Thousands are expected to flock to Herr Visitors Center during the holiday season to drive through the magnificent view of Herr’s Foods’ Christmas light display on its southern Chester County property, writes Marcella Peyre-Ferry for the Daily Local News.

The impressive display that consists of over 500,000 lights has been growing each year since its inception thirty years ago and has now become a beloved holiday tradition for the area.  The display is open all evening, every day, from Thanksgiving until January 3rd, allowing visitors to enjoy it at their leisure.

“The lights are a very popular draw,” said hospitality manager Crystal Messaros. “It’s just something that one of our property managers started years ago. It has just grown and become more popular each year. People come from all over to see the lights.”

The decorations are also not limited just to the outside, as a Candy Land theme has been chosen for the interior for this year. The week long Christmas “Snacktacular” event organized by the Center offers more interaction, with a different theme and activity on offer for each evening of the week.

“We used to do the 12 Days of Christmas and then we scaled it down to the Christmas Snacktacular so that we could have more fun filled evenings back-to-back rather than spreading it out through the 12 days. It’s been more successful for us that way,” said Messaros. “It expands Visitors Center hours, which runs very well with our Christmas Lights that come on at dusk.”

The week started on Monday, when visitors were able to dip and decorate a pretzel. On Tuesday visitors are invited to bring their cameras for a photo opportunity with Santa, after which they will be able to mix their own reindeer food made out of recycled snack products.  The Quarter Ringers Bell Choir from the Oxford United Methodist Church will also be performing in the Center from 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday is considered one of the most popular nights as it offers free hayrides through the Christmas lights as well as a visit from the author of “The Christmas Pickle.” On Thursday, Starr, a live adult reindeer, will entertain both the kids and grownups.

“Each event can bring up to a thousand people, depending on the weather,” Messaros said.