Many choices to light up your night through year’s end

Lighting up your night comes easily at this time of year.

Fans longing for Shadrack’s drive-through Christmas light display – which set up 2011-14 in Myrtle Beach but is only as close as Simpsonville and Charlotte in 2015 – have other immense options for illuminating outings this season, starting with a potentially new tradition aglow on Thanksgiving night in the North Strand. Other locales lighting up, as easy escapes from the Myrtle Beach area, continue in Wilmington, Charleston, Moncks Corner, Columbia and Irmo.

Matt Gibbons, the North Myrtle Beach superintendent of recreation, said since the city built the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex two years ago at S.C. 90 and Robert Edge Parkway, he and fellow personnel shared a wish “to do a Christmas event.”

With input from a crew at Little Spider Creations Inc. of Little River, the initiative for North Myrtle Beach’s “Christmas Wonderland” came to light, “for something unique” that no one else mounts locally.

Gibbons said instead of a drive-through display through the acreage, with “ours, you get out and walk around and really enjoy everything going on,” anchored by six main attractions, with a community stage in the middle, letting local talent take turns.

“It’s kind of like a big Christmas village,” Gibbons said, “with activities all around.”

With so much to do outside, and a focus on quality time families can spend together, “Christmas Wonderland” rounds up a series of experiences, Gibbons said, not jusy one accent, on lights.

“It’s not just a 15-minute drive,” he said, “but a two-hour experience.”

Gibbons also voiced his excitement at the entertainment across the park. Douglas Ladnier from Little Spider Creations, a company that has relocated from Denver, heads up that scheduling.

A Broadway and Disneyland actor who has performed in more than 60 countries, Ladnier said the creative work on all these specialty shows for “Christmas Wonderland” began several months ago, and he will be joined with a roster of talent recruited from various parts of the globe:

▪ Shoshana Bass, puppet master and as Dolly, and who has studied and danced in countries such as Senegal, Poland and Germany.

▪ Mark Gagliardi, main stage host, whose TV and video credits include the voice of Batman on the new “DC Super Friends.”

▪ Juliana Hansen, with a Broadway resume including “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and the title role in “Mary Poppins.”

▪ Jonah Ho’okano, a native Hawaiian playing “Captain Christmas.”

▪ Jana Zeller, puppet designer/creator of such works as hand, rod, miniature, and parade style puppets, including Dolly the dolphin and Ollie the octopus.

Ladnier said he also will enjoy welcoming “my French circus friends” for “Cirque du Elfe – The Wrapping Factory,” which will include Jade Kindar-Martin, a high-wire walker seen as the stunt double for Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the movie “The Walk”; his wife and fellow “Cirque du Soleil” veteran, Karine Kindar-Martin, who also played an elf in “The Polar Express”; and Ben Huey, an acrobat who has coached others in Chinese pole and flying trapeze.

Having just found out earlier this month that colleagues from Disneyland’s “Aladdin” are coming at “Christmas Wonderland,” Ladnier, who played Jafar there “a long time ago,” said with Ho’okano, Gagliardi and Hansen – who portrayed Aladdin, Genie and Princess Jasmine, respectively at Mickey Mouse’s California home – this will mark a “royal reunion for the four of us.”

Looking at the whole slate coming to shape, Ladnier uttered the whole Wonderland crew’s motto in going “all out” for the next month: “Ho, ho, ho, here we go.”

Have your choice of lighting extravaganzas:

‘Christmas Wonderland’

WHAT: Inaugural venture by city of North Myrtle Beach, and Little Spider Creations of Little River.

WHERE: North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, at S.C. 90 and Robert Edge Parkway

WHEN: 5:30-10:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays through Dec. 13 – then daily, Dec. 17-31.

HOW MUCH:

▪ Free admission to grounds.

▪ Activity wristbands $20 ages 13 and older, $10 ages 5-12, and free standard wristband for ages 4 and younger, with adult purchase.

▪ $8 paintball challenge.

▪ Group rates available; call in advance to arrange.

WRISTBAND CHOICES COVER: “Nostalgic Holiday Hayride & Christmas Lights Extravaganza,” “Cirqu-Du-Elfe – The Wrapping Factory” with Kindar-Martin Family Circus, a 3D “Walk to the North Pole,” “Christmas Under the Sea” puppet show, and “Rudolph’s Buddies” petting zoo.

WITH: Shoshana Bass as Dolly and puppeteer; Mark Gagliardi, main stage host; Juliana Hansen; Jonah Ho’okano as “Captain Christmas”; Ben Huey, acrobat; Douglas Ladnier, entertainment director and principal performer; and Jana Zeller, puppet designer/creator.

INFORMATION: 843-281-3803 or www.nmbwonderland.com

16th annual ‘Nights of a Thousand Candles’

WHEN: 3-10 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, Dec. 3-19

WHERE: Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, across from Huntington Beach State Park.

HOW MUCH: $18 ages 13 and older ($14 members) – and save $2 with purchase by Monday, $10 ages 4-12 ($8 members); and free ages 3 and younger.

