One of the area's favorite holiday traditions opens Friday night, Nov. 16, when Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights returns for its 24th season.
More than a million LED lights will twinkle throughout the Lookout Mountain attraction with more than 30 holiday scenes to delight the young and young at heart.
New this year: a walk-through Christmas tree.
Have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus either Dec. 11 or 12 during Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights. (Rock City contributed photo)"Through our collaboration with Northern Sky Lighting, we are thrilled to present the newest and most exciting elements of our Magic Forest Dancing Tree show to date," says Will Jackson, senior manager of innovation for Rock City.
"Our new 43-foot, walk-through Christmas tree is the first of its kind anywhere, and features thousands of programmable LEDs all swirling and spinning to music, with a 40-foot archway tunnel of colored lights. Seeing the tree as you approach is impressive, but the experience of being inside the tree during the show is unforgettable."
Guests will enter the light show through the historic roundhouse gates onto North Pole Highway, then choose one of four themed realms of wonder to venture through first.
The Magic Forest features a wonderland of colorful dancing trees, orbs and arches twinkling and flashing to an original score of festive music leading to Fairyland Caverns. In the Arctic Kingdom, Blizzard's Pass highlights icy gardens with lighted penguins fishing alongside animatronic polar bears.
Yule Town is the traditional route through the trail, displaying a classic vintage theme with Legends of Christmas portraying classic holiday icons. North Pole Village hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus, where kids can enjoy cookie decorating while warming up with hot cocoa and listening to performances in the North Pole Lodge.
"We are honored that so many families have made the Enchanted Garden of Lights part of their holiday tradition each Christmas season," says Rock City President Susan Harris. "Every year, our team applies what we've learned from the past to enhance the experience, and 2018 is no different. We encourage our guests to visit our website before they visit to see which activities are open early and to find days with special weekday or value pricing."
Dinner with Santa tickets are available for Dec. 11 and 12. This holiday buffet includes a meet-and-greet with Santa, his elves, Jack Frost and Inara the Ice Queen, as well as a gift, photo and cookie-decorating voucher with each child admission. These dates do sell out, so guests are encouraged to make reservations quickly.
A portion of each ticket sold will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, which assists families of hospitalized children.
Enchanted Garden of Lights will continue through Dec. 31, with the exception of Christmas Eve night. Gates at the gatehouse will open at 5 p.m. for guests to access the North Pole Highway. The Magic Forest will open at 6 p.m., the same time that Jack Frost, Inara the Ice Queen and Santa Claus will begin greeting guests.
Adult tickets range from $16.95 to $28.95, depending on which night you attend. Tickets for ages 3 to 12 range from $8.95 to $14.95.
For more information: www.seerockcity.com/lights.