The Cedarhurst Center for the Arts in Mt. Vernon has opened The Lights: an Exhibition of Holiday Magic for the fourth year on weekends up to Christmas.
This year’s experience features 19 professional light features installed along a winding one-mile walking path through the heart of the 70-acre Cedarhurst campus, ranging from traditional to contemporary to whimsical in style.
Cedarhurst Executive Director Hillary Esser says this year’s exhibition of holiday magic is the biggest yet. Each light feature has been selected and installed to complement the natural beauty and art of the museum campus.
In addition to new light features, expanded and new programming has been added to this year’s six-weekend event. The museum’s popular summertime outdoor program, Thursday Night Live, is taking on a holiday twist and moving inside. Thursday nights in December will feature live music in the Performance Hall, open to everyone with ticketed admission to the Lights. Local musicians Cody Galloway, Sydney King, and Jive are scheduled to perform on December 4, 11, and 18, respectively.
New and returning regional artists will be featured in the December 5th through 7th Christmas Market in the museum’s Performance Hall. The Market weekend will kick off Friday evening with a “Sip ’n Shop” experience and include live music by Brett Gibbs and Rolland Mays.
The theme for the family-friendly ticketed dinner this year is Winter Wonderland and features costumed characters, games, and crafts in the spirit of the popular Disney movie Frozen.
The previous years’ fire pit party rental offering has been upgraded to small-group rentals in the new Igloo Village, situated in the middle of the campus and surrounded by The Lights. Six and ten-person igloo rentals are available by reservation and include tickets to The Lights, complimentary drinks, and a food option.
“Ride the Lights” night is another popular program that will return, allowing visitors to see the attraction via a chauffeured golf cart ride. Timed tickets are available on December 14 and 18.
Cedarhurst Director of Visitor Engagement Courtney Kabat says nearly 10,000 guests from the tri-state – and beyond – enjoyed the magic of The Lights last holiday season. She notes there are also many holiday add-ons to explore and notes a trip to The Lights isn’t complete until you’ve roasted a s’more at the Holiday Hub, made a DIY craft in the Shrode Art Center, and toured the art galleries and Beck Family Center in the Mitchell Museum.”
Tickets for The Lights experience are available online and at the door. Adult admission is $15; Cedarhurst members are $10; kids aged 2 to 10 are $5; and children 2 and under are free. Four nights this year (December 4, 11, 14, and 18) offer free admission for kids 10 and under with adult paid admission.
S’mores stop on the holiday lights display at Cedarhurst in Mt. Vernon.
