Setting the Stage: Behind the Scenes of The Lights of Christmas

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, the excitement of the holiday season begins to fill the air. One of the most enchanting ways to celebrate is by attending The Lights of Christmas, a dazzling family-friendly Christmas experience. It all starts with the complex process of transforming 14-acres of beautifully landscaped grounds into a route of extraordinary light displays. Many guests have visited Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, WA after The Lights of Christmas and have been amazed at the many buildings on the grounds that they weren’t aware were even there. “It looks completely different, and I don’t recognize anything even though I’ve been to The Lights of Christmas for the last two years.” shared one guest.

Setting up The Lights of Christmas can be such a rewarding and exciting experience. An important aspect of the event is ensuring that our designs are dynamic and fresh each year. As soon as the lights come down in January, the planning starts for the new displays that will go up next year. The process of bringing that vision to life starts in August with the light installation crew. We have a great crew who, rain or shine, spend hours wrapping lights around trees, pounding rebar into the ground and testing power and lights to make sure everything works for opening night. One enthusiastic team member shared, “One thing I would say that I like is how there’s multiple different designs for the trees. It’s not just the same thing . . . Those designs create different sections, like underwater section, patriotic section, . . . It’s fun to see those come together.”

The lights are going up faster than they have in past years because we have been blessed with several returning staff who know the ropes of the set-up process. One staffer noted, “there’s a few new people but with us people that have been here last year. The speed’s there, the quality is there, and you put some of these new people with some of the older people and they learn faster.” The spirit of teamwork in the crew is a highlight, with another returning staff member sharing, “I just wanted to do this again. It’s so much fun!” and encouraging others to join in next year: “If you love Christmas and you love being on a team, come and join us next year!” This passion is contagious; when team members genuinely enjoy the process, it’s reflected in the stunning final displays they create.

Setting up The Lights of Christmas is not just about logistics; the heart of the program is creating memorable experiences that bring people together, both staff before the event and the entire community during The Lights of Christmas. Join us this this year and enjoy the results—a dazzling spectacle that brings joy and wonder—making all the effort worthwhile. We hope to see you then!

Order your vehicle’s admission ticket at www.TheLightsofChristmas.com. Advanced purchase required. Event runs select nights November 29-December 29.