'The Festival of Lights'
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
White Springs, FL
23 December 2018
Introduction
Due to Christmas falling on a Tuesday in 2018, I ended up with a day of no work on Christmas Eve making a nice four-day weekend. While I could have relaxed, I got into a variety of shenanigans that I think are awesome but would likely infect your children with boredom.
Saturday 12/22 - Clean out a cave passage in South Georgia
Sunday 12/23 - Daycation Staycation Roadtrip
Monday 12/24 - I rode my bicycle down the St. Marks Trail to eat oysters with my running family
Tuesday 12/25 - The day I begin hunkerin' down to knock out the memories of these good ol' times
Today was Daycation Staycation Roadtrip. I was physically not up for anything crazy, but I made my way to two nearby state parks. I began at Forest Capital Museum State Park before my making my way to 'The Festival of Lights' at Stephen Foster State Park.
I was trying to screenshot the event details on the Florida State Parks website, but I had to copy and paste the text instead. Don't get me started on the state park website redesign.
"Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park and the Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization, will illuminate the park with holiday lights once again! The 2018 Festival of Lights will flip the switch Friday November 30 and will be ablaze this holiday season until December 24. The Festival of Lights has grown over the years and has been named a Top 20 Event in the Southeast United States for almost a decade. We will continue the well-loved family tradition of the classic Festival of Lights on our Holiday Magic Nights! Friday, Saturday, and Sundays plus the last full week of the festival (Dec.14-23). Featuring free hot cocoa, popcorn, marshmallow roasting, bonfire, craft activities, snow flurries, train display, gift shop, music in the Carillon Tower and of course Santa! $3 per person Friday-Sunday (children 3 and under free). Silent Nights will be weeknights, Monday through Thursday, and is part of our effort to lessen lines and create a more intimate experience for visitors. Load up the family and come enjoy the beautiful light displays at your leisure. We encourage you to park and walk through the lights, spend time with your family, take photos and make memories without the hustle and bustle of our Holiday Magic Nights. $2 per person Monday-Thursday (children 3 and under free). The last ticket sold and the entry gates will close at 8:30 p.m. every night of the Festival. Gift Shop hours 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m."Summary of the 'The Festival of Lights'
A Top 20 Event in the Southeast United States
- Hosted by:
- Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
- Stephen Foster Citizen Support Organization
- Runs from 11/30/2018 through Christmas Eve on December 24
- Hours: 16:00 - 21:00
- Weekends - From 11/30 through Christmas
- Weekdays - "Silent Nights" the last full week before Christmas
- Prices:
- $2/person Monday-Thursday
- $3/person Friday - Sunday
- Free for children <= 3
- Website Info
The Gear
- Photography
- Sony A6300 Mirrorless Camera
- Google Pixel 2
- Pacsafe Metrosafe LS 200 Shoulder Bag
The Story
Normally I would do a park profile in my first post about a park, but I didn't get the main Stephen Foster experience. There's lots of nature and adventure things that I look forward to doing, but tonight was all about looking at Christmas lights.
I arrived right around 17:00. The main gate to the park was closed, but if you stay on the road you're on, there will be signs directing cars to the proper entrance. Since I was relatively early, there was no line. I paid my $3. They accept credit cards. The $5 bill I thought I had was nowhere to be found. You'll get a generic 'Admit One' ticket that serves no purpose along with a map.
I arrived right around 17:00. The main gate to the park was closed, but if you stay on the road you're on, there will be signs directing cars to the proper entrance. Since I was relatively early, there was no line. I paid my $3. They accept credit cards. The $5 bill I thought I had was nowhere to be found. You'll get a generic 'Admit One' ticket that serves no purpose along with a map.
I had to get a picture with the Florida State Parks giant logos. It's only fitting that the Florida panther is the animal of choice. It goes well with my large cat theme.
Exhibits from Other Parks
Several of the nearby state parks created festive light displays.
Madison Blue Spring State Park
Voted Best Swimming Hole in America
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Carillon Tower - Up Close
So in the photos further up, you probably saw a tower. This tower is a 97-bell carillon, and I went inside. Now is a good time more than ever to provide a quick description/backstory for the park:
Stephen Foster is an American composer. He wrote the song "Old Folks at Home" about the Suwannee River, making the river internationally famous. It became Florida's official state song in 1935. The park is home of the Florida Folk Festival occurring annually on Memorial Day weekend.
The Carillon Tower usually plays Stephen Foster's music, but or obvious reasons, it played holiday music this evening. The inside of the tower is open to 20:30 during 'The Festival of Lights', where musicians are playing folk music.
There was a row of vendors on the walkway from the Carillon Tower to the Gingerbread Village.
Gift Shop & Craft Square
Or 'Gingerbread Village' - This is the area where you can get the included popcorn and hot cocoa. The gift shop is a semi-interesting walk-through with all the stuff they sell. The little houses are used for various types of craft demonstrations. Many were open during the event.
Popcorn!
The blacksmith area is on the left, and the hot chocolate cart is on the right. Two creepy snowmen guard the warm, delicious cocoa.
I went into a few of the crafting houses when I came back through later. I considered more hot chocolate, but the line was a little too long.
Fiber Arts -- Spinning
Jewelry
North Pole Cafe
I had been hungry for a few hours and decided it was time for food at the North Pole Cafe. I was hoping for something a little classier, but sometimes it's nice to spend $13 on a heart attack........ Chicken+syrup in a waffle cone and fried Oreos were my destiny.
Trains
Now for the train exhibit. If your expectations are for a set-up of great magnitude with a bunch of old geezers focused and very serious while monitoring the tracks and operating the trains, then you are in for a treat. These guys were very serious. I would love to see my dad among these ranks once his white hair starts coming in. (Hi, Dad!)
Meet the Lake City Train Club!
That tower in the top left of this picture looks familiar.
This is the museum. It wasn't open, but the lights were pretty. I particularly like the music notes.
View facing away from the front of the museum. The tower looks like it could be launching any moment now.
Then back to the museum:
Check out that alligator.
The marshmallow-roasting was right next to the popcorn stand. I passed as I walked towards my car to start my drive home. I made the rookie mistake of parking early on in the loop when I first arrived and had a large selection of spaces to choose from. This means now when it's dark and busy, I have to continue the looooooooooooong remainder of the loop in order to exit.
There were a lot of cars waiting in line to pay and enter as I left the park gates. It was just before 20:00, so there were only thirty more minutes remaining to be granted entrance.
Roar for More!
Hurdles
The map confused me as well as the traffic pattern, so I parked too close to the entrance and way too far from the exit. The $5 I thought I had for the entrance fee, I found on my kitchen table the next day.
Quote
"All the world is sad and dreary,
Everywhere I roam."
-Stephen Foster "Old Folks at Home"
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