Newport News Parks, Recreation and Tourism just completed the annual Celebration in Lights for the 25th year in a row. To commemorate the special anniversary of Virginia’s first drive through light show, the event added two 25’ x 16’ animated holiday scenes at the end of the two mile route, reaching the number of lights in the display to over one million.  

In addition to the increase of lights, both attendance and revenue for the event rose in the 2017 season. Overall attendance was counted at 24,119 vehicles compared to 22,511 vehicles in 2016, an increase of 7.14%.  Revenue increased from $232,905 in 2016 to $254,546 in 2017, an increase of 9.29%. Of the proceeds, $0.25 per paying vehicle, totaling $5382, is being donated to the Peninsula Agency on Aging. Be sure to look for the event again next holiday season as preparations have already begun!