WYOMING COUNTY, Pa. — The Festival of Lights brings millions of glimmering sights to the back nine at Stone Hedge Golf Course near Tunkhannock.
The dazzling river alone boasts a quarter of a million lights, and there's more to see around every turn.
"You get to see a lot of familiar characters that you've seen in TV shows, movies, cartoons, and a bit of some things adults would enjoy," said Karen Rurak, creator of the Festival of Lights.
The two-and-a-half-mile drive-thru light display was created by Karen Rurak. Each standing display is crafted by hand, not bought at the store.
"I draw them on a full-sized piece of cardboard. The cardboard then goes to the welder. He creates the frames out of rebar; then they come back to me. I spray-paint them black; then I zip-tie all of the C-7 socket wire on. And I have a girlfriend, she cuts all of the zip ties and screws in all the bulbs," explained Rurak.
Rurak starts the design phase in January, so it's ready to be put up by the ground crew in October. switching from golf to the holiday season.
"It gives them a little bit of variety in their job, and it also keeps them employed for the entire year," said Rurak.
Thousands flock to the course year after year to see the growing display.
"You feel like all that hard work that you put into it makes people happy, and it brings joy to them.it is probably the most satisfying thing I've done in my entire life," said Rurak.
The Festival of Lights at Stone Hedge Golf Course is open every evening except Christmas Eve through December 31.