A Country Christmas through a tunnel of lights

The turkey and stuffing had not yet settled in my belly when I ventured out on Thursday night for the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season by driving through the 16th Annual Country Christmas lights display just outside the giant indoor waterpark at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha.

The winding, elaborate show is on preview Nov. 24-27 and returns in full starting Dec. 1. $15 pays for a carload of people. The show includes some indoor displays involving a large nativity scene and a cafe called the Christmas Village, which has many more displays and running model trains.

As a personal review, I was prepared for the worst.  I expected a showcase of overworked and bombastic lightworks, but instead I was charmed by the quiet woods with numerous quaint displays that often animate and evoke a bygone age. I took many more pictures for the photo gallery than what you see below, but I didn’t want to give away all of the surprises. Some things just have to be seen and felt in-person, like a teddy bear wedding or a reindeer training school. I can say that the highlight is near the end, where automobiles pass through a tunnel of lights flickering in patterns that make you wonder what’s in the eggnog.

View our slideshow below or visit our flickr set to view them all. For more information about Country Christmas, you can call the hotel at 262-547-0201 or visit www.thecountrychristmas.com — it’s cash only at the window booth, but you can order tickets online in advance.