Looking for a way to celebrate the Holidays with your company, civic organization, scout troop or civic organization? Call Jeri Jones at (717) 840-7226 for more details. Special opening time, discounted admissions and Santa visits can be included in your planning.
 


3699 Deininger Rd, York Pa 17406

Please bring a canned food item along to give to the Parks Rangers' Food Drive.

(Call our informational line (717) 840-7443 for trail updates and closings.

Official Radio Stations:

Cumulus Broadcasting
 

Newsradio 910 WSBA

96.1 WSOX

ESPN 1440

WINK 103

O
fficial TV Station:
WGAL TV 8
Where:
Rocky Ridge County Park located east of York - a mile and a half north of Route 30 off Mount Zion Road (Route 24)
New for 2011
 1. More LED lights
 2. Updated outdoor dispays
 3. Larger G-gauge train display by Susquehanna Valley Garden Railroad Society.
 4. Larger synchronized musical light trail.
 5. Animated display by the Horn Farm center for Agricultural Education
 6. Revised G-gauge train display by Susquehanna Valley Garden Railroad Society
 

          When:
November 25 - December 23
December 26 - December 31
(Closed Dec. 24, 25 )


          Times: 
Monday through Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday 5  to 9 p.m.

          Costs:
Adults, $8;  Ages 4-12, $6
Under age 4, Free,
Seniors(60+) $7
Groups: 12+ adults - $7 each
Groups: 12+ children - $5 each



Print Coupon - Buy One Adult, Get one Free (Good Mon-Thurs only, Nov. 28 - Dec. 15) Download

What:
: Christmas Magic is a 0.5 mile long walking trail (accessible to anyone) that meanders through 400,000 Christmas lights, holiday scenes and five enclosed heated pavilions. The spirit of the Holiday is displayed by using animation, displays, Santa Claus, food and G-gauge train display. The trail sits among a mature oak forest nestled on a quiet mountaintop.

Lights:  In 2009, 400,000 lights will greet Park visitors. Since 2006, LED mini lights and C- 7 bulbs have been introduced to the trail to conserve electric. Each year, additional LED lights are being added to the program. The LED mini lights save about 80% on the wattage while the LED C-7 bulbs save about 33% wattage. Rope lighting and other special lighting will also be used.

Background:
Christmas Magic is in its 28th season this year.  It began in 1984, the product of the "energy crunch" , when fewer homes were decorating, yet there was still a desire to see Christmas lights locally.  In 1984 a small budget allowed for  10,000 lights and props, most produced by the Parks Department. Today,  the props are produced commercially and “in-house.” This is the largest program presented by the York County Department of Parks and Recreation each year. Over the years since opening, over 643,000 people have passed through the gates.

2011 Participants:
Friends of the Heritage Rail Trail Corridor
Friends of Wallace-Cross Mill
Strathmeyer Forests
Susquehanna Valley Garden Railroad Society
York County Conservation District
Horn Farm Center
SPCA


 

Neat Stuff...

 In 1984, park staff hung some 8,000 lights in the trees.
It takes about 3,000 hours to set up, run and disassemble Christmas
     Magic.

Christmas Magic is one of three major Christmas events in southeastern
    Pennsylvania and is the only event set in a woodland environment.

The largest attendance occurred in 2006 with a total of 41,272 visitors.
In 2010, the trail was closed 5 of the scheduled 34 nights due to inclement
     weather, but the nightly average attendance was 1100 visitors.
Nearly 2000 hours of volunteer time was accumulated at the 2008
     event.
Since 1999, the Parks Ranger food drive has brought in 5100 items.
In 2010, 40 civic organizations decorated Christmas trees inside the
     buildings.
In 2010, 31,867 visitors passed through the admission gates, making it the
     4th largest attendance in the 27 years. The winter of 2010 was the coldest
     in  the  past decade.
 
Special Recognitions:

*  Best Special Event in Pennsylvania by the PA Recreation & Parks
    Society
in 1992

*  Top 13 Holiday Events in the Country by Wall Street Journal in 2003

*  Top 10 Holiday Events in Pennsylvania as recognized by the
    Philadelphia Inquirer in 2004.

*  2006 – Welcomed the 500,000th visitor to Christmas Magic

*  2006 – Celebrated our One Millionth Annual Visitor to the Parks
 

 

Food Vendors: – York County Parks Friends Food Stand will be selling Brown’s Orchard cookies, popcorn, hot cocoa, cider, and water. Bricker's Famous French Fries and Food Service will be located in the Food Court selling your favorite foods including french fries, chicken strips, hot dogs, hamburg BBQ, cheese fries, nachos, soups (weekends), funnel cake, hot chocolate, coffee, hot cider and cold drinks.

