Trail of holiday lights

Batesville joins more than 60 communities around the state this holiday season as a participant in the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights. Sixty-six towns take part in the celebration, which begins Thanksgiving week and lasts through Christmas. Other cities host official lighting ceremonies, parades, pageants, music and more.

According to local officials, in Batesville, Lyon College gets festive December 2 with the lighting of Brown Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Guests are invited to arrive early for music and hot apple cider beginning at 6:45 p.m. On December 3, the entire town of Batesville will be all aglow with more than a half-million lights dazzling onlookers. The official lighting ceremony begins at 5 p.m. at the Municipal Building, followed by the parade at 6 p.m. Additional holiday events include the Festival of Lessons and Carols on December 4 at 4 p.m. On December 31, ring in the New Year with dinner and music on Main Street.

“We invite families to visit the displays in their own areas and also experience what other towns around the state have to offer,” said Arkansas Tourism Director Joe David Rice.

Participants are encouraged to go to the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights Facebook fan page (facebook.com/arkansastrailofholidaylights) to share photos and offer insider tips on their town’s activities. It’s a great way to spread the holiday cheer and create lasting memories.
The trail has grown every year since it began in 1996. It has been selected as a Top 100 Event for 2011 by the American Bus Association.

Free copies of the Trail of Holiday Lights brochure with specific information about displays all over the state are available at all Bank of America locations, Best Western Hotels, Shell Superstops and Arkansas Welcome Centers. It’s also available for download at www.Arkansas.com/places-to-go/trail-of-lights.