HGTV to feature HolidayLights

holidaylights062: Holiday Lights
Every night is a beautiful Winter Wonderland during HolidayLights at CALM.
HolidayLights at CALM, already a big seasonal attraction and tradition for Kern County residents, will be featured nationally on the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) network in a program called Over The Top Christmas on Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. Cable television viewers can see the program on Bright House Networks Channel 58 and on Suddenlink Communications Channel 62.

Using a local production crew, Nancy Glass Productions Producer Bart Makatche spent an entire day at CALM on Nov. 10 capturing volunteer crews readying displays containing more than 2 million lights for HolidayLights, which opened on Nov. 24. Makatche also focused on the injured and abandoned animals at CALM, tying the enjoyment of the event to the need for the dollars it raises.

Viewers will see the spectacle of the fourth annual light show as videotaped by Makatche's crew, as well as scenes shot and provided by Kern County Superintendent of Schools' Television Production Manager John Lenko.

Makatche said Over the Top Christmas will visit several locations across America, including CALM, concentrating on ornamental lighting for the season. CALM is unique in that HolidayLights will be the only outdoor display in the show that is not connected to a residential setting.

National viewers will have a chance to see what Kern County visitors can experience nightly. Families can enjoy a fun, bonding experience almost immediately, as just to the left of the main entrance is the brand new Ferris wheel, providing free rides with spectacular views of the dazzling light displays from high above. Depending on which path you choose through the beautiful, landscape of native vegetation, one will encounter plenty of pleasant surprises. Veer to the left to discover a fire-breathing but friendly dragon soaking in a tranquil pond. Take the path to the right and a Winter Wonderland awaits featuring penguins, children having a snowball fight -- back-and-forth, across a pond -- a waving Mr. and Mrs. Snowman and youngsters sliding down a hill. And there is much more.

Free rides continue on the one-year-old Candy Cane Express railroad. Finding it is easy. Just look for the brightly lit Tunnel of Lights. Check out Santa's Workshop, where you will see him fast at work with his elves preparing gifts for the big night. Many of the crowd favorites of the last three years are back including the spunky river otter and a colorful, lava-spewing volcano among the dozens of creatively, designed light displays.

CALM's gift shop has expanded, once again offering one-of-a-kind items visitors can only find at CALM, and there is a delicious assortment of food and snacks for every budget.

And, as always, every new creation and all the labor required to make the annual event a success has a singular purpose. The proceeds from HolidayLights benefit the non-profit CALM Foundation, providing funding for developing new and exciting animal exhibits at CALM.

HolidayLights at CALM, located between Hart Park and Lake Ming on Alfred Harrell Highway, runs through Dec. 30 (except Dec. 24 and 25), nightly from 5:30-9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through Vallitix, (661) 322-5200 or at the gate. Admission prices are $5 for children ages 3-17, $7 for seniors above age 60 and $10 for adults. Admission includes free Ferris wheel and Candy Cane Express train rides. Parking is also free.

For more information check the CALM Web site, http://www.calmzoo.org.


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