The Otsego County Fair is hosting its Holiday of Lights event starting this weekend at the fairgrounds in Morris, with a drive-thru immersive light experience and Christmas village.
Now in its sixth year of operation, the experience will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 12 to Dec. 13 and Dec. 19 to Dec. 23. On Friday and Saturday nights, the family-friendly event typically runs over the scheduled end time, said Lisa Jackson, the fair manager. Cost of entry is $10 per carload.
“It’s like being inside a Hallmark movie when you are there,” Jackson said. “We had people last year tell us they drive two hours to come to our show because we have one of the best in the area. We know the village is amazing.”
Jackson said she urged people to pay attention to the posted signage upon arrival. Through the “count the Grinches” activity, people can win prizes for coming up with the correct number. Grinches will be hidden throughout the drive route, she said, from the moment individuals drive up. When a car gets to the gate, people will be told to tune into a radio station.
In addition to “count the Grinches,” Jackson said there will be a “pick your favorite display” activity, with winners chosen by the public. Each year, the top three displays receive a plaque and recognition during the fair week and director’s banquet. She added that many elements of the Holiday of Lights were changed up this year.
After the drive-thru portion, Jackson said individuals will have the choice to leave or park and walk into the village. The village will contain open fires for roasting marshmallows, two movies shown every night under a tent with a big screen — which has added bleachers this year — and Santa’s Hut. The movies are chosen the night of the event. Jackson said “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is usually one of the movies shown, but movie choices get switched up.
Additionally, the village includes a general store with Christmas decorations and Christmas-themed products, the ornament store — where kids can make an ornament — and the Grinch store, new this year, with Grinch-centered items, Jackson said. All of the buildings in the village are heated.
A cocoa bar will be available, with the new Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer hot cocoa, and the bakery will be open, which has been in the village for years, Jackson said. The Donut Hut is new this year as well, with homemade mini donuts and cotton candy, she added.
At the post office, kids and adults can write letters to Santa, Jackson said. Several photo opts for families will be set up throughout the village.
“When you are there and watching the people, it is just great,” Jackson said. “It’s weird saying magical, but that is what it feels like.”
Old fashioned candy will be in the bakery, and Jackson said homemade fudge will be offered in the village, which she called a “No. 1 hit.”
Gifts will be given to every kid who visits the fairgrounds, from stuffed animals to Pez dispensers to dolls, Jackson said. Dwayne Jackson, the president of the fair, sponsors the marshmallow roasting, so that is free for kids to do. Santa Claus is there every night, and this weekend only, Mrs. Claus will be at the village. The Grinch is going to be there every night too.
She said the event draws people from Otsego County, in addition to areas toward Saratoga, Utica and close to Albany, among others. While she said she was unsure what the exact car count was in previous years, numbers doubled last year from the year prior.
“The event has grown by leaps and bounds every year, so we try to make it bigger and better each year,” Jackson said.
She has been involved for all six years, and she said light shows seem to be popping up throughout the state, increasing in popularity.
It took four or five fair board directors to hang the majority of the lights that cover every barn and building over the past months, Jackson said. It takes a large staff to put the village on, she said.
As a relatively small fair, Jackson said fair staff work hard to pull the event off. She said it is great for kids, but also people of any age.
“We are one of the very few fairs around here that does that,” Jackson said. “I guess you would have to be in it to see it. It’s just great for the community. If you haven’t been, come out and see it, it is in your backyard.”
Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. To purchase online tickets, visit qrco.de/HOLIDAY OFLIGHTS.