13th Annual Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights in the Park

November 27, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Washington Park, Albany, NY

Drive through a winter wonderland of lights along the weaving roadways of beautiful Washington Park. The Lakehouse at the end of the journey will feature crafts, refreshments and, before Christmas, Santa Claus!

DATES: Sundays through Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m.
Closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.

ADMISSION: $15 per car; $25 per limousine or 15-passenger van and $75 per bus, with all proceeds benefiting the work of Albany PAL.

WHERE: Washington Park, Albany

WHO: Brought to the Capital Region by The City of Albany, Gerald D. Jennings, Mayor, and the Albany Police Athletic League, PAL

BENEFIT: All proceeds benefit the Albany Police Athletic League, PAL, celebrating its 16th year as a juvenile crime- prevention program in the City of Albany.

CARRIAGE RIDES: Carriage rides through the Lights will be available Thursday through Sunday evenings. For reservations or more information about a carriage ride, call Albany PAL at 518-435-0392.

MORE INFORMATION: www.albanycapitalholidaylights.com or call Albany PAL at 435-0392.

On Nov. 27, The Albany Police Athletic League (PAL) lights the thousands of lights and more than 125 displays in Albany’s Washington Park for the 13th Annual Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights with the theme, “Celebrating Our Differences.”

“We selected the theme,” said PAL’s Executive Director Lenny Ricchiuti, “for several reasons. Albany is celebrating its 400th anniversary of discovery this year. And, one of the things that makes Albany great is that it is a true melting pot of cultures. The time is right to be ‘Celebrating Our Differences.’”

Through the years, Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights has welcomed more than 1 million visitors to this winter wonderland of lights.

“None of this would be possible without the tremendous support of those in the Capital Region and the untold volunteer hours,” he said. Because of the generosity of the community, Albany PAL now serves 4,000 children each year -- a ten-fold growth since the Lights began.

Sponsored by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings and the City of Albany, Albany PAL and presented by Hannaford Supermarkets, this year’s Lights’ show is simply spectacular. It includes:

• The Salute to Americans recognizes the contributions of police, firefighters and the military. George Washington is crossing the Delaware and Betsy Ross is sewing the new nation’s first flag. Visitors enter through a welcoming arch of red, white and blue stars.

• The 12 Days of Christmas takes guests through an animated world where there are Maids A-Milking, Ladies Dancing, Lords A-leaping and Pipers Piping. Greeting everyone is a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
  
  
• Santa’s Toyland is a magical world with Santa's toy train, elves working, Gingerbread men leaping over the road and an enormous home that is Santa’s Toyland.
  
  
• The Victorian Village has children roasting marshmallows, playing hockey and ice skating. Holiday shoppers aren’t far from a family placing garland on their brightly lighted tree.
  
  
• Celebrating Our Differences delivers the message of Peace in a number of languages including Dutch, Russian, French, Italian, German, Korean and Chinese. Each message is completed by a depiction of how the holidays are celebrated around the world.

Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights is open nightly from Nov. 27 through Jan. 2. Hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission prices are $15 per car; $25 per limousine or 15-passenger van; and $75 per bus, with all proceeds benefiting the work of Albany PAL. Discount coupons worth $5 off admission on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings will be available at Hannaford Supermarkets. A $5 discount is offered on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well for those showing their Times Union SourceCard. Only one discount per admission will be honored.

Included with admission this year are kiddie rides in front of the Lake House. And, Santa’s reindeer will be visiting on Opening Night, Wednesdays, Sundays and Dec. 23. And, there will be face painting on Sundays.

At the end of the drive, the Lake House is open most evenings (closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2) with a craft show for holiday shopping, great refreshments, photos with Santa (through Dec. 23), and visits from special friends including Frosty and Rudolph.

Carriage rides through the Lights are available Thursday through Sunday, under the auspices of the Saratoga Horse and Carriage Company. For reservations (recommended), contact 518-584-8820.

To volunteer or for more information about Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights,

Call Albany PAL at 518-435-0392.

For more information and the most up-to-date schedule of events at Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights, visit www.albanycapitalholidaylights.com or call Albany PAL.