The lights, which have already begun to shine at the park, will glow from 4 to 9 p.m. daily through Jan. 1.
“It’s a winter wonderland for visitors who come through our park during the holiday season,” said Shawn Porter, director of operations at Look Park in Northampton, even when there isn’t any snow on the ground.
Look Park has been transformed with a series of special holiday events combining their long-standing tradition of visiting with Santa with driving through the park decked out for the holidays. There are more than 50 illuminated displays from snowmen to reindeer, and their newest addition introduced three years ago – Santa’s Trains.
“All of the light displays are made by Look Park’s Maintenance Department. It takes them a few weeks to put them all up ... it’s a lot of work. And it’s all hands on deck to get the job done in time,” Porter said.
“There are many different scenes, including a nativity in the sanctuary which is really beautiful and overlooks the lake, so you get a reflection off the water or ice if it’s cold enough. You’ll also see light displays of animals you might see at the park like woodpeckers or deer. And we have Santa taking off on his sleigh, a very large poinsettia and many other random colorful displays to view.”
The lights, which have already begun to shine at the park, will glow from 4 to 9 p.m. daily through Jan. 1.
Returning for its third year, Santa’s Trains will delight young and old alike from little kids who love their “choo-choos” to big kids who remember the heyday of the railroads which crisscrossed the country.
Beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 12, the park’s Garden House will be transformed into a Victorian train station where visitors will find three operating layouts whose cars – some 60 of them running at different times – will travel through various landscapes from the North Pole to New England to even a landscape reminiscent of Look Park.
“This year we have three operating layouts, one more than last year, chugging along the tracks that have been set up and created by volunteer model train collectors from the Pioneer Valley ‘S’ Gaugers,” said Greg Malynoski, Look Park’s director of development.
While enjoying all the sights and sounds of the holidays at Santa’s Trains, visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, watch Jingles and Sparkles making toys in Santa’s workshop, and chat with authentic train engineers decked out in their blue and white overalls. Also, each evening will feature a special guest conductor and station master from the community greeting visitors as they enter Look Park’s magical kingdom.
“Kids are definitely excited, or I should really say kids of all ages, to see the trains running. And, to keep the kids engaged, they can participate in a scavenger hunt where they must find different holiday characters spread throughout the model displays,” Malynoski said.
Hours for Santa’s Trains are daily from 4 to 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on its last day of operation on Christmas Eve.
Also, for those who would like to take a train ride of their own, Look Park will be offering a trip aboard Santa’s North Pole Express from 4 to 7:40 p.m. through Dec. 23. Rides begin at the Visitor Center and continue through the park giving riders a close-up view of the many brightly shining holiday displays. Tickets are $5 per person and free to children under two years of age.
And, those who want to spend a little more time with Santa can share breakfast with the jolly ol’ elf on Saturday in the Garden House. A sit-down buffet-style breakfast will be served with Santa, Rudolph, and the Look Park family. Seatings take place at 9:30 and 11 a.m. with tickets priced at $9 for adults and $7 for children. Kids under age 2 are free. Reservations can be made by calling the park.
While there is no charge to go through the park to enjoy it’s several holiday attractions, Porter said on the way out of the park they collect back a holiday compact disc of songs, kids in the car are given candy canes, and “donations are accepted if someone chooses to give.”