MARION – The Marion County Fairgrounds will come to “light” with the magic of the holiday season when its annual “Christmas by Candlelight” opens Friday, Nov. 27.
This is the 24th year for the drive-through light display, which is spread out over 45 acres at the fairgrounds, 220 E. Fairground St. The light show is run by the Marion County Agricultural Society with financial support from many businesses and organizations.
“The big thing is that for so many years it’s been open for the community to enjoy,” said fair general manager and secretary/treasurer Cindy Wood. “The grounds are so pretty when they’re all lit up. It really gets you in the Christmas spirit.”
The seasonal showpiece features hundreds of displays, from giant sea serpents and dolphins to western scenes from America’s stagecoach days. Santa’s toy shop, wood cut-outs, illuminated arches, and plenty of dancing lights and animation abound, Wood said.
A live nativity is re-enacted every Saturday and Sunday night in December. Members of local churches portray Mary and Joseph in one of the barns, complete with live sheep. This year, Wood said, a boy’s club and girls’ club are also volunteering to stage the nativity scene.
Volunteers, seasonal workers, and members of the fair board started setting up the massive display the first week of September, Wood said. Although repairs were needed to some of the exhibits, most of them went up over the next six weeks, she said.
It takes about a half-hour to drive through “Christmas by Candlelight,” which winds through the entire fairgrounds property along a drive lined with red luminaries. The event is featured for the third year as one of the eight best Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Displays in Ohio.
Wood said the winter lights are a goodwill gesture for the community and the first big event held at the fairgrounds this year. “Everybody’s looking for something safe and fun to do this year,” she said, “and everyone can do it from the safety of their own car with no contact.”
The fair board, she said, has tried each year since 1996 to provide a perfect family-friendly outing during the holiday season, while still promoting Marion county businesses and the agricultural society.
“There’s no question that this holiday season could use some extra cheer and we are excited to share that with our visitors. We want to make this a great, safe community event for everyone.”
“Christmas by Candlelight” runs Nov. 27-29, Dec. 3-6, and Dec. 10-25 from 6 to 10 p.m. The live nativity is only open from 6 to 9 p.m. on the weekends of Dec. 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20. Admission is $6 a car, $20 for a small bus, and $35 for a large bus.