Chickasha Opens Festival Of Lights For The Season On Saturday

The Chickasha Festival Of Light kicks off its 31st annual light display this weekend. 

The holiday display isn’t just popular among Oklahomans; right now, USA Today’s 10Best has them ranked as the second-best public holiday lights display in the country. 

Four million lights are surrounding 43 acres of Shannon Springs Park, and people who live in the area say there is just magic in the air when you're here.

Chickasha resident Jason Jarnagin said he has enjoyed the festival for several decades. 

“We are being nominated for the first in the country, and we probably should be because we were one of the first in the country,” Jarnigin said. “I was here when we started the festival of lights, the first theme was through the eyes of the child."

More than 30 years later, the festival has grown into much more than a light display spectacular. 

The event also offers carriage rides, carnival rides, food trucks and an ice rink. 

Logan Lassley says the event would not be possible without the community of volunteers.

“Now 31 years later, we've seen the second generation of volunteers, the people who started it, all of their kids took over the board, and now those kids start volunteering; it really is the circle of life,” Lassley said. 

The Festival of Light officially starts Saturday at 6 p.m., and entry is free. 

The event is hosting a sneak peek on Friday at 6 p.m. for anyone who wants to walk or bicycle through.