#HamburgLights December 5-7, 12-14, 19-23, 26-28 1
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C } elebrating its tenth season, the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights is a one-ofa-kind holiday experience for the whole family. Through the past decade, the Festival of Lights has grown to include over 75 illuminated displays, eight buildings, shows, rides, and activities, in addition to the drive through light displays Bring family and friends by the carload to the Festival for an affordable event that takes advantage of the magic the holiday season offers! 3
Information Dates Friday-Sunday, December 5-7 Friday-Sunday, December 12-14 Friday-Tuesday, December 19-23 Friday-Sunday, December 26-28 *Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Hours Gates open from 5:00-9:00pm Buildings and Festival Grounds open until 10:00pm Admission $20 per carload $25 per limo or 15 passenger van $50 per bus 4
Deals and Discounts $10 presale tickets available October 19-December 6. Purchase them at: Participating Tops Friendly Markets locations Fairgrounds Event Center Fairgrounds Main Office $5 off regular priced admission when you present an original Tops Friendly Markets receipt at the gate. Get Here The entrance to the Festival of Lights is through Quinby Drive or South Park Ave. For those using a GPS use: 5820 South Park Ave Hamburg, NY 14075 Notes Pets are not permitted on the Festival grounds (Service animals are always welcome) Weapons, alcohol, and glass containers are not permitted Guests should dress warm as much of the Festival is outdoors Walk Around Week 5 December 15-18 5:00pm-9:00pm More information on page 15
What to Do { More than just a drive through, the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights has plenty to keep the whole family entertained! } 6
New! Guests will be transported to the North Pole as they make their way through displays including a toy shop, elf village, and the arctic. The height of the experience comes when guests stand face to face with Santa s house, where the Big Guy himself will be meeting guests on the front porch. Unlike anything seen at the Festival before, the North Pole Experience is holiday magic at its best. Included in Carload Admission 7
...Also Included in Carload Admission Christmas Tree Forest The beautifully lit Christmas Tree Forest features 150 pine trees. It is the perfect place for your holiday card photo or to snuggle up around the fire. Spot Me Reindeer Round Up Help Santa gather his reindeer in this scavenger hunt. Pick up your game sheet at the entrance of the forest. Search the trees for each of Santa s reindeer. Those who complete the challenge can enter to win Buffalo sports prizes. Dancing Light Show The popular craze of insane Christmas decorations continues at the Festival of Lights. The Woodcarver s Building will be decked out in lights and sound for an incredible light show set to holiday favorites. Show Times: Every 30 minutes, at the :00, :30 of each hour. Drive Through Displays Twinkling lights will guide you as you wind your way through the grounds. With over 75 illuminated LED displays, the drive through is nearly two miles long, making it one of the longest in the area. Note: The Drive through can be experienced before or after walking through the rest of the Festival. 8
New! Giant Snow Globe The perfect photo opportunity! Up to 8 guests at a time can climb into the 16 foot snow globe for a unique holiday photo. Holiday Choirs Choirs, music groups, a cappella singers and carolers have been invited from throughout WNY to showcase their talents at the Festival of Lights. The complete schedule of performances are available on FairgroundsHoliday.com Holiday Marketplace Shop around the Holiday Marketplace to find the perfect gift! Twelve vendors will set up shop in the Expo Hall. Kelly s Country Store will transform the Log Cabin into a sweet shop brimming with chocolate and old time candies. New! Ice Carving Watch as blocks of ice are transformed into masterpieces before your eyes. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Saturdays and Sundays (6:00-9:00pm) at the Festival. However, special ice creations will be on display every day! Ice displays include an ice castle, a throne, a snowmobile that can actually be sat on, and a photo frame that will be perfect for holiday photos. 9
Kids Game Show Kids become the stars of the Kids Game Show, featuring Rob Allen. The show will call on audience volunteers to compete in a competition that is as fun as it is educational. Brought to you by Milk for Health, the Kids Game show reminds us the importance of a balanced diet, including dairy products. Show Times: 6:00pm, 8:00pm Letters to Santa Take some time to write a letter to Santa, then ship it right to the North Pole. The supplies are all here waiting for you, but you can also bring your letter from home. Santa will be replying to letters he received prior to December 21st. Nels Ross Comedy Variety Show Fair favorite, Nels Ross brings his comedy, juggling, and balancing act to the Festival for a second year. Ross is a hit with the whole family as his tricks will amaze and his jokes will leave everyone laughing. Show Times: 7:00pm, 9:15pm Tops Winterland Workshop Stop into the Winterland Workshop to make a holiday greeting card for some one special. Kits and helpers will be on hand for those who would like to make their craft at the Festival, or you can also take a craft kit home. The workshop will also feature hands-on woodcarving demonstrations as well as a Monster Mural that the whole family can take part in coloring. 10
