Rockford's Festival of lights is one of the annual fixtures of the holiday season. It seems like it is impossible to imagine this time of year without the event. Well, we have no longer to wait because the Festival of Lights is here. It's time to enjoy the spirit of the season. And this event is designed to put the "ho ho ho" into your holiday.

Attracting over 120,000 visitors every year, the Festival of Lights is one of the Forest City's most popular events. The festival got started in 1989 with only 12 displays. By now, though, it is a mush larger production. There are over fifty displays designed to bring light and joy to your busy holiday season.

Displayers this year include B103FM, The Coca Cola Company, East High School Honor Society, Milestone, The N Factor, Northern Illinois Hospice, The Salvation Army, Skyward Promotions and many more. All these groups have created their own unique holiday display to add festivity to your holiday season.

Located at Sinnissippi Park, the Festival of Lights is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5-9:45 through the 31st of December. On December 16th Santa Claus and his reindeer will be visiting the display from 7-9PM. And on Christmas Eve the display will be open all night long.

Sinnissippi Park is located off of 251 just across from Sinnissippi Gardens adjacent to the beautiful Rock River. There is a fee of $1.00 per vehicle to attend the event ($5 per bus). Since you go through the festival in a vehicle you don't need to worry about shivering in the cold weather. Load the car up, bring along some hot chocolate in a travel mug and enjoy the lights. For more information check out the website for the fetival at http://www.rockfordfireandice.com/welcome.html.