The Lights of Christmas

The Lights of Christmas this past December was amazing. The weather was amazing. The number of people who came to the event was amazing. The lives that were touched by the event were amazing. The whole thing was…well, amazing!

The weather prognosticators said that we could expect a colder, wetter winter. We prayed that this wouldn’t happen until December was over. And the weather was unusually mild for nearly the entire month! What a blessing.

We asked that the Lord bless the event with good attendance. More than 72,000 people came, far surpassing the previous record high of 56,000! There was one night when 8,700 people came, and we finally had to close the front entrance and turn people away. Maybe that was more blessing than we wanted. But we are thankful for each person who came to experience the celebration of Christ’s birth.

We put out a call for volunteers to come help us put on the event. More than 720 people volunteered one or more nights during the 20-night run of The Lights. Some of them worked nearly all of the nights. We were blessed again!

Then we learned that The Lights of Christmas had been honored by the American Bus Associate (ABA), an association of tour bus operators, naming The Lights as one of the top 100 festivals in North America for the third year in a row. And Mainstreet.com named The Lights one of the ten best light displays in the United States. Truly amazing!

Last month, The Lights of Christmas received an Excellence Award from the Snohomish County Health department in the category of Temporary Food Service Establishments. Awards for excelling in food service practices were given out in six different categories, the winners selected from among the 3,300 food service establishments in the County. We were honored!

We praise God for the blessings He poured out on this year as we lavishly celebrated God’s gift to the World — His Son Jesus.

Call for Artists: The Lights of Christmas

Warm Beach Camp seeks local artists working in any two-dimensional media to submit visual art for display at The Lights of Christmas -- the largest holiday light display in the Northwest that combines live entertainment, children’s activities, food, and overnight getaway options. Visual artwork will be on display and available for purchase in the Starry Night Coffeehouse, a new indoor venue at The Lights of Christmas, where attendees can take in live holiday entertainment including spoken word performances and acoustic music sets. The Lights of Christmas is expected to draw 50,000 people for the month of December.

ORGANIZATION:
Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Marine Dr. Stanwood, WA 98292

DEADLINE TO APPLY:
October 21st, 2011

Key themes related to this exhibit are:
Stars, Light, and Christmas

Submission Guidelines:
1. All work should represent the key themes.
2. Submit on JPEG per entry via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Please include contact information, title, size of work and price.
3. Maximum three pieces of work by each artist.
4. Submission deadline is October 21st.
5. Artists will be notified of acceptance results by October 28th.
6. Accepted artwork must be exhibition ready and delivered on or before November 22nd. Artwork will be on display from December 1 – 29th, 2011.
7. All art work must be for sale.
8. Warm Beach Camp will take 30% of the sale price.
9. All unsold artwork must be removed between December 30th and 31st.
10. Artists must reside in Washington state.

For more information please contact Kayla Costa at (360) 652-7575 ext 2225 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Lights of Christmas sneak preview and volunteer opportunities

Warm Beach Camp will open its doors to the general public for a sneak preview of The Lights of Christmas at “What’s Up with The Lights,” October 9^th from 3:00-5:00 pm in Cedar Lodge.

“What’s Up with The Lights” is a free event where attendees can get a glimpse of The Lights of Christmas’ brilliant light displays and learn about the many exciting volunteering opportunities. The Lights of Christmas is the largest holiday light display in the Northwest that combines live entertainment, activities for kids, food, gift shopping, and overnight getaway options.

Each year, over 800 volunteers donate more than 15,000 hours at The Lights of Christmas. From parking attendants and hospitality greeters to costumed characters and toy shop elves, there are numerous opportunities to get involved behind-the-scenes during the event. One hundred volunteers are needed each night of The Lights of Christmas, for twenty nights in December. Volunteers are also needed for setting up and taking down the event.

Glenn Burkins and his family volunteered at The Lights of Christmas. It gave the whole family the opportunity to focus on others during the Christmas season. “Feeling good is not the point,” said Glenn, “and it’s not about what you get. The whole point of our Christmas became about giving and being prepared to give.”

For more information, email Jessica Beach or call her at 360-652-7575 or 800-228-6724.

The Lights of Christmas for 2010 is now over, and just like you, we are busy putting all of the Christmas decorations away for another year. But, before we relegate the event to history, it’s good to take a moment and look back at what God did over this past month.

