Off of South Frontage Road, Zach Glaros is hard at work.
In one week, Glaros and his family will open the Christmas Trail to the public, a quarter-mile trail adorned with holiday lights and Christmas displays. In a common area outside of the trail, kids can play in a snowball corral and write letters to Santa. Families can take pictures with Santa and other winter characters.
But Glaros is offering one more Christmas gift to the Plant City public on top of an improved trail for 2016: this year, admission is free.
The Christmas Spirit
2015 was the first time that Glaros and his family hosted the Christmas Trail at its current location, 2837 S. Frontage Road. The family, which operates Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail during Halloween at the same location, saw about 2,500 guests come through the Christmas Trail last year.
“We really didn’t know what to expect since it was our first year,” Glaros said. “We were pleasantly surprised.”
Hoping to make improvements for 2016, Glaros listened to guest feedback. This year, guests can follow the journey of Huey, a lamb who gets lost in a winter storm and has to find his way back to his family before Christmas. Traditional Christmas scenes will cover the trail as guests walk through.
“There will be eight to 10 displays,” Glaros said. “They can read what happens to him in each scene.”
Though Glaros and his family have been working on the design plans for the Christmas Trail since September of this year, they decided to eliminate the $5 admission cost. Proceeds from a donation box at the trail will go toward Patriot Paws, which provides service dogs to veterans.
“We wanted this to be a community event,” Glaros said. “It’s the community focus. I feel like that’s what a big part of Christmas is about, especially to me.”
While guests can walk the trail for free and participate in many of the event’s new activities, items will be for sale on the grounds. Lamb figurines based around Huey will be sold at a gift shop on the grounds.
Food, including hot cocoa, marshmallows, popcorn and more also will be for sale.
The holiday festivities will kick off opening night Friday, Dec. 9, with a tree-lighting ceremony. This year, the Christmas Trail is allowing one guest to help light the trail’s 25-foot tree. Guests can nominate themselves and their friends on the Christmas Trail’s Facebook page. A winner will be selected Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Guests are encouraged to pre-register for the event at TheChristmasTrail.com. Trail dates are rapidly filling, with Saturday, Dec. 10, already at full capacity.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.