SCHEDULED ENTERTAINMENT: On multiple stages, and with Peggy and Mark Gaudreau roving and playing bagpipes between sets –

▪ Dec. 3-5 – Paul Grimshaw Band and Thistledown Tinkers (Trip Rogers and Tom Eure), each at 4, 6 and 8 p.m.; and Bates Holman (jazz) and Vocal Edition each 5, 7 and 9 p.m.

▪ Dec. 10-12 – Susana and Timmy Abell 4, 6 and 8 p.m.; TruSol and Melissa Porshia each at 5, 7 and 9 p.m.; and Bill Oberst Jr.’s solo rendition of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” 6 and 8 p.m.

▪ Dec. 17-19 – Mike Frost Band and Palmetto Bronze (handbells), each 4, 6 and 8 p.m.; and Paul Grimshaw Band and Vocal Edition each 5, 7 and 9 p.m.

GARDENS OPEN OUTSIDE OF FESTIVAL DAYS: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with admission lasting seven days: $15 ages 13-64, $13 ages 65 and older, $7 ages 4-12, and free ages 3 and younger.

ALSO: Special exhibits Friday-Jan. 3 –

▪ “Holiday Memories: Trains, Trees, and Treasures” – including model train displays, and paintings by Angela Trotta Thomas, “The Train Lady”

▪ “Peace on Earth” in horticultural theme.

INFORMATION: 843-235-6000, 800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org

11th annual ‘Enchanted Airlie’

WITH: 750,000-light display

WHEN: In two-hour time slots to visit – 5-7 and 7-9 p.m. Saturday, as well as Dec. 4-6, 10-13 and 16-22. Opening night on Friday is sold out.

WHERE: Airlie Gardens, 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, southeast of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. From downtown Wilmington, follow Oleander Drive (U.S. 76) east, then right on Airlie Road or take Market Street (U.S. 17 Business) north, then east on Eastwood Road (U.S. 74), then right (west) on U.S. 76 briefly until a left turn onto Airlie Road.

HOW MUCH: Ticket options for ages 4 and older, with advance purchase urged –

▪ Carload, but not in a large passenger van or a bus, $27.

▪ “Couples Pass,” with two people in one vehicle, $17.

▪ Single admission, $12.

INFORMATION: Also, for reservations for large vans or buses – 910-798-7700 or www.airliegardens.org

26th annual ‘Holiday Festival of Lights’

WITH: More than 700 displays and 2 million lights

WHEN: Daily through Jan. 3: 5:30-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, and 5:30-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays

WHERE: Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission’s James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston

DIRECTIONS FROM U.S. 17: Heading south on U.S. 17, cross Ashley River, then go south on S.C. 171, west (right) on S.C. 700 (Maybank Highway) and south (left) on Riverland Drive; or from downtown Charleston, take S.C. 30 to its end point, then right on Folly Road, left on Central Park Road, and left on Riverland.

HOW MUCH: Per vehicle – $15 for 1-15 guests, $40 for 16-30, and $100 for 31 or more.

ALSO: Mondays-Thursdays, $10 per vehicle (1-15 guests) with donation of a non-perishable food item or dog/cat food to benefit Lowcountry Food Bank

INFORMATION: 843-795-4386 or www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=1546

Fifth annual ‘Celebrate The Season’

BY: Santee Cooper and Old Santee Canal Park

BENEFITING: Various charities serving Berkeley County

WHEN: 6-9:30 p.m. daily from Friday-Dec. 30, but closed Dec. 24-25.

WHERE: Santee Cooper's headquarters and Old Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner – Starting at Santee Cooper's main entrance, at 1 Riverwood Drive. on Rembert C. Dennis Boulevard/U.S. Bypass in Moncks Corner.

HOW MUCH: $5 per vehicle.

ALSO: Holiday Fair, Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 20, including visits with free visits Santa Claus and some activities available for an extra cost.

INFORMATION: 843-899-5200 or www.celebratetheseason.org

A double play in Columbia area

▪ “Lights Before Christmas,” with about 1 million lights, 5-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 30 – except for Nov. 26 and Dec. 24-25 – at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, off Interstate 126 at Greystone Blvd., just west of downtown Columbia. $10 ages 13 and older, $8 ages 2–12, and free ages 1 and younger. Regular zoo hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, for| $13.95 (or $11.75 online in advance) ages 13-61, $12.95 military and ages 62 and older, $11.50 ($9.75 advance online) ages 3-12; and free ages 2 and younger; and for admission with wristband with unlimited rides and attractions (but not Sky-High Safari and zip line) $20. 803-779-8717 or www.riverbanks.org.

▪ “Holiday Lights on the River,” with more than 400 displays, 6-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, in Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission’s Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia (From Interstae 20, take Exit 63 and head right (west) on Bush River Road, left on St. Andrews Road, then left again at third traffic light to continue on Bush River Road, where park entrance is 1.5 miles ahead. $15 carload, $25 passenger van, $40 bus. Also: train ride $2; “Winter Wonder Ride” $2, and $10 for all-you-can-slide wristband; and “Wetland Wonderland Walking Trail Hayride” $1. 803-772-3903 or www.icrc.net/holiday-lights.

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Many choices to light up your night through year’s end."