MANSFIELD ─ With seven linear miles of lights and almost 200 string-light trees, Kingwood Center Gardens is bringing the magic of Christmas to the community.
The annual Christmas at Kingwood event started on Saturday evening and will run through Jan. 3. Brenda Nelson, director of development and marketing, said more open days are added this year to provide more opportunities to enjoy the lights and to spread out the crowds.
Here are some highlights of this year’s event:
- Trail of lights features close to 200 string-light trees built with over 101,000 LED bulbs. Tree size ranges from four to 28 feet. People can walk into the tallest tree, which is made of 5,500 green lights.
- Community Tree Walk in Roost Hall features 32 trees decorated by community groups and organizations.
- The theme for Kingwood Hall’s decoration is “Christmas through the Years.” Staff and volunteers for Kingwood Center Gardens decorated all the rooms and hallways.
Tickets for the first night were sold out. Nelson said all guests need to purchase their tickets online in advance to maintain an acceptable capacity in the gardens. They should arrive within the half-hour time slot they choose but can stay as long as they wish.
The capacity limit for the gardens is 75 people per 30 minutes. The admission is $5 for each person and free for children of 12 and under and Kingwood members.
On weekends, there is live music in Kingwood Hall. Mid-Ohio Jazz will play from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 3.
Nelson said the Christmas market and train display were canceled this year to avoid gatherings of people. Doors have been designated for entrance and exit to make sure a smooth traffic flow.
“We really want to share the magic of Christmas with our community,” she said of the safety protocols.
Last year, Christmas at Kingwood attracted nearly 12,000 guests. Nelson said the event draw families from all over Ohio and beyond. When people have guests coming in from out of state, they will bring them to see the lights and decorations.
Kingwood Center Gardens is also holding the annual toy drive, Stuff the Sleigh, from Dec. 1 to 3. Bring new and unwrapped toys to donate to area children through Richland County Children Services, Domestic Violence Shelter and The Salvation Army. Donors will receive a coupon for 20 percent off a $25 minimum purchase in the Garden and Gift Shop.
The open days for Christmas at Kingwood are 4 to 8 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday and 4 to 9 p.m. from Friday to Saturday. More information could be found at Kingwood’s website.