More than 56,000 people attended the event this year, the highest attendance ever for The Lights! There was one night when nearly 7,000 people came to enjoy all of the activities. God blessed us with wonderful weather, night after night, for which we are thankful.

But more than just looking at the numbers, the important thing is that The Lights touched a lot of people.

In the Prayer Chapel during The Lights, we provide cards where people can share their prayer requests. These tell of health problems, spiritual struggles, financial difficulties, hurting families, and those dealing with personal loss. It is humbling to read these touching requests that people share with us. And, we do lift up these requests in prayer before the Lord.

You probably have not seen all of these requests, but God knows each one, and I invite you to join us in praying for all of the people who were touched by The Lights this year, and left a request for prayer in the Prayer Chapel. If you would like to receive a booklet with the prayer requests we received, we are happy to send it to you. It is available in printed form or we can email it to you in PDF form. Contact Donna at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by calling the Camp office at (360) 652-7575 (Local)/(425) 743-5471 (Seattle)/(800) 228-6724 (Toll free).

There is a flurry of activity going on around the grounds at Warm Beach Camp as we get everything ready for The Lights of Christmas. Each day brings us closer to December 2 when we will open the event for the 2010 season.

It takes a lot of hard work, and a small army of people to get everything put together for The Lights. Why do we make all this effort for an event that lasts just 20 nights?

It is because this event touches a lot of people. This lavish celebration of the amazing love that God gave us through the gift of the Christ Child brings the real meaning of Christmas into central focus.

We have heard from people who had their marriage relationship restored, or began taking their family to church after coming to see The Lights. There are those who heard the true story of Christmas for the first time here. Several churches use this event as an outreach in their community, inviting those outside the church to attend with church members.

I encourage you to share The Lights with your family and friends as an opportunity to share the message of Christmas with those who have not yet received God’s gift in their life. You will find moments when it is just natural to share your faith. Many people tell us there is a special feeling when they are at The Lights. Share this feeling with those you love. Share the ministry of The Lights of Christmas this year.

After all, what better gift could you give them this Christmas season?

Rich and Lydia Crouch have been creating theater for The Lights of Christmas nearly since it started. Their involvement came to dramatic heights last year when they directed and produced the wildly popular Uff Da! It’s Christmas, performing to packed out audiences every Sunday night on the Joyland Concert Hall stage.

Get to know Rich and Lydia, you’ll soon realize that they have a very unique philosophy behind everything they create. They started their own non-profit, Show and Tell Family Projects, with a conviction that they can help build stronger families through creating new works of art.

“We had someone say to us, ‘you aren’t doing theatre, you’re doing social work’,” says Lydia Crouch.

“For the actors, their families, and everyone involved, our productions should build healthy community. If the process is healthy, the results are a good end product,” says Lydia Crouch. “We believe that theater can be a positive thing for families, when it’s done right. It has been for us. Both our kids, Davis and Laina, have been very involved with us, and it has drawn us all together.”

Warm Beach Camp is excited to partner with Show and Tell Family Projects again this year, bringing Uff Da! It’s Christmas back to the Joyland Concert Hall stage, twice each Sunday night.  The Lights of Christmas Director, Loren Isaac exclaimed, “As we partner with them, their passion becomes our passion. We are of one mind as we seek to demonstrate God’s love to all, and provide opportunities that create special memories for the thousands of families that enjoy The Lights of Christmas each year.”

Rich and Lydia Crouch (front center) and the cast of Uff Da! It's Christmas, which performed to packed out audiences at The Lights of Christmas in 2009.

Live family-friendly entertainment is one of the hallmarks of The Lights of Christmas. This year, we’re excited to announce a new venue for general admission. In place of what used to be the Stage Too Theatre in Cedar Lodge, we are introducing the Starry Night Coffee House.

Patrick Patterson, Administrative Director, explains the decision to replace the Stage Too Theatre venue. “Instead of a separately ticketed event, we wanted to create a new venue that adds value to the General Admission experience, at no additional cost,” explains Patrick. “Also, we wanted a place that appeals to a different audience than our other entertainment venues.”

The new Starry Night Coffee House in Cedar Lodge will host spoken word performances and acoustics sets. Visual art from local artists will be on display and available for purchase. Food concessions include espresso and assorted baked goods.

