November 21st will mark Northwest Indiana’s largest holiday festival, Winter Lights Night. This festival hosted by Porter County Parks & Recreation and presented by Metro Recycling, has been a tradition in Porter County, featuring a myriad of dazzling light displays, holiday activities, special guests and entertainment, and all capped off with an amazing fireworks display which will begin at approximately 7:15.
In addition to the usual favorite activities at the event, such as visits with Santa, wagon rides through the displays, cookie decorating, caroling and much, much more, there will be some new additions to the festival this year. This will include a Gingerbread House Competition to involve both members of the community and local businesses vying for the top gingerbread house in Porter County.
The Winter Lights displays are available for people to enjoy after the festival, with a free drive through beginning on Thanksgiving Day from 5 to 9 p.m. It will then run every evening from 5 to 9 p.m. through New Year’s Day. Donations are always welcome.
This event and the subsequent drive thru draw over 21,000 cars to Porter County, and particularly Sunset Hill Farm County Park, to experience these dazzling displays.
The light displays are unique to the park, and many of them were custom-made by members of the maintenance staff. Some of the displays include a rollercoaster that is over 20 feet tall, a farm scene consisting of various pieces, and Santa taking off into the sky with his reindeer.