Monthly Archives: December 2020

Barber Center Home for the Holidays Christmas Lights Contest

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Sticking with the theme of checking out Christmas Lights, such as the previous walk through Asbury Woods’ Winter Wonderland (which is still ongoing!) … we decided to check out the popular “Home for the Holidays” 2020 Barber Christmas Lights Contest. And while this one is a great event if you and your family are looking for something to do in order to get into the holiday spirit, a fair warning is that this event is huge! There are houses all around Erie county, and it could easily take you multiple nights!

Location

We strongly recommend you check out the Barber contest website for the rules of the contest as well as the map. The great benefit is that you could literally be driving from one side of town to the other and back again, and still not hit all of the lights. This includes the fact that you will probably see lights and displays up that aren’t officially part of the contest as well, but we recommend the map as these homes are more likely to be on and have the effort necessary to participate in the contest. These homes are ones that take the competition seriously!

Property Description

The property descriptions will vary. These homes might not just be homes – they can be businesses as well. The locations can be on busy streets, in the middle of subdivisions, or even down what looks like more private or less traveled roads. And while some places are probably closer to where you live, you can set up a list of addresses in advance so you can be sure to take as many of these houses in as possible. You might just be surprised at some of the displays, as we saw one that covered the full house and yard, one that had more figures than we could count, and even a set that you drive through as it was between two houses across the street from one another!

Another point to make is that according to the rules this contest technically covers Erie, Crawford, and Warren counties, so regardless of where you are there are probably some lights near you!

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What to Do & Who Can Go:

All you need to do to participate in this event is check out the map and drive to some of the competitor’s displays. We want to note that you can also go back to the website and vote for your favorite. It’s also important to note that this is sponsored by the Barber National Institute, so if you feel the event is worth it and one you hope to continue seeing, consider making a donation to the nonprofit (which you can do right through the website).

As long as you, your significant other, your little one (or ones), or anybody else who is tired of being couped up can see out the windows of the car, this is a great event. You can get out of the house and take a drive. The common theme is to play some Christmas music if you would like, possibly grab some hot cocoa before you go, and just enjoy. You will want to plan ahead. And be aware that some of the busier streets may be a little bit harder to slow down, so have a plan. It is easy to pull over to the side of the road and park, and it’s a lot easier to slow down on side streets or in neighborhoods. Also, be sure to watch traffic because chances are there will be other people doing the same thing!

Final Thoughts:

With a fun event like this, you really are going to have a surprise at every home. The reality is every house is unique in some way. Because this is up to the individual home owners you never know what they are going to display or what you are going to get. That’s why you should make a plan to at least see a few, and then if you have fun you can either keep going or hit other houses on the other side of town the next time out. With only a few days left until Christmas, there is still time to get into the holiday spirit. With the ongoing pandemic, however, people are looking for reasons and activities to get out of the house. This even runs from December 12th, all the way through January 2nd, so you will definitely have time to check out the lights at least for a few nights!

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Asbury Woods Winter Wonderland

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In order to remain in the holiday spirit, we followed up our trip with the Presque Isle Lights by heading to the Asbury Woods Winter Wonderland. This event was a solid opportunity to actually get out onto the boardwalk of Asbury Woods and see the staged lights they have set up for the crowd.

Location

The location of this event is right inside of Asbury Woods. The address is 4015 Asbury Road in Erie, and the walk itself is entirely outside on the property. The good news is that this entire trip is only about 1/3 of a mile for the path, so this is a simple walk that anyone of any age can enjoy.

Property Description

If you’ve never been to Asbury Woods before, this is a perfect time to go. Winter Wonderland continues at Asbury Woods from December 4th until December 31st (please note, there will be no program on December 24th, or December 25th). It runs from 5:00PM – 8:00PM nightly, and is a very nice walk which is open to the public. The event is free, but donations are accepted on-site. When we went, there was just a bit of snow on the ground and on the boardwalk. However, it was fairly well shoveled which meant we even had the ability to take our stroller through with us.

It is important to note that in most seasons Asbury Woods has more activities going on for their Winter Wonderland, but despite the restrictions of COVID-19, the viewing area is a perfect walk. It’s also important to note that in addition to the social distancing aspect, this event allows individuals to walk around entirely outdoors. You can enjoy the sights while the event continues to follow the guidelines as given by the government.  Currently those guidelines are under than 50 people at one time. However, they are subject to change and the officials at Asbury Woods continue to monitor the number of people on the trail at any time.

What to Do & Who Can Go:

These lights are a great walk through the woods and enjoy nature while also being able to see the lights. It’s a simple walk, but can really be part of the holiday spirit. In a year where not everything has been “normal,” this event is something anyone can enjoy. It’s a great opportunity for couples, individuals, or the whole family. The fact that it’s all on a boardwalk versus on a dirt trail means you can be sure of your footing in the winter elements. Let’s be honest, Erie, PA gets snow and inclement weather, and that means if you want to enjoy the outside you at least will have sure footing.

