24 through December 30. Advanced online purchase required. Only one ticket needed per vehicle. We hope to see you this year at The Lights of Christmas!

A transition of seasons is in sight, fresh collections are rolling in, and frankly, free time is usually at its peak thanks to January’s dreary weather. That said, the months prior can be draining on the bank account, which means refreshing your space during this period also presents some challenges. Don’t let budget deter you completely, though. According to experts, it’s actually very much possible to give your home an upgrade for 2023 on a dime — and maybe without spending any money at all.

In the words of Jane Austen, “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” Whether you consider yourself an adventure seeker or a homebody, there is something about having a haven to return to! Today’s post is all about how to create a cozy home, no matter your budget or decor style. Here are my favorite ways to make your home feel inviting, warm, and restful.

The best interior design trends of 2023 are not a list of "dos," "don’ts," and It-items for the home. Rather, they’re a shortcut to smartly channel your personal style into your space. Interior design trends are often a reaction to larger cultural moments, like stress, “de-influencing,” and a desire to invest in organic, planet-friendly materials. As a result, we’re seeing fewer micro-trends and more design choices that will stand the test of time.