News

Published on: 11/24/2020

Nearly 1,000,000 Christmas lights will illuminate Rocky Ridge County Park during the 37th annual “Christmas Magic – A Festival of Lights” at Rocky Ridge County Park. Timed tickets are required for entry every night.

Modifications due to COVID-19

Due to public health concerns and COVID-19 state guidelines, York County Parks is planning several modifications to the Christmas Magic program in 2020:

 Event will be held outdoors as a walk-through light display only. Timed tickets must be purchased online in advance.
 There will be no buildings enclosed or open to the public with the exception of restrooms.
 There will be no Santa Claus, train displays, Parks Volunteer Food Stand, live entertainment, or Pet Night. Picnic tables for eating or congregating will not be available.
 All state guidelines will be followed including requirements for masks and social distancing on the trail.
 Restrooms will have additional sanitizing throughout the night by maintenance staff. Masks will be required inside the restroom facilities.
 The number of people for each timed ticket time slot will be reduced to accommodate state guidelines.
 Refunds and rescheduling will be allowed if you or a member of your party are sick, exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. If you need to reschedule due to COVID-19, please contact the park office at 717-840-7440, and press 2.

The challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic are such that restrictions and state guidelines are constantly evolving. Event plans and restrictions are subject to change without notice.

When: November 27 through December 31 (closed December 24 and 25)

Where: Rocky Ridge County Park is located east of York, 1.5 miles north of U.S. Route 30, off Mount Zion Road (PA Route 24). Park address: 3699 Deininger Road, York, PA.

Times: Monday through Thursday, 6-9 p.m.; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 5-9 p.m. Attendance is usually lighter Monday through Thursday.

Cost: Adults, Seniors, and Children age 4 and up: $5; Age 3 and under are free. No group discounts are available.

Ticketing: Admission to Christmas Magic will be by timed tickets only every day of the week; Monday through Sunday, which can be purchased starting Nov. 12 at ChristmasMagicYork.com. Timed tickets will be required for entry each night, walk-ins will not be permitted. For those without internet access, timed tickets can be purchased in person at John Rudy Park Administrative Headquarters during regular business hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closed 12:30-1 p.m. daily.

Who: Sponsored by the York County Department of Parks and Recreation. For information, call 717-840-7440 and press 4, then 2 or visit ChristmasMagicYork.com. For related updates, you can also follow us on Twitter via @yorkcountyparks or find us on Instagram and Facebook with the same handle.

What: Christmas Magic is a half-mile walking trail, accessible to anyone, that meanders along a wooded hilltop through nearly one million Christmas lights, holiday scenes and open-air pavilions. The spirit of the holiday is displayed with animation, music, and displays. Bricker’s will be on site. New displays, including a Santa mural painted by a local artist, will provide numerous family photo opportunities.

Weather: The trail may be closed due to inclement weather. The Park Staff makes a decision on any cancellation as early as possible. To find out the status of the trail, people may call the Christmas Magic hotline. Hotline number: Dial 717-840-7440 and press 4, then 2. Conditions will also be posted on Twitter and Facebook @yorkcountyparks. All pre-purchased tickets will be refunded if the Parks chooses to cancel the event. Customers will be notified when their refund has been done via email on the next business day.

History: Christmas Magic is in its 37th year. It began in 1984, the product of the “energy crunch,” when fewer homes were decorating yet there was still a desire to see Christmas lights locally. In 1984, a small budget allowed for 10,000 lights and props, most produced by the Parks Department. Today, the props are produced commercially and “in-house.” It takes thousands of hours to set up, run, and disassemble Christmas Magic. This is the largest program presented by the York County Department of Parks and Recreation each year. In 2017 the event set a record high with attendance of 44,615 visitors.

Lights: In 2020, nearly 1,000,000 LED lights will greet Park visitors. We began the transition to LED lights in 2006 and all our lights are now LED. The LED mini lights save approximately 80 percent on the wattage of incandescent bulbs while the LED C-7 bulbs save about 33 percent wattage.

Toys for Tots Nights: For the 11th year, the York County Parks is partnering with Toys for Tots. Donations of unwrapped toys for children in need will be accepted by Toys for Tots volunteers near parking lot. Dates are opening weekend, Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28.

FAQs: Please visit our website at ChristmasMagicYork.com to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions to make the most of your visit.