A magical holiday event is returning to Oro-Medonte later this week.
The popular Mystical Lights event, organized by the Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce (OCOC), is moving from the Oro World Fairgrounds this year and will now be located at Heidi's Campground on Highway 11, south of Orillia.
Sylvia Stark, the chamber's executive director, says the new location is better equipped for the event with plenty of electricity outlets.
"At the fairgrounds, we had to use generators a lot," she explained. "It was a lot of work for our volunteers who had to take them home and bring them back every day."
There will be around 50,000 lights on display this year, including the ones that surround Frosty’s Tunnel and the seven-foot candy canes that make up Candy Cane Lane.
"We are getting a lot of support from new businesses who are putting displays in," Stark said. "We think this will grow again this year which is what we want."
New this year, for a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, participants can place a wooden ornament with the name of a loved one on the new 'Memory Tree.'
"We want to give back to the community," Stark said. "We realize that Christmas can be a difficult time for people who have lost a loved one. We wanted to do something to make those people feel a part of Mystical Lights as well."
There will also be a giant mailbox where children can bring their letters for Santa Claus.
Around 30,000 people have visited Mystical Lights over the years from as far away as Oshawa, Guelph, London, and the GTA. Stark says everybody who goes through the gates leaves with a "joyful" feeling.
"They are happy to see the lights," she said. "They are happy that it's a family event they can take in together, they are happy to see Santa, and it really brings the community together."
The goal of Mystical Lights is to bring happiness to people who may have a difficult or lonely holiday season, Stark says.
"Whether it's a little child or a senior in their 90s, people are just mesmerized by the lights," she said. "They love the tunnel, they love seeing Santa, and they get out to take pictures at our giant selfie station. It just makes people so happy."
Mystical Lights costs $20 per carload and begins on Dec. 1. Free hot chocolate is included with admission.
"We just want people to come, see the lights, and see that it's put together by the community," Stark said. "Coming to this shows that you support local."
Mystical Lights runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights in December until the week before Christmas when it will be open every night. The event will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but will re-open on Boxing Day and will run again through New Year's Eve. Gates open at 6 p.m. and close for the evening at 9 p.m. You can buy your tickets here.
Food donations for local food banks and The Salvation Army will be accepted on-site. All money raised from the event will go to the OCOC so they can continue putting on community events.
Mystical Lights is also in need of volunteers. Those who are interested can reach Stark by email at [email protected].
"It's a really fun event to volunteer at," she said. "You get to greet people, you see the excitement in their faces, and you hear the positive comments as they leave."
