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Lights on the Lake Celebrating 29 Years Lights on the Lake Celebrating 29 Years

By Alexandra Bass

Bright lights and elaborate designs create a 2 mile path of wonders for Central New Yorkers come the holiday’s. Today’s opening at Onondaga Lake Park kicked off with a dog walk. Hundreds came to take their furry friends for the stroll and take in the holiday spirit.

“It’s an amazing time of year, obviously first snowfall today that actually stuck and you were just able to turn all the lights on and everyone’s in the festive mood already you know we got about 5 weeks out from Christmas here and we’re already ready for it”

And for some, tonight was their first time attending and it didn’t disappoint.

“It was bigger and better than I would’ve thought it could possibly be. I know they charge to get in here but its very well worth it for the cars cause it’s just endless, we didn’t even walk all the way down to the end we had to turn around and come back.”

Lights on the Lake doesn’t just bring fun but it also brings significant benefits for the community. Last year it set multiple records. 43,623 cars drove through and fifteen- thousand-dollars was raised for local charities and organizations. The volume of people that come through brings money to the area.

“It’s a boom for the local economy and the village of Liverpool to have that many people coming into their community is a really good economic driver for some of these small
business’s there as well.”

“It may be cold out but that doesn’t stop Central New Yorkers from coming to see these lights at Lights on the Lake, which will be on till January 6th. Reporting from Onondaga Lake this is Alexandra Bass N-C-C News.

This Thursday, November 14th, 2018, marked the opening of Lights on the Lake at Onondaga Lake Park. The attraction is celebrating its 29th year of bringing holiday spirit to Central New York.

The two mile long drive through lights display creates a path of wonders for the thousands of people that come to see it. Opening day kicked off with Lights on the Lake Dog Walk, offering residents the ability to take in the elaborate designs with their furry friends.

 

 

 

“It’s an amazing time of year, obviously first snowfall today that actually stuck and you were just able to turn all the lights on and everyone’s in the festive mood already. You know we got about 5 weeks out from Christmas here and we’re already ready for it,” said Rick Streeter who has been attending the event for 5 years now.

And for those that weren’t returning attendees the lights didn’t disappoint.

“It was bigger and better than I would’ve though it could possible be. I know they charge to get in here but its very well worth it for the cars cause it’s just endless, we didn’t even walk all the way to the end we had to turn around and come back,” said first time attendee David Piccolo.

Lights on the Lake doesn’t just bring fun but it also brings significant benefits for the community. Last year it set multiple records. 43,623 cars drove through and $15,000 was raised for local charities and organizations. The volume of people that come through brings money to the area.

“It’s a boom for the local economy and the village of Liverpool to have that many people coming into their community is a really good economic driver for some of these small business’s there as well,” says Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon.

McMahon also notes that Lights on the Lake is a symbol of the efforts that have gone into revitalizing Onondaga Lake.

“And it showcases something that we’re really proud of and that’s our parks system. And Onondaga Lake is really the core of our community and we’ve done so much in county government to make that lake a resource again and anytime we can get residents enjoying the lake, enjoying our parks system, really coming together as a community to recognize the seasons, it’s a positive thing,” says McMahon.

Lights on the Lake will continue through January 6th, and as Central New Yorkers showed on opening night the cold weather won’t keep them from coming.

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