Holiday lights shining bright at Gring’s Mill for 35 years in Berks

There are a lot of things that evoke the spirit of the holiday season, that turn minds to holly and jolly thoughts.

Neatly wrapped presents. Feasts with family. Snowflakes and snowmen.

And, of course, lights. Bright, twinkling, colorful lights.

For the past 35 years, one of the prime sources of holiday light viewing joy in Berks County has been Gring’s Mill. And crews from the county parks and recreation department have been hard at work to make sure that tradition continues this holiday season.

On Dec. 1 the Spring Township park will flip the switch to kick off its 35th annual Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill attraction, illuminating thousands of lights sure to stoke awe and amazement in visitors.

“With all people, but especially with children, when they come in and start taking a look around, everyone just seems to be in a happy mood,” said Cathy Wegener, director of the county parks and recreation department. “You see the lights reflected in their eyes, their enjoyment of seeing the model railroad display and, of course, visiting with Santa.”

While the sites at the park might seem otherworldly, none of it happens by magic. Putting on the Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill takes a team of creative and dedicated employees working for months.

Brian Evans, park maintenance supervisor, said his team is responsible for stringing and maintaining the lights while also keeping the county parks running smoothly. The 14-person crew begins preparations in late September.

“Everyone on the crew will play a part in the decorating, but there are a few guys who will do the bulk of the work,” he said. “We have made it a point to give those guys a little more free rein to be able to decorate so that we keep the event from getting stale.”

Evans said the guys who are the backbone of the program look forward to coming up with new designs and suggestions for each season.

“They talk about different ideas leading up to it,” he said. “It’s one of the few things that we do that people will see. Not everyone will notice the grass being cut every week. This is something that you know a large group of people will appreciate.”

The desire, Evans said, is to keep what has made the attraction so popular over the years while also looking to add new aspects for returning visitors.

And this year will be no different. In fact, there will be three new displays for people to enjoy during their stroll around the park.

The new additions, which represent one of the largest investments ever made into the program, will include the attraction’s largest display. Called “Old Man Winter,” it is a major expansion to the park’s field of lights.

“I think we have been able to implement a new vision for Holiday Lights, which I think is nice because a lot of families do come out year after year,” said Lisa Gauker, recreation and special events supervisor. “It’s important to be able to offer new things or change things to make sure it’s not static.”

A popular addition added last year will also return for 2023. Gauker said visitors will be able to meander through Christmas Tree Lane, which features trees decorated by local community organizations that form a path through the barn to a waiting Santa.

“It really does take a village to pull this off,” she said. “And I think this is a perfect opportunity to grow community engagement.”

While all of the work planning and installing the displays can be a bit overwhelming and exhausting, the parks and recreation department staff said they know it’s well worth the effort.

“Being able to see the reactions of the people who come is where the gratification comes in for all the hard work,” Evans said. “You will often hear conversations between parents and children about how they used to come when they were little, so it’s neat to see it come full circle with another generation enjoying the lights.”

And organizers expect tons of families to enjoy the display this year.

“It’s really great to have an event that has been embraced by the community and that the community continues to look forward to,” Wegener said. “It says a lot about being able to keep a program viable for that many years. That we can keep changing it or improving it a little bit at a time.”

Along with gazing at the lights and other decorations adorning the park, guests of Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill will also have other activities to enjoy.

There will be live music performances outside at the pavilion and several food trucks will visit the park, an addition made during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic that has stuck around.

Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill will be open:

• Dec. 1-17: Fridays through Sundays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Dec. 18-23: Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Dec. 28-30: Thursday through Saturday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

An opening ceremony called “First Night at Holiday Lights” will take place Dec. 1 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the event. The ceremony will feature special musical performances, the illumination of the new displays and the arrival of Santa.

After walking through the light displays, visitors can enjoy food and beverages from local food trucks, warm up beside a fire pit and listen to live music in the pavilion each night from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m.

Santa will make appearances throughout the month in the barn. And there will be a model train display in the former generator station building on the bridge.

For a complete listing of the musical acts and culinary offerings, visit the Berks County Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page .