James Island, South Carolina – The holiday season is approaching, which means holiday festivities in the Lowcountry. The Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park, a local favorite, returns for the season.
The Holiday Festival of Lights, a 30-year tradition that has gathered over 5 million people, officially began Friday evening. A significant economic and tourist boost for the area.
“Each year we have something a little different, so you have to come out and see what’s new this year,” said Sarah Reynolds of Charleston County Parks. “We’re also offering entertainement and special guests on select nights.”
The Holiday Festival of Lights website has a list of events for this season, including the Grinch from Doctor Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
The festival includes approximately 750 light displays along a three-mile journey through James Island County Park. In addition, there are family activities, holiday shopping, and a variety of holiday-themed events.
With visitors comes traffic, and Charleston County has been striving to alleviate it by reopening Central Park Road on Friday alongside the festival.
John Prorock, Charleston County Public Works and Stormwater Project Manager, explained that it is an important road. “I’ve learned that as the project started and got going at how important this road is, because there’s only so many cross over roads.”
To accommodate the considerably increased traffic, the route will stay open in the evenings and on weekends throughout the event. Yancey Epps, a James Island resident, noted that the reopening will greatly benefit drivers in the area.
“It will greatly improve traffic flow down Central Park Road. And for those of us who live nearby, it will only add to the urgency,” Epps said.
The Holiday Festival of Lights officially debuted on Friday and will be open until 10 p.m. every night until December 31st.
