It's Holiday Lights Time in Racine County

    After the family gatherings, eating and shopping, Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to take in the area’s festive holiday light displays. Real Racine has these picks plus a weekend of holiday entertainment.

            Lights galore!  The Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights makes its 2012 debut at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23 at the Jellystone Park Campground, 8425 Highway 38, Caledonia. From the comfort of your vehicle, you'll see more than 1 million twinkling lights. You’ll also see Santa and his elves in their North Pole workshop, the giant gingerbread house Santa's reindeer and sleigh and much more. Show hours are 5-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday through New Year’s Day. Closed Christmas Day. Admission is $15 per carload (up to eight people); $22 for limos, small buses and large passenger vans. A dollar of every carload admission is donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. On Make-a-Wish Mondays, admission is $13 per car and $5 is donated to Make-a-Wish. Visit www.wichristmascarnival.com

            More lights.  The Kiwanis Holiday Lights are now shining at the Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St. The local Kiwanis Clubs have put up miles of wiring and lights to bring you an animated Santa Claus, a train, a boat and a zoo full of animals. The display is on each evening through New Year’s Day.  To keep the lights burning, the Kiwanis are selling a colorful Christmas ornament featuring kringle for just $10. You can buy one at several locations, including the Real Racine Visitor Center.

            A holiday run.  Run off that turkey BEFORE dinner at the Thanksgiving 5k Run starting at 8 a.m. Thursday at North Beach. The race course runs along the lakefront. The registration fee is  $13 per person; $45 for a family of up to four people.  Donations of nonperishable food items and cash are accepted for the Harvest Outreach Food Bank. Contact Toby Mueller at swimbikerun4us@wi.net

            A community meal. Everyone is invited to the free Thanksgiving Day feast presented by Dan & Ray's Rendering Thanks.  A complete turkey dinner will be served at Racine's Festival Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advance reservations are requested.  Call 262-221-0466 or register online at www.danandrays.com  Donations and nonperishable food items accepted for the Racine County Food Bank.

            Seasonal comedy. Comedian/actor John McGivern stars in “A Kodachrome Christmas” Friday through Sunday at the Racine Theatre Guild, 2519 Northwestern Ave. McGivern plays Earlene Hoople, host of a local cable TV program’s Christmas special. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors and students. Call 262-633-4218 or visit www.racinetheatre.org for tickets and show times.

            Santa’s on the way to Union Grove.  Next Thursday, Nov. 29, is the lighting of Union Grove’s Community Christmas Tree at Village Square Park.  Head to the park at 5:30 p.m. for free refreshments, including hot chocolate and cookies. Stick around for the arrival of Santa Claus with candy-filled stockings for the kids. It’s all presented by the Union Grove Chamber of Commerce.

            Visit the Real Racine website, www.realracine.com for a complete calendar of events.  We also have daily updates on Facebook HERE and on Twitter HERE.