Mama Kat Thursday: The Lights Of Defuniak Springs!

The Mama Kat blog writing prompt today was "best places to see Christmas light displays where you live."

I live on the Florida Panhandle where winters are mild and Christmas lights are a-plenty.

The local Air Force Base is centered among a clump of various town-communities on either side, all of which set up wonderful Christmas light displays in their town centers and along roadways.

However, it's Defuniak Springs that's fairly famous for it's yearly holiday light display!

The Event is called, "Christmas Reflections," and the Defuniak Springs community comes together to decorate the park around Lake Defuniak in the Historic District.

There many buildings edging the park, such as this one I photographed that's adjacent at the display entrance that are quite old, some dating back to the railroad boom era of the 1800's and many homes and even churches encircling the lake dating from the early 20th century.
However, it's the just the park that's decorated, the grounds filled with all sorts of lighted figures and spot-lighted vignettes. The trees are wrapped with lights, all of which reflects off the lake in the center. 

The park perimeter is encircled by a road about a mile in circumference. There's also a sidewalk along the outer edge of the park for walking, so you can choose to view the lights either walk or driving. 
The entrance fee is $3 per person for either one.


There is also a vintage horse drawn carriage available to ride around the park for an additional $10 a person. (The fee goes to the farm providing this service.)
The carriage is an old-fashioned wood style that seats 
seats 6 and here's my photo of the beautiful black Percheron horse pulling it. His name is Stan. The farm apparently has a matched set of these Percheron's (the other one's name is Dan) and also a pair of Clydesdale's, named Tango & Mango. I'm sure the use a different horse each day.
The young man driving the carriage clearly loved his horses and enjoyed talking about them and I happen to have a particular fondness for draft horses. 

This light display in Defuniak Springs is open every day except Christmas Day, from the day after Thanksgiving through Dec 31, 5 to 9 pm.

This is the first year we've ever gone--mostly because it's a little out of the way. Defuniak Springs is about 30 miles away.
I did enjoy the carriage ride--which was much preferable to a mile walk. Harder to take pictures though. I'd rate that light display as "good for a one time viewing," but I wouldn't drive all that way and pay all that money every year, when I can view lots of nice light displays right here where I live for free.
One problem I noticed is a lack of signage for a bathroom.  I did notice along the way that this lit up park had a little amphitheater with a stage building  that might house a bathroom--but I'm not certain.
I believe the best thing people to ask is the ticket people at the entrance when you pay your entrance fee or stop at a fast food place on the way in first.
(photos are all my own.)

*****

Where's the best lights in your area?

Thanks for Visiting!