By day, Vasona Park is full of happy parents and energized children enjoying the vast expanse of trees and grass while circling the fields on the steaming miniature train that makes its rounds throughout the park. But at night, the park is transformed. During the holiday season, it is a different world—cars cruise through the paved roadways while families admire the dozens of luminescent decorations that cover the park.

The joyride, named Fantasy of Lights, features life-sized figures of many holiday characters shining with lights and playing holiday music. Visitors to the park are greeted by lifelike models of Santa Claus and Rudolph the Reindeer.

For people looking for a way to spend time with family while adding a holiday flavor, Fantasy of Lights would be the place for them. A slow cruise around the lighted park is perfect for helping jump-start the holiday spirit.

It’s not all about Santa, either. There are also decorations for the other holidays, such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. With all types of cultures celebrated, the atmosphere can make any visitor feel welcome.

Starting Nov. 27, guests can pay $15 for the ride. Though it may seem overpriced, it is well worth it for the holiday spirit that comes with the trip. The park is open from 6-10 p.m. every night until December 31st, but the lines leading up to the entrance can get very long later throughout the night. Being one of the most entertaining holiday events in the area, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the drive is often full of visitors.

Depending on the amount of traffic, the trip through the park can take about 15-25 minutes to view all the of the decorations. Many of the decorations are sponsored by another company, which provides the event with the majority of their funds. Though the sponsorships and company logos plastered next to every decoration take away from the holiday spirit, it is still a great place to spend one’s night over winter break.

With the current economic situation in the United States, layoffs and foreclosures throughout the country are increasingly common and celebrating the holidays is a great way to forget about everything and just have fun with life. Spending a night cruising by the brightly-lighted decorations in Fantasy of Lights is an exuberant way to enjoy the holidays. Plus, they give out free candy canes at the end.