The fourth annual Festival of Lights at DeHart Park is set to dazzle attendees from Friday, Dec. 13, through Monday, Dec. 23. Open from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and extended until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the event promises holiday magic for visitors of all ages.
Co-sponsored by the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce and Patrick County Tourism, the festival aims to raise funds for DeHart Park while uniting the community. Amy Corns, chairman of the Stuart Parks & Recreation Association Fundraising Committee, emphasized the inclusive nature of the event.
“I don’t want this to be a Stuart festival of lights; I want this to be a Patrick County Festival of Lights,” Corns said. “I want children, schools, and businesses from every area of the county. I want little ones to have something to do, and I want the older adults to have something to do. This is really just an event that everyone can enjoy. It gets people out at our park, but it also raises money for multiple groups without our county,” she said.
Like the last two Festival of Lights, Corns said proceeds from the festival will help make the park’s bathrooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She estimated $60,000 has already been raised toward the $75,000 goal.
“We are 75 percent done raising the money for the bathrooms. So, we’re hoping that this year will just put us over the top to be able to do the bathrooms. We’re just wrapping that up and hoping that we can get the ball rolling into 2025 to get the bathrooms started and done,” she said.
Corns believes around $60,000 has been raised for the bathroom project. The estimated cost is about $75,000.
This year’s festival features 58 light displays created by local businesses, churches, organizations, families, and individuals. Admission costs $10 per vehicle — only cash will be accepted, with unlimited loops through the circular display area.
“I think that’s one thing that you don’t get at other light shows. At other light shows, you drive through one time and that’s your time. Where ours is a circle drive, you come in and you can drive through as many times as you want to. You can really go slow, you can enjoy the event. I think a lot of people really, really enjoy that fact,” Corns said.
Last year, Corns said the 11-night event averaged more than 100 cars per night, with anywhere from one to five people per car.
“I would estimate we pull in about 5,000 through the event,” she said.
Visitors’ zip codes will be collected this year to track the festival’s reach, which Corns noted extends to areas such as Henry County, Galax, Danville, and parts of North Carolina. “Places all around,” she said, adding the festival “really does pull a lot of tourists into our area.”
Attendees can vote for their favorite display and a special elementary school contest. The winning school will receive a free pool party, courtesy of DeHart Park.
Corns said there will also be two display contests this year that visitors can vote in – one for the best display and the best elementary school display. The winning elementary school will receive a free pool party courtesy of DeHart Park.
Like last year, Corns said local groups will be brought in to raise money by selling a variety of goodies.
“This year, we have a group coming every single night. So, every night there will be some type of baked goods or coffee or hot chocolate,” she said.
While some are businesses, like Olivia’s Goodie Shop and Sugar Shack – Donuts & Coffee, Corns said other local groups, like the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Patrick County High School (PCHS) Boys’ Basketball Team also are expected, and the Senior Beta Club will be setting up.
“Each group has something different to sell each night, but I’m just excited that other groups are able to benefit from the Festival of Lights as well,” she said.
Carolers, including groups from local churches and schools, will perform nightly under picnic shelters. Caroling groups that include the Mayo Mountain Church, PCHS Praise and Worship Team, PCHS Band, Harvest Worship Center, Stuart Elementary School Jr. Beta, Stuart Elementary School cheerleaders, and more will perform while Christmas music airs on WHEO.
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will make nightly appearances, with a special Christmas Pajama Night on Sunday, Dec. 15, where visitors can meet Santa and create ornaments at the Fab Lab. Then, visitors will be able to go into the Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) and visit the jolly old elf with the PCHS JV Cheer Team.
“The park will be giving away one free ornament to each family. Then, the families will be able to design other ornaments. I think they’re like $1 apiece if they want to design or engrave personalized ornaments” from the Fab Lab, Corns said.
A program created especially for the festival will detail the organization’s mission, list every 2024 park sponsor, and each display, Corns said. A QR code is included in the program— a link to the website where votes can be cast for a favorite display.
Discount coupons, which expire December 31, for some local businesses also are included in the program.
For more information, visit Facebook.com/DeHartPark-StuartParks&RecreationAssociation.
