All is ‘calm,’ all is bright for local families who decide to take a cruise through the mile-long, repurposed California Living Museum (CALM) HolidayLights show in the museum’s parking lot.
“Since we’re in our 18th year, so many people came as kids and now they’re bringing their own kids, so i think it’s important for some sense of normalcy and to give families that time together during the holiday time,” CALM Foundation Administrator, Steve Sanders said.
The festive walk-through turned drive-thru has been CALM's grandest fundraiser for almost two decades. With the rollercoaster of shutdowns and reopenings, Sanders said this fundraiser is just as important now as it always has been.
“The animals are happy to see people back, and it does bring that much-needed revenue to continue bringing calm to the community,” Sanders said.
The illuminating wonders are by Bakersfield local, Josh Barnett and his company Lightasmic. Some light sculptures you may discover along the way include Christmas trees, zoo animals and head nods to Bakersfield.
“We wanted to celebrate things like the Bakersfield arch and the Bakersfield sound,” Sanders said. “It’s just a way to say thank you to this amazing community and make us proud of the great place that we live.”
The event begins Saturday and runs until Jan. 2, except Christmas, from 5:30 to 9 p-m. Tickets are about 30 dollars but discounted to 27 dollars until Thursday. Discounts are also available for calm members and veterans.
