Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

They say the very first string of Christmas tree lights were put together in 1882. Edward Johnson, Thomas Edison’s friend and partner in Edison Illumination Company, assembled 80 red, white and blue light bulbs, wiring them all by hand. Then he wound them around his Christmas tree and turned them on.

In the centuries since then, Christmas lights have become a tradition, something families travel from miles around to see. And that was certainly the case again this year at Bear Creek Lake State Park. The park, located at 22 Bear Creek Lake Road in Cumberland, held their annual drive-through light show on Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14 this year. And as in times past, everything went to a good cause. Admission to the event was either a new unwrapped toy or a monetary donation to the Cumberland Christmas Mother operation. 

Visitors had a chance to drive their car through the park’s campground and beach areas, to experience a wonderland of lights and popular Christmas figures. There were snowmen on display, along with Rudolph and of course, several renditions of Santa Claus.