The East Ridge Parks and Recreation Department will open the Christmas Nights of Lights at Camp Jordan Park on Saturday and run through Jan. 3. The show will begin nightly at dusk and run through 10 p.m. with extended hours on the weekends.
Christmas Nights of Lights has hundreds of thousands of LED lights, driven by more than 1,000 computer channels, synchronized to both traditional and new Christmas music playing through the car radio.
This is a family-type show at Camp Jordan Park I-75, Exit 1.
The Christmas Nights of Lights experience is $6 per person, with children 3-years-old and under free.
The 1.5 mile experience ends into Santa’s Village where there will be photos with Santa Claus, Christmas items for sale, games, gifts, inflatables, food, rides and more.
The Santa Village is a "tent full of Christmas joy" for kids and people of all ages with the proceeds going to the East Ridge Needy Child Fund. The East Ridge Fire and Rescue Department runs the Needy Child Fund.
The festivities get underway on Friday when J103 will host more than 1,000 participants for the Christmas Nights of Lights 5K Dash and 1 mile Fun Run through the 1.5 mile course. Runners will be the first to see the Chattanooga area's latest holiday celebration of lights.
The following is a Q & A with Tracy King, whose family members have built and produced Christmas Lights shows in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Bristol, Tenn., Richmond, Va., Sevierville, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., Mobile, Ala. and now Camp Jordan Park in East Ridge.
This is the first year for the Christmas Nights of Lights at Camp Jordan Park at I-75, Exit 1 and Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Ala. , where the Southern League's Mobile BayBears play home games.
Q: Why did you select East Ridge and Camp Jordan Park for the Christmas Nights of Lights?
The show we are bringing to East Ridge is actually a brand new show built for that location. There are many factors we consider when bringing a light show to a new location. Some of those factors are population, demographics, tourism, accessibility, enough of a parking area to support the length of the show route, traffic control, security of the area, potential for growth, willingness of area television and radio stations to partner, receptiveness of local area residents, ability to commit to a five-year plan to grow the show and proximity of other drive-thru light shows.
Q: What is the history of the Christmas Nights of Lights shows?
People love Christmas! There is a long tradition of piling in the car with family and friends and driving around to look at Christmas lights. We bring music and lights together to celebrate Christmas.
Q: What is the total number of lights and distance of wiring that goes into the show?
There are approximately 4,500 LED light strands per show with 70 lights per strand producing more than 300,000 individual lights. There is around 1.5 miles of rope lighting and 10 miles of wiring and network to connect it all.
Q: How many days does it take to set the show up?
The shows require between 3-4 weeks for set-up.
Q: What are the dates and the times nightly that the Christmas Nights of Lights Show will be open?
We are open every night from Nov. 15 thru Jan. 3 from 6-10 p.m. with extended hours on weekends.
Q: What should those who have never been to a drive-through Christmas Lights show expect?
Make sure you plan to spend enough time to drive thru and experience the whole show, which runs on a 30-minute loop. It’s best to take your time, pull over, and just watch the show. They will also want to allow time to visit Santa’s Village afterwards.
Q: How do those who attend hear the Christmas music and what type of songs are played?
Their vehicle needs to be equipped with a radio so they can tune into the station on which we are broadcasting the music. We have 10 different songs, ranging from traditional to new Christmas music. If you don’t like one song, just wait, you will probably like the next one.
Q: What is the price of admission for the Christmas Nights of Lights Show?
To be fair for everyone, our prices are $6 per person with 3-years-old and under free.
Q: Do you offer any kind of discounts for the price of admission?
Opening night is free for veterans and active military. The opening week is half-price for everyone and there are various charities in the area that are offering coupons for $2 off per car.
Q: How many people per vehicle are allowed for the standard admission price?
Since prices are per person there is no limit.
Q: Does the Christmas Nights of Lights have any food or craft vendors and if so, what can patrons expect?
We have provided an area for Santa’s Village (huge decorated tent) at the end of the light show. The East Ridge Fire Department is running Santa’s Village to support the the East Ridge Needy Child Fund. The firefighters will have various vendors for crafts, food, and kids’ activities. Santa will also be on the site nightly. More details on the festive Santa’s Village would be available from East Ridge Fire Chief Mike Williams.
Q: Who are the sponsors of the show and are you expecting any special events? If so, what will those be?
Our radio sponsor is US101 and our television sponsor is WRCB-TV Channel 3. We have also partnered with J103 which is hosting a 5k run and 1-mile Fun Walk on Nov 14 called the Christmas Nights of Lights Dash.
Q: With a new development coming to I-75, Exit 1 that will include a Bass Pro Shop and more, how will this affect the Christmas Nights of Lights in the future?
Hopefully in a positive way as more traffic is brought to the City of East Ridge. It will become more of a destination for people to visit and spend the evening in East Ridge, shopping, eating, and being entertained at the Christmas Nights of Lights.