Ring in the season with the ‘Harpers Ferry Holiday Light Show’
By Vanta Coda III, RealWV
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. – As families prepare for the festive Christmas season this year, a new light display is illuminating the rolling hills overlooking Harpers Ferry.
On November 19, The Harpers Ferry Holiday Light Show, organized by River Riders Family Adventure Resort, celebrated their impending opening weekend with a night filled with local sponsors and a lighting ceremony.
This is the newest winter event installation in the company’s history, which began in the late 1970s with river charters on the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. The resort introduced Snow Riders snow tubing on its property in February 2023 which has attracted a large volume of visitors during the season, says Keith Robertson, Marketing Coordinator at River Riders & Snow Riders Inc.
“We see about 120,000 people annually,” said Robertson. “For the Snow Riders entire season we get about 40,000 visitors. In the summer for River Riders and our water park, we get around 80,000.”
Robertson says that it’s not about the numbers when it comes to the light show; it’s more about bringing together locals and their families to celebrate the holidays.
“We really added this to bring together our community,” said Robertson. “We get a lot of people from the DC and Baltimore areas, but we just really want a place for locals to come for the holidays to bring their families and friends and enjoy the holiday spirit.”
The light show, adjacent to the Snow Riders snow tubing hill, takes about 25 to 40 minutes to walk through. The Harpers Ferry Light Show features various holiday lights set up throughout the venue and 10 walk-through displays which additionally function as photo opportunities.
The experience culminates at Santa’s Overlook, a four-story viewpoint that is the tallest point in Harper’s Ferry. Fire pits are available for roasting s’mores, and hot chocolate can be enjoyed at the overlook, as well as an outdoor Christmas movie viewing area.
Parts of the walk-through light show also feature small sections of rope courses for children to enjoy while under the supervision of event staff and their families.
On special nights, which are announced on the Harpers Ferry Holiday Light Show’s social media, Santa will be available for visits and photos in a tree house. Santa’s tree house can be accessed by a small staircase or by a route of climbing options for children.
“It’s just a really great spot! We are excited to have brought something new to the holiday season at Harpers Ferry,” said Robertson.
