Winding Brook Park displays festive lights for a great cause

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- It’s the best of both worlds at Winding Brook Park. The holiday lights dazzle and give the community a chance to help those in need with every car that drives through.

Peggy Voorheis, a board member at A Place to Be Me Children’s Dispensary, mentions you can donate to one of the nine local charities while enjoying the festive displays plus if you choose to donate, you can pick up a treat for you and your family at the end of the drive.

“That's true, they can get a treat at the end once they go through the line providing a donation. Any donation will do and if they happen to have a dog in the car, we do have some dog treats and then we provide anybody who wants a candy cane a candy cane,” said Voorheis.

A Place to Be Me Children’s Dispensary does programming for kids and some adults with disabilities and this festive activity stands as a socialization activity for them to enjoy.

Visitors are encouraged to make donations at the exit. Each night the event runs from 6 to10 p.m. with extended hours on weekends, Christmas Eve, and Day.

You will enter the holiday attraction at the second entrance of Winding Brook Park at the intersection of Day Road and end your festive adventure at the first entrance where the gingerbread house is located.

Until Christmas Day, the neighborhood will remain a festive wonderland with thousands of lights and displays.

There is no cost to drive through the Christmas display which takes about two hours.

This has been a holiday staple in the Winding Brook Park community with loyal families that return every year to get into the holiday spirit.

The “Gift to the Community” light displays collect a little bit of love with every donation, and they've developed a creative way to give back while enjoying the holiday season.

Kaitlin Grebber, a rider in Winding Brook explained why it’s important for you to come see the Christmas lights for yourself.

“I love how people put lights all over their house and how there were so many deer. I love the lights, and they were very pretty,” said Grebber. “I think you guys should come because it does bring you guys a lot of joy, and I think that you guys will get very close with Christmas and Santa Claus.”

For more information, you can visit their website or scan the QR code on the side of the red gingerbread house at the exit of Winding Brook Park.