Available for an Additional Cost New! Express Train and Train Depot Kids and parents alike can hop on the train for a quick ride around the Festival grounds! The train will take passengers right through the middle of a nearly 70 foot Christmas tree of lights. $1 per ride New! Snowzilla This all new inflatable tubing experience will take those brave enough down a hill on a snow tube. The inflatable stands more than 35 feet tall and has a 70 foot sliding slope. $3 per ride or 2 rides for $5 11
Santa s Magical Midway Santa's Magical Midway features an array of kiddie rides from the days of yesteryear! Each nostalgic ride has been fully reconditioned to bring back their original grandeur $2 per ride or 12 rides for $20 Cookie Decorating Celebrate the holidays with Santa s favorite snack by decorating a cutout cookie. The supplies are all here and waiting for your handiwork. $1 per cookie Santa s Secret Shop Kids will have their own space to shop at the Festival. With gifts ranging from 25 -$10, parents can send the kids to Santa s Secret Shop to get some holiday shopping done. Helpers will be on hand to wrap and tag the gifts, to keep them a secret until Christmas Morning. 25 -$10 S mores and Concessions Nothing will warm you up like cooking a s more over a fire. S mores and other concessions, such as hot chocolate, nachos, hot dogs, and popcorn, will be available for purchase. Various prices 12
Holiday Contests Gingerbread Building Competition Pre-registered participants will have just an hour and half to assemble and decorate the best gingerbread house. Each contestant must bring all their own supplies. They will then race against the clock to ensure that their fully edible house can stand on its own and is fully decorated. Judging to immediately follow Holiday Stocking Competition Participants must bring their decorated holiday stocking to the Fairgrounds Main Office before the Festival begins. Stockings will be judged on eye appeal, technicality, and creativity. There are two divisions junior (16 and under) and adult (17+). Festival guests will have the opportunity to choose their favorite stocking to win the People s Choice Award. Completed Stockings can be dropped off at the Main Office November 26 Wreath Decorating Competition Participants must bring their decorated wreath to the Fairgrounds Main Office before the Festival begins. Wreaths will be judged on eye appeal, technicality, and creativity. Festival guests will have the opportunity to choose their favorite stocking to win the People s Choice Award. Completed Wreaths can be dropped off at the Main Office November 26 Rules, regulations, and entry forms for these holiday contests can be downloaded at FairgroundsHoliday.com Enter to win a Dollhouse Guests can enter to win a custom built dollhouse at Tops Winterland Workshop. Brought to the Festival courtesy of Modern Windows 13
Special Events 14
{ Guests are invited to walk through nearly 2 miles of light displays. The walk will feature over 75 displays and a million LED lights. } Hours 5pm 9pm Admission $5 per group of 4 or less or $2 per person Notes Snowshoe Rentals are available on site......or you can bring your own! Brought to you by Gear for Adventure Rentals not included in admission- $5 each Buildings, attractions, and shows will NOT be available Tickets to return to the Festival will be on sale for $10 Friendly pets and responsible owners are welcome* *During the special walk through week, Dec.15 18, 2014. Please be advised that pets are not allowed to enter the Fairgrounds unless they have the requisite vaccination shots mandated by New York State and local law. 15
December 5 & 7 The Festival of Lights is about to be frozen over, with ice sculptures, character meet and greets and live ice carvings. Guests can get their photo taken in front of a sculpted ice castle, or even sit on an ice throne! Meet the Ice Queen & Snow Princess Friday, December 5 5:30pm-8:30pm Sunday, December 6 5:30pm-8:30pm December 5 Antique Snow Blower collection Retro Railroad display Special Guest: Tom Jolls 16
December 12-15 Shop Buffalo themed vendors on what will be one of the last shopping weekends of the season. These vendors will be offering gifts for those who love the 716. Items include: Toys Food Products Soaps Pet Items Buffalo themed apparel Photo Prints Jewelry Buffalo themed gifts Crafts And more... Each day of the event will also feature 5 local authors signing their books December 19-21 The Festival of Lights will be transformed to a scene right out of the Christmas Carol. Streetlights and fires will line the road as period dressed carolers belt out a holiday tune. Roaming Carolers Local celebrity Twas the Night Before Christmas readings 17
Stay Connected... Contacts Holly Smyczynski 716-818-2007 hollys@ecfair.org Amanda Cammarano 716-572-5288 acammarano@ecfair.org Marty Biniasz 716-435-3678 mbiniasz@ecfair.org Main Office (716) 649-3900 frontdesk@ecfair.org Sign up for mobile alerts by texting HamburgLights to 88588 18
Hamburg Fairgrounds @ErieCountyFair #HamburgLights Download the FREE Fairgrounds App For a schedule of events, map of the grounds and more information about the Festival of Lights and other Fairgrounds events, download the app. Available for Apple, Android, and Kindle Devices 19
Festival Grounds Map 20