Annual Festival of Lights

The Friends of Rock Hound State Park presented their annual festival of lights on Saturday night, December 9th.  The public was invited to stroll amongst the 1100 luminarias lighting the walkways, adobe walls, native garden, and the labyrinth of the park's visitor center.

They were treated to hot cider, cookies, and a visit from Santa. Toys for tots were accepted by the Marines.

This is the view of the luminarias that reached clear down the road to the pay station at the entrance to the park.  I wanted to show them before dark so my blog visitors could get an idea of how many there were.

Here is a view looking up the road towards the camp ground.

This is the entrance to the visitor center parking lot.  People were already arriving.  We estimated between 250 and 300 visitors.

This is a path that surrounds a garden just above the center.  Luminarias were placed everywhere, including on the roof of the visitor center.

On the side of the hill along the east side of the visitor center rocks were placed to spell ROCK HOUND.  Luminarias were placed all around, as you can see.  I was hoping they would clearly spell out the sign once it became dark, but the light did not cooperate as can be seen further along in the blog pictures.



Santa was getting ready for the children.  I did not get any pictures of him with the children because Margaret and I were on duty in the visitor center meeting guests and answering quetions.

Guests were enjoying the campfire and the hot cider.

Here is the ROCK HOUND sign as it began to get dark.  The lights sort of spelled out the words, but not as clearly as I had hoped.

This another view of the roadside looking towards the campground.  I found it very difficult to focus my camera after dark.

Here is the view back towards the entrance as it was getting dark.

Welcome to the visitor's center.

This is the garden west of the center.

Our Ranger had to check the lights on the roof and make sure all were still lit.

The entrance is now lit up and the visitors are gathering.

Here is a picture taken from across the road from the center.  Nothing compares with actually being there.  The Annual Festival of Lights turned out to be one of the unexpected perks of being a camp ground host at Rock Hound State Park.  Thank you, Friends of Rock Hound and Mr. Robert Apadaca, Ranger and Mannager of the park.