At The Lights of Christmas, four more entertainment stages will feature nightly performances from local music and theater groups. The Joyland Concert Hall features a variety of choir, band, dance and drama performances. In Tinhorn Town, guests can take in live bluegrass and country music. At the Victorian Caroler’s stage, attendees will enjoy nightly 4-part harmony caroling performances. In Deer Mountain Lodge lobby, a lively story-teller will recount an epic holiday tale. The Lights of Christmas also offers a separately ticketed Dinner Theatre and Sunday Dessert Matinee, with a production of “Christmas on the Tumblin’ D” by Victoria Ritchey.

For more information visit WarmBeachLights.com

The Lights of Christmas has been designated one of the Top 100 Events in North America for the second year in a row by The American Bus Association (ABA). ABA's 2011 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected The Lights of Christmas from among a record number of more than 650 event nominations submitted by ABA members. Judges considered the event's broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria.

The Lights of Christmas is the largest holiday light display in the Northwest that combines live entertainment, children’s activities, food, and overnight getaway options. The Light of Christmas will be held at Warm Beach Camp on December 2-5, 9-12, 16-23, 26-29, 2010; 5 p.m.–10 p.m. For more information visit WarmBeachLights.com

Download the official Press Release.

Warm Beach Camp seeks local artists working in any two-dimensional media to submit visual art for display at The Lights of Christmas -- the largest holiday light display in the Northwest that combines live entertainment, children’s activities, food, and overnight getaway options. Visual artwork will be on display and available for purchase in the Starry Night Coffeehouse, a new indoor venue at The Lights of Christmas, where attendees can take in live holiday entertainment including spoken word performances and acoustic music sets. The Lights of Christmas is expected to draw 50,000 people for the month of December.

Deadline to Apply: October 22^nd, 2010

Key themes related to this exhibit are: Stars, Light, Winter and Christmas

Submission Guidelines:

1. All work should represent the key themes.
2. Submit on JPEG per entry via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Please include contact information, title, size of work and price.
3. Maximum three pieces of work by each artist.
4. Submission deadline is October 22^nd.
5. Artists will be notified of acceptance results by October 26^th.
6. Accepted artwork must be exhibition ready and delivered on or before November 22^nd. Artwork will be on display from December 2 – 29^th, 2010.
7. All art work must be for sale.
8. Warm Beach Camp will take 30% of the sale price.
9. All unsold artwork must be removed between December 30^th and 31^st.
10. Artists must reside in Washington state.

For more information please contact Kayla Costa at (360) 652-7575 ext 2225 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

“You don’t need to make a big deal about us.” said Glenn Burkins, referring to his family. Glenn, wife Ema, and children, Jeremiah, and Cassandra, who together served more than 200 hours during The Lights of Christmas, didn’t volunteer for the glory. Glenn and Ema originally started volunteering this past Lights season because it seemed to make the most sense. Their kids were already volunteering regularly. Ema hopped on board because it meant fewer trips back and forth to the Camp. Glenn, a business soft-ware developer, found himself with time on his hands during the Christmas season and joined his family.

It didn’t take long for the Burkins family to fall in love with The Lights of Christmas. In fact, they turned out to be a volunteer force to be reckoned with. Night after night, they saved the Volunteer Coordinator’s skin. When cancellations arose, she could contact the whole family on a moment’s notice, and they allowed her to place them almost anywhere needed, from the parking lot to the petting farm to cashiering in Tinhorn Town. Cassandra and Jeremiah especially enjoyed their time filling in as Costume Characters. “You can be crazy and dance all you want and no one will know who you are.” said Jeremiah. “Everything about the event surprised us. I enjoyed every position I filled,” said Glenn.

Volunteering at The Lights of Christmas gave the whole family the opportunity to focus on others during the Christmas season, which, in their opinion is the whole point. “Feeling good is not the point, and it’s not about what you get.” said Glenn. “The whole point of our Christmas became about giving and being prepared to give.” On the few nights that the Burkins were not volunteering at The Lights, they stayed home and rested in preparation for the next night.

The Burkins family may sound like an unusually giving family but many of our volunteers are just as dedicated. “We met people who have volunteered every night at The Lights, year in, year out, for the past thirteen years!” Glenn was quick to emphasize that they felt they had done nothing special, but without people like them, The Lights of Christmas could not happen. This year alone, The Lights of Christmas used 832 volunteers, who filled 2,520 positions, totaling over 10,080 volunteer hours of service.

Thank you to each and every volunteer who made The Lights of Christmas a success this year!