photo by Liz Berie
Phipps Conservatory showcases festive lights throughout the conservatory, and is open during the evenings from 5 to 11 p.m.

photo by Liz Berie
Phipps Conservatory welcomes guests to the Winter Light Garden and Flower Show from November 28, 2014 to January 11, 2015.

Nothing says “the holidays” quite like twinkle lights. Whether they’re wrapped around the branches of a pine or framing a house, it’s a traditional staple that has endless possibilities.

Phipps Conservatory has a new theme for their Flower Show and Light Display event called Winter Wonderland.

Kennywood’s Holiday Lights event has expanded to a Dinner with Santa program this year.

These are some of the many highlights for this year’s biggest Holiday Light shows in the region. 

“This is a really special time of the year,” said the exhibit coordinator at Phipps Conservatory Jordyn Melino.

The conservatory has had winter flower shows for 100 years, based their Winter Light Garden off the classic carol bearing the same name, and they have doubled their light Garden for its third year by creating a new outdoor exhibit. 

Winter Flower Show is designed by Terra Design Studios, LLC, and the Winter Light Garden is designed by Melino.

The event at Phipps Conservatory began last Friday and will run until Jan. 11.

The conservatory will hold a ceremony where they will light over 150 candles every evening at 5 p.m.

“They are located throughout the conservatory,” Melino said in a phone interview. it gives a little bit of shine and sparkle to the conservatory at night.”

Kennywood’s Dinner with Santa event is being held on four days instead of one. The dinners run from 3:30 p.m. and last until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, 13, 14 and 20.

It costs $26.99 for adults, $23.99 for ages 3 to 12 and the event is free for children 2 years and younger.

Holiday Lights also began last Friday and will run until Dec. 21.

The fourth annual Holiday Lights will also have three-to-four choir groups performing every night and celebrity guest readers performing “‘Twas the Night before Christmas.”

“[The guest readers] are mostly KDKA personalities with a few others mixed in, like Steven Cropper of WPXI and film director Rick Sebak,” said Public Relations manager at Kennywood Park Jeff Filicko.

Phipps Conservatory is partnering with Toys for Tots and encourages visitors to donate new, unwrapped toys through Dec. 15.

The conservatory will also have an early New Year’s Eve celebration and all activities are free with admission to Phipps.

“It’s a magical time because we go above and beyond the typical flower shows we do during the year,” Melino said.

The conservatory holds a 30-minute creative dance class and story time session in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. 

Kennywood has many rides available during Holiday Lights, the most notable is the Gingerbread Express, a Christmas themed version of the Olde Kennywood Railroad.

“I’ve worked here the last three years during Holiday Lights, almost exclusively on the railroad and it’s  fun to see how people get in to the festive spirit of the year,” said Kennywood ride operator Edward Walker.

Admission to Kennywood is $16.99 at the gate, and free for children 2 years old and younger. You can get unlimited visits to Holiday Lights for $24.99.

Admission for Phipps Conservatory is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students and $11 for children ages 2 – 18. Members and kids under 2 enter free.