Holiday Lights Spectacular Returns To Jones Beach After 7-Year Hiatus

WANTAGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Sparking, twinkling, dancing, sending messages of joy.

Thousands of lights are once again paving the way at the Jones Beach Holiday Lights Spectacular.

As CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported, the display is back after a seven-year hiatus, bringing smiles to the faces of many.

The kiddos give it glowing reviews.

"I'm most excited to see Santa," one girl said.

The 2 1/2-mile drive-through light show includes more than 150 animated displays.

"It was really good.  I was really impressed," Faheem Bacchus told CBS2's Matt Kozar.

"We're hoping that everybody comes down to Jones Beach during the winter, during the holiday season," said Wayne Horsley, regional director of Long Island State Parks.

Horsley said the display's return is part of the continued efforts to revitalize Jones Beach.

"We're rebuilding buildings," he said. "We're doing all sorts of things that we're bringing back from the past, and this is just one more display that New York is back."

Adam Citron, the producer of the spectacular, said it takes more than a month to set up. CBS2's camera caught crews still hard at work Thursday afternoon, putting on the finishing touches in hopes of delighting New Yorkers from near and far.

With upward of 300,000 lights, Citron said it is the largest light display on Long Island.

It costs $20 to drive through during the week and $25 during the weekend. There is also a village where kids can visit Santa and visitors can buy hot cocoa and s'mores.

Organizers are partnering with a group serving Long Island food banks and say if you bring a can of food to the ticket booth, you'll get a discount on admission.

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