Volunteers - Are always being sought for setup, show operation and tear down. Volunteers work with both the interior and exterior lights and displays. They also assist in providing Santa Claus and helping to serve refreshments at the Parks Friends Food stand. If interested in signing up for the food stand or becoming a volunteer, call the York County Parks at (717) 840-7440. Individuals or groups are welcome.

Toys for Tots Night - For the second year, the York County Parks is partnering with Toys for Tots. On Friday, November 25th and Saturday, November 26th, anyone bringing a new toy still in the box or container and donating it to the Toys for Tots will receive a “Buy One Get One Free” admission into the event. Look for the Toys of Tots folks at the Ranger shack near the parking area.

Pet Night returns for its third year on Wednesday, December 7th. During regular show hours, bring your pet to Christmas Magic to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Holiday season. Also, have your pet's picture taken with Santa Claus for $5.00. Members of the Friends of Canine Meadows will be conducting this fund raiser. Also, the SPCA will be in attendance selling niffty pet supplies.

Gingerbread Contest: The totally edible structures will be on display December 14th – 31st. The structures must be delivered to the park on Wednesday, December 14th between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. There are three categories: child, adult and group/commercial. 1st place prizes in each category are: Child – prize package from Santa; Adult – 2011 season pass up to 6 people for Christmas Magic; and, Group/Commercial - one-day pavilion rental in any county park. To register your gingerbread , call Jeri Jones at (717) 840-7226 or email JLJones@york-county.org and leave your name, telephone number, email address and category. The winners will be announced on December 26th at 6:00 p.m. in the Santa pavilion. Houses can be removed after January 1, 2011.

Students from The School of Culinary Arts will be producing ice sculptures at Rocky Ridge County Park at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6th.  Their projects will be on display at Christmas Magic nightly for as long as the weather permits.

Businesses: Looking for a great Christmas gift to employees? We offer several different programs for discounted tickets to businesses. Information can be obtained by calling York County Parks at (717) 840-7440.


Municipal Week: Municipalities and recreation departments are invited to participate in presenting their residents with discounted admission. The municipality runs an ad for the event and their residents receive a “Buy One – Get One Free” coupon.
 

2011 CHRISTMAS MAGIC MUNICIPALITY NIGHTS

December 4 - 10 West Manchester Township
York Township
North Codorus Township
Hallam Borough
Yoe Borough
Newberry Township
Shrewsbury Borough
 
December 11 - 17 Windsor Area Recreation Commission
Manchester Township
Spring Garden Township
Jackson Township
Spring Grove Borough
New Salem Borough
Seven Valleys Borough
Washington Township
Jacobus Borough
Warrington Township
East Manchester Township
 
December 18 - 23 Wrightsville Borough
Red Lion Borough
City of York
Hellam Township
Springettsbury Township
Winterstown Borough
 

 

2011 Entertainment Schedule

November 25 - Lou Ann Jones - Vocal
November 26 - Shrewsbury Assembly of God Bell Choir
November 27 - Keith Grim - Acoustic Guitarist
November 28 - Linda Huber - Autoharpist
November 29 - Dover Classic Chamber Ensemble - Strings
November 30 - Mary Ott and Friends - Combo
December 01 -  White Rose Barbershoppers
December 02 -  Kerstin Bankert - Country Western Vocal
December 03 - Eva Katherine - Country Western Vocal - Sponsored by Smith Village
                                                                                                               Furnishings
December 04 - Jessica Mary Buck - Sounding Hammer Dulcimer
December 05 - Saints Singers Barbershoppers
December 06 - Christian School of York's Potter's Clay Drama Group
December 07 - Mary Ott and Friends - Combo
December 08 - Linda Huber - Autoharpist
December 09 - Colby Joines - Acoustic Guitarist
December 10 - Colby Joines - Acoustic Guitarist
December 11 - Dover Classic Chamber Ensemble
December 12 - Bow Strings
December 13 - The Chapelmen - Quartet
December 14 - Dover Classic Chamber Ensemble
December 15 - River Rhythm Ramblers – Old Time music
December 16 - Don Ryan Brass Choir
December 17 - Keith Grim - Acoustic Guitarist
December 18 - TBA
December 19 - Twice as Nice - Duo
December 20 - Keil Holland - Acoustic Guitarist
December 21 - Keil Holland - Acoustic Guitarist 
December 22 - Kerstin Bankert - Country Western Vocals
December 23 - Colby Joines - Acoustic Guitarist
December 24 - CLOSED
December 25 - CLOSED
December 26 - Twice as Nice - Duo
December 27 - Wetzel Robertson - Vocals and Guitarist
December 28 - Lou Ann Jones - Vocal
December 29 - Keith Grim - Acoustic Guitarist
December 30 - Leap of Faith - Contemporary Group
December 31 - Lou Ann Jones - Vocal