Larger, Brighter Displays for 2013

Enjoy two free drive through events in Muskogee this holiday season – Castle Christmas at The Castle of Muskogee and The Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park

Celebrate the best of family holiday traditions at The Castle of Muskogee! Take a leisurely drive through Castleton Village, filled with over 2,000 holiday inflatables and thousands of colorful lights. The drive through is free and donations are ­gratefully accepted. The Castle’s additional events are open November 28, 29, 30, December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, and every night December 12 through December 31. Please check the calendar at www.okcastle.com for a schedule of each night’s activities.

    Outside The Castle, you can take a hayride or a ­carriage ride through the Village, ride the ponies or the camel, and visit the petting zoo. Stop inside The Castle for old-fashioned family ­holiday activities. Bring your kids to make ornaments in Santa’s workshop, warm up by the fireplace, and plan your visit with Father Christmas – and keep your eyes open for The Mean Green One, too!

    Stop in for some holiday shopping with a variety of merchants, and pick up ­something unique for ­yourself or a loved one. Get fireworks for New Year’s Eve celebrations and items from The Christmas Shoppe for your own ­holiday displays. Join us in the Royal Garden Cafe for a light supper or snack, hot chocolate and treats, and great company. Sit and enjoy holiday movies for the whole family.

    Father Christmas will be at the Castle on Fridays and Saturdays through December 21. There is no cost to talk to Father Christmas, and ­pictures will be available for a nominal fee. Please check the calendar at www.okcastle.com for exact dates.

    The 2013 Castle Christmas displays range from four feet in height to a towering 20 feet tall. You’ll see all of your favorite Christmas characters ­including Santa, the elves, many snowmen, reindeer, penguins, polar bears and more. Also you will see many of your favorite fun ­characters including Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, the Grinch, Elmo, Frosty the Snowman, Homer and Bart Simpson, plus many more. “This is the world’s largest display of inflatables,” says Matt Hiller, vice president and advertising director of the Castle of Muskogee. “Bring the whole family for a fun, wholesome evening to celebrate the ­holidays.”

    In nearby Honor Heights Park, the Garden of Lights attracts thousands of visitors. The celebration includes a free drive-through display of over a million shimmering lights displayed throughout the park. Internationally known for its Azalea Festival, Honor Heights Park draws up to a half million visitors ­annually to its 122 acres, which are planted with more than 30,000 azalea bushes and thousands of trees, ­beautifully situated among the park’s scenic hilltop drive. Christmas lights are placed on trees, bushes, and structures throughout the park to enhance the natural beauty of the gardens, ­waterfalls, and ponds. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. nightly, and the event is free.

    Both drive-through events are open nightly from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, contact

The Castle of Muskogee

3400 W. Fern Mountain Rd.

Muskogee, OK 74401

(918) 687-3625

www.okcastle.com