Final Thoughts:

This is a fun event for the family. The best way to enjoy this holiday is to try and get outside, but the number of opportunities in the winter can be few and far between. That’s all of the more reason for looking at this event as a must-do. You will be outdoors so it might be a great opportunity to meet others from outside of your household while maintaining the social distancing aspect. Or you might just want to take your children or parents out yourself.

One other point to note is that this event can be popular. When we went, we arrived at the Asbury Woods parking lot right as the event was starting, and the lot was full. In fact, some individuals were parking across the street and we were able to pull into one of the last spots. The entire walk only took us about 30 to 40 minutes with little ones who took their time and wanted to see everything, however. And when we left, the parking lot was almost half-way open, which means you shouldn’t have a problem getting into this event quickly and enjoying it before little ones (or you yourself) start to get cold. Bring your camera and enjoy these, because if you enjoy looking at Christmas lights then this is a great opportunity to not only go, but to possibly go multiple times.

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Presque Isle Lights

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After heading to the Festival of Trees event at Fairview Business Park, we were excited to hear about the light event down on Presque Isle, sponsored by the Presque Isle Partnership. While the Festival of Trees was about the lights, this event was actually scaled back a lot more to focus on the nature and wildlife of Presque Isle.

In fact, Presque Isle Partnership even listed some information as a caution for those expecting this event to be full of lights, and they even say “if you’re expecting a Chevy Chase style Christmas show and all 3,000 acres lit up, your expectations are a little high. None-the-less, we’re hoping you choose to take an evening drive around Presque Isle throughout the month and appreciate all the hard work many groups and organizations have put into the event. Think of it as a nighttime scavenger hunt for lights and displays around the park.”

Location

This event begins on Presque Isle, and the hours are from 6-9PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until January 1st-3rd weekend. As you enter the park there will be signs, and individuals can use the right-hand lane for the distribution of programs as well as accepting donations at the 2nd parking lot. In addition, the 4th parking lot will have hot cocoa for individuals, and you should also use the right-hand lane. This is a popular event and the traffic can get pretty backed up, so if you don’t want either of these items you can stay in the left lane and continue to drive. Also, be sure to turn in to 95.5 FM for the holiday music.

Property Description:

If you’re from Erie, you’ve been to Presque Isle. Seriously. But, because of the nature of this being a state park, have you ever been down around the peninsula in the dark? There may be some wildlife (hence the reason for too many lights – as not to disturb them). In addition, there are some great views so have your camera ready. As you make your way out the peninsula you actually get great views of the bay. And on the way back you can see some excellent shots of the sky, as well as the famous lighthouse being lit up. Along the way you will also find the occasional light display, and think of this as a “scavenger hunt” where you can slow down and get a quick photo at any point.

Things to do:

With a combination of hot chocolate as well as the music, this can be a fun drive. In these times if you are looking to just get out of the house, then it certainly is a great way to break the monotony.

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We want to emphasize this so that you are aware and we set the right expectation. This is not a lights fest. Rather, this is a drive through the scenery of Presque Isle with the Christmas and holiday spirit, and expect to see some lights along the way. But this is not a “lights fest.” The only reason we point this out is because there have already been some complaints online about how this wasn’t a lights event and there weren’t enough displays, but that’s not what the event is supposed to be. If you are looking for just bright lights, you may want to go to check out some lights in local neighborhoods (in fact, that may be one of our upcoming posts … )

Who Can Go:

In addition to the music and the hot chocolate, this can be a good event for children to either look for some of the lights, or you may even let young ones fall asleep before bedtime! It could also be a great idea for a date, as there is ample time to talk. We waited in the program line, and also waited in the hot chocolate line for about half of the way before we decided to skip the drinks for taking too long. From the time we were coming down the hill (right under the Waldameer roller coaster), until the time we were heading out (again, right under the roller coaster heading up the hill), we were there for 1 hour and 15 minutes. We took our time with the lines and could have bypassed those, but it still can be a scenic drive. Other recommendations some have pointed are to bring some snacks or cookies, and even go to the McDonalds right outside of Presque Isle and get a coffee drink or Hot Chocolate there if you want to skip that time. But, all in all this could be done in as little as a half of an hour or 45 minutes, or possibly even longer if you want to park and eat, drink, or talk.  

Final Thoughts:

As long as you know what you are getting into, this really is a fun event. In fact, the fact that this is being done specifically due to COVID reasons and this is the first year they are doing it, it is a great way to enjoy something outdoors in Erie in the evening. We strongly recommend you have a plan and are prepared to be patient as this is a very popular event. We also recommend you know your time limits, as we arrived slightly before 6 and the traffic was already backed up the hill. When we were leaving, incoming traffic was backed up to almost the intersection with more cars trying to turn in. But, as long as you are prepared and have realistic expectations, this was a great event to break up the monotony and get into the holiday spirit. 

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