Story by Denise Ortuno Neil

Photos by Cathy Jardine

To see more Cathy Jardine photos of the WildLights, click here.

The Living Desert was all aglow with its WildLights Holiday Light Festival, Friday, Dec. 18 in Palm Desert, near Palm Springs, Calif. The festival had a brief stint Thanksgiving weekend and began the rest of their holiday light show on Friday night, which runs from 6-9 p.m. until Jan. 2. Thousands of different-colored lights dazzled on playful holiday-inspired displays and dressed up desert plant life transforming the park into a spectacular visual wonderland.

The festival is a fantastic family outing with fun and safe activities for children, all drizzled in a blanket of gleaming glory against a black-cloaked desert sky. Kids can meet-and-greet with the fuzzy life-size Big Horn, Turtle and Blue Yeti mascots, gaze up at a giant red teddy bear, and let their imaginations run away with lit up lanky Jirraffes. A green-lighted tunnel that looks like the inside of Grinch’s belly ushers in a plethora of nighttime enjoyment.

Claude Brock and his son found some of that enjoyment at the, Roast Your Own S’mores section, which can be a gooey good time. And for those looking for some physical activity they can shoot hoops and even skate on the “Iceless” skating rink just as Francisco Moya did, who decided to give his skates a break and relax on in for a bit. On the far side of the park, passed Big Horn Sheep Hill, sits a whimsical Merry-Go-Round, which is a recent addition to the park bringing a feel of traditional amusement.

The impressive G-Scale Garden Railroad was a crowd magnet as kids and adults alike followed the train in delight as it traveled on its ¾-acre world through miniature dusty desert towns and over bridges that safely cradled the trains over rushing water. The food court sated hungry festival goers as Dave Henron and Friends entertained with pleasant holiday music.

And of course Santa was on hand to ask the ever pertinent holiday question to eager children,” What do you want for Christmas?” If any of them asked for an enchantingly illuminated night out with family in the brisk December desert air, their wish would have all ready been granted.

You will not see wild animals at the Festival for obvious reasons; but they can be viewed in the day time hours in all of their sun kissed beauty. What you will find however at the Wild Nights Holiday Light Festival, is a splendid holiday outing that serves as a wonderful accompaniment to this magical time of year.

To see more Cathy Jardine photos of the WildLights, click here.

For  more about the Living Desert and WildLights, click here.