looking for the local excitement

for anyone that might want to come over to my side of the mountain for some holiday cheer - here is what there is to see:

Fantasy at the Bay
This is a huge light display that you can drive through, located next to Willard Bay in the Willard Bay State Park (you have probably seen it from the freeway).

Fantasy at the Bay boasts animated displays, lighted trees, and roadway lights. If you’d rather enjoy a horse-drawn hayride through the park, you can do that instead for no extra charge. They also have a concession stand that serves hot cocoa, chili, hamburgers and scones if you and the family want to park and enjoy a warm treat together.

The display hours are 5pm to 10 pm, and the cost is $8 per vehicle. To reach Willard Bay State Park, take exit 357 off I-15. The display is open until January 1, 2011.

Main Street in Brigham City
The Main Street Christmas display in Brigham City is located by the old courthouse on Main Street and Forest Street. The display includes lighted trees, lighted wooden cutouts, and lighted wooden buildings with Christmas scenes inside (some are even animated).

Santa is available for photos with children at specific times that are listed on the Santa shack. If he isn’t available when you are there, be sure to bring your letter to Santa with you--and make sure you have included your return address on the envelope—to put in the mailbox at Santa’s shack.

The display is free to the public, and is open each day of the week through the end of December.

Christmas Tree Lane in Brigham City
If you want to see decorated trees and other Christmas displays, both lit and unlit, then you need to visit Christmas Tree Lane in Brigham City. It is located at Brigham City’s Historic Train Depot, 833 West Forest Street.

The Depot is open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. through December 22. You can also arrange for a special tour, during the off hours, by calling 435-723-5478. Admission is free.

Layton Park
Park workers began setting up the lights on the first of September and worked until the Monday before Thanksgiving to make sure the park would be a popular destination again this holiday season.

They created a new entry archway and programmed the lights on a specific tree to flicker on and off in time with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The poles that line Main Street and Layton Parkway are the older, historical style and came with an attachable vertical pole to hang banners on.

The poles are some of the first things people see in Layton because the parkway is the first opportunity for people to enter the city when headed north on Interstate 15.
The parks and recreation division also puts up lights around Layton, most noticeably in front of the museum, police station and on the corner of Main Street and Hill Field Road.


Christmas Village - Ogden
Have Your ’elf a Merry Little Christmas” is the theme for this season’s version of the popular holiday attraction at the Ogden Municipal Gardens, 25th Street and Washington Boulevard.

The village, featuring dozens of cottages and miniature Ogden landmarks, will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight nightly through Jan. 1. Live entertainment by local performing groups jazzes up the nights from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

The Fab Five, a team of Morgan cloggers who were finalists on the “America’s Got Talent” TV series in 2009, will perform at 6 p.m. Dec. 9.

Santa will greet children in his castle Saturday and then from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 23.

Mrs. Claus conducts her own tours of the village for preschool children during daytime hours. To schedule a visit, or find out more about the village, call 801-629-8284.