Wonderland of Lights Festival Underway In Marshall
MARSHALL- The 27th annual Wonderland of Lights Festival is center stage in Marshall, Texas during December. A crowd of nearly 4,000 people attended the Samsung Holiday Celebration Show, the official opening show of the festival.
“We had three to four thousand people here for the Samsung Holiday Celebration Show and everyone enjoyed the show,” said Geraldine Mauthe, Director of Visitor Services for the Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s really cold and that’s helped put people into the Christmas and Wonderland spirit. We really wanted to make sure we had a show to entertain and the show was successful.”
Visitors to Marshall and residents alike enjoyed the opening show, as well as the downtown attractions and the millions of lights.
“I loved opening night. The music was the best ever and each performance was great. The Marshall Symphony Orchestra’s involvement made the show even better,” said Marshall resident Joyce Hammers.
“We’re here every Thanksgiving, and we always bundle up the kids and come downtown for the Wonderland opening. No matter how many times you see it, when those lights come on for the first time of the season, it’s really something,” said visitor Mike Combs, from Houston, Texas.
During the first week of the festival, weather has been favorable, and both new and old attractions are garnering praise from the festival crowds.
The historic Harrison County Courthouse is adorned with 250,000 LED lights and provides the setting for nightly Celebrating Home synchronized light and music shows set to a variety of Christmas songs. Shows begin each evening at 6 p.m.
Snowflake, believed to be the largest rocking horse in Texas is delighting families. The Samsung Ice Skating Rink is once again a highlight of the festival. The only open-air ice rink in East Texas, visitors both young and old enjoy ice skating. The Street of Dreams along North Washington Avenue is truly a sight to be seen. Each building on the either side of the street is draped in colorful Christmas lights along with the trees and lampposts, delighting those visiting the festival.
Also new to the festival is two special produced Christmas shows offered at no cost each night during the Wonderland of Lights festival. Carriage rides, guided and self guided light tours are all available during the festival. Shopping in Marshall’s many boutiques, and dining in one-of-a-kind restaurants will also thrill visitors.
The Wonderland of Lights Festival is open evenings, and at noon on Saturdays through December 31 with many special events also scheduled. All activities are subject to the weather.
For festival information, a complete schedule of events, purchasing tickets, and lodging information go online to VisitMarshallTexas.org, or call the Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau at 903-702-7777.