WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — Kennywood's Holiday Lights event, which is sponsored by Duquesne Light, is reaching new heights in its fifth year, as a new 90-foot tall Christmas tree, the tallest on record in Pennsylvania, readies to shine on guests.
The event begins Friday, Nov. 27 and continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through Dec. 27 (excluding Christmas Day) from 5 to 9 p.m. The big man himself, Santa Claus, will help ring in opening night with a small parade proceeding to the Kennywood entrance gate.
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The 90-foot tree took a team of eight maintenance workers roughly a week to construct and towers over the park's lagoon area. A ceremonial lighting of the tree will be held nightly at 5:20 p.m., followed by the Kennywood Holiday Lights Show, which is performed every 30 minutes each night.
Also new to this year's Holiday Lights is “The Polar Express: A 4-D Experience,” a 15-minute spin-off of the popular holiday movie. The film will be showing in Kennywood's newly constructed 4-D theater. It is included free with park admission.
The young and young at heart can also enjoy a variety of Kennywood's traditional rides, including the Gingerbread Express and Ghostwood Estate - both with holiday makeovers, the Merry-Go-Round and several Kiddieland rides.
Holiday Lights features more than 1.5 million lights, connected and powered by more than 12 miles of extension cords. That’s enough cords to connect Kennywood to Heinz Field on Pittsburgh's North Shore.
More than 50 live pine trees decorate the park thanks to the Indiana Tree Growers Association. Holiday sounds and Christmas carols can be heard each evening with a variety of local performance groups featured each night.
Duquesne Light will also raise money for the Dollar Energy Fund, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to income eligible households to help with their energy bills. For every $5 donation made, attendees will receive a Wattley plush doll.
Tickets for Holiday Lights can be purchased for $14.99 online at www.Kennywood.com. Children 2 years of age and under are free. Parking is also free.
To see a full list of activities, plus information on schedules, discounts and more, visit www.kennywood.com/holidaylights.
WPXI
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