Returning home from this month's Train Travel Meetup Group, Elizabeth and I saw the Magic of Lights in the Anaheim Stadium parking lot and decided we should go to this during the Christmas season. Over the course of a few days, we invited our friends Robin Bowers and Marty Smith over for Thanksgiving dinner. We then bought a ticket to this event online but did not tell them. After a delicious dinner and dessert prepared by Elizabeth, the four of us watched my Cass Railfan Event 2006 DVD then we drove them over to the Stadium where they realized what the surprise was. We were all blown away by the Magic of Lights which is presented in only a handful of cities around the country. One enters Anaheim Stadium off State College Boulevard, stop at a ticket booth and show them your printed ticket. The guide tells you to turn on your radio to enjoy some Christmas music on your drive thrugh the Magic of Lights.
You drive slowly by the lit trees, then turn right to where you stop and have your ticket scanned. Elizabeth did the driving while I took pictures.
The Magic of Lights show started immediately afterwards.
The first spectacular thing is seeing Santa Claus flying through the air.
You take a turn to reverse your car and you see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in lights.
You travel down a row of candy canes.
The degree of detail in these displays is incredible.
We did stop at the stop sign.
The way we entered the grounds.
You made a left turn to see more of the Magic of Lights.
The beauty of the lights puts one in the Christmas spirit.
>
The first train of the evening.
You make your way to Santa Claus jumping rope and another right turn.
More of the Magic of Lights on both sides of these wide avenues; a speed of 3 to 4 miles an hour was well-suited to seeing the details of all the lights.
A man on a hammock under the sun.
More of the Magic of Lights.
A giant crab.
More of the Magic of Lights.
A giant parrot.
View of the Statue of Liberty.
Palm trees and a pirate ship.
Statue of Liberty.
You make your way through many other magic lights to the Feliz Navidad sign.
You make another turn to the right bringing you to more of the Magic of Lights.
First the Star of David.
More of the Magic of Lights. Watch the Big A in front during the next scenes.
The Hanukkah menorah candles.
More of the Magic of Lights.
Joyeux Noel!.
Kwanzaa.
Mele Kalikimaka and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
More of the Magic of Lights.
Kwanzaa.
The Hanukkah menorah candle and the Big A.
The Big A of Anaheim.
Next we enter the Twelve Days of Christmas.
On the First Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.
On the Second Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two turtle doves.
On the Third Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three French hens.
On Fourth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four calling birds.
On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five golden rings.
On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six geese a-laying.
On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven swans a-swimming.
On the Eighth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking.
On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine ladies dancing.
On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten lords a-leaping.
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven pipers piping.
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve drummers drumming.
Santa Claus (Evil Knievel) jumping over candy canes to a lit ramp. You make another right turn.
More of the Magic of Lights.
Bigfoot Monster truck.
Girl and a parrot on a bicycle.
Raggedy Ann and a parrot on a scooter.
The Toy Factory.
Views of the Toy Factory.
Raggedy Ann.
Parrot on a scooter.
The Toy Factory continued.
Jumping the Rope in lights.
The Toy Factory section was quite extensive.
Raggedy Ann explodes from a gift box.
Mr. Potato Head.
A steam engine puffing smoke.
More of the Magic of Lights.
You make a turn to the left to reach the Nativity in Magic of Lights.
Looking back at the steam train.
The lambs, the Big A plus the Angel Stadium Big A scoreboard message board.
Camels and palm trees.
Saddleback Mountain.
Three Wise Men.
Three Wise Men to the cradle of Jesus.
Shepherds and sheep.
A Wise Man bringing a gift to Jesus.
A Wise Man riding his camel with his gift for baby Jesus.
Second Wise Man riding his camel with his gift for Jesus.
Second and Third Wise Men with their gifts.
Third Wise Man walking his camel with his gift for Jesus.
The manger scene with baby Jesus in the cradle.
You turn to the right.
The manger scene and Kiwico, one of the sponsors of the event.
Next we went through the Red, White and Blue America tunnel of lights which pulsated on and off.
Snowflakes led us to the past.
Next you enter the Prehistoric Christmas.
Stegosaurus.
Santa Claus using Brontosaurus as a slide.
Santa Claus riding a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Triceratops.
A Tyrannosaurus Rex wearing a Christmas hat.
Views of Prehistoric Christmas.
A veloceraptor hears a sound behind it.
More of the Magic of Lights as we leave the Prehistoric Christmas and transition to the next set of displays.
Santa Claus' sleigh being pulled by seagulls over the ocean; one of the very clever displays.
The last land we travel to was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
A Christmas tree in lights.
All through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.
Saint Nicholas leaps into the chimney.
Father Christmas.
Scenes from 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.
One of the many Christmas trees.
Santa Claus in his sleigh.
Polar Christmas ornament.
That last part of the Magic of Lights experience is driving through this colorful tunnel to the exit.
The old Big A scoreboard now used as a message board.
An elf waves goodbye. For me, it was a first-rate and exceptional event, good value for what we spent and was an excellent way to start off our Christmas season. Robin summed up his experience thus: "It was a amazing display of lights for and with many holiday themes. It had the feeling of a hayride rolling along viewing the holiday lights. The sights were all around us with the need to look out of every window of the automobile. Very creative and very imaginative. Good Show." Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed all parts of this and was amazed at the variety, intracacies and the animation of some of the light displays. It was her first show of this type and was a perfect way to end Thanksgiving, with Christmas around the corner. Marty really thought it was fantastic, a very nice surprise, was well-done, cleverly decorated and organized. He was especially pleased that the Magic of Lights included the true meaning of Christmas and there was something for everyone, adults and children alike. He enjoyed every moment of it and thought the venue was excellent since the parking lot is so large and lent itself to attracting families from all over the area.
| RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE |