One of the Valley's top Christmas traditions is back for another year, as the Bright Up the Night light display will open at the Alaska State Fair on Thanksgiving.

The Bright Up the Night event at the fair consists of more than 70 holiday light displays across the fairgrounds. It's the largest drive-through holiday light display in Alaska, and is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the season.

From the warmth and safety of your own car, you can proceed about a mile through the fairgrounds from the Purple Gate to the Green Gate to see the amazing displays, which are coordinated to music you can tune in on your car radio. The event has become a holiday tradition in the cozy town of Palmer since 2020 and has been a welcome addition to the many other memorable winter activities available in the area.

The annual event begins November 28 on Thursdays through Sundays at first, then switching to being open daily from December 12 daily through December 31, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.alaskastatefair.org and are on sale now. Personal use vehicles (up to eight people) are $20, a van or limo (nine to 20 passengers) is $35, and a motorcoach (21-50 people) is $70. All these ticket prices are $5 more if purchased at the gate, so look into reserving your tickets online. There are a limited number of tickets available for each time slot to ensure everyone can enjoy the light display at their own pace.