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Whether you enjoy see- ing spectacular Christ- mas lights from the warmth of your car, sip- ping hot cocoa in front of a family-friendly movie or watching the kids whis- per their wish lists into Father Christmas’ ear, you can find plenty of holiday fun this season right here in Muskogee.

Honor Heights Park and the Castle of Musko- gee offer two free events through New Year’s. Rick Ewing with the Muskogee Parks and Recreation Department said the Garden of Lights has been a Muskogee tra- dition since 1991. Along with new displays to see, the bulb count has in- creased from 1 million lights last year to 1.2 mil- lion this year.

“Prepare to be over- whelmed,” Ewing said. “Give yourself plenty of time to drive through and enjoy yourself.”

At the Castle of Musko- gee, owner Jeff Hiller said the Christmas King- dom is the world’s largest collection of holiday in- flatables.

“It started with Jason Jones,” Hiller said. “He’s a holiday freak, particu- larly about Christmas. He started collecting inflata- bles and it got so big, he branched out and started decorating his neighbor’s lawns up and down the street.”

The collection found a new home at The Castle seven years ago. With in- flatables ranging in height from 4 to 20 feet, visitors will see familiar Christmas characters, in- cluding Santa, the elves, snowmen, reindeer, pen- guins and polar bears. There are also cartoon fa- vorites like Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Scooby Doo, the Simpsons, Win- nie the Pooh and Tigger.

Hiller, a former Montessori preschool teacher, said he loves see- ing the joy on children’s faces.

“We really try to bring Christmas back to what it should be,” Hiller said. “People don’t realize that the memories their kids will have aren’t about the toys. Instead, they’ll re- member the adventures they had or something special the family did to- gether.”

If you go

WHAT: The Garden of Lights

WHEN: Nightly from dusk to 10 p.m. until New Year’s Eve

WHERE: Honor Heights Park, Muskogee

COST: Free admission; donations accepted

INFORMATION: Musko- gee Parks and Recreation, 684-6302

••• WHAT: Castle of Musko-

gee’s Christmas Kingdom WHEN: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Inflatables drive through display is open every evening from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve; special events are open Thursday through Sunday now until Dec. 11, then every night from Dec. 15 through Dec. 31.

WHERE: Castle of Muskogee, 3400 West Fern Mountain Road.

COST: Free admission; cost varies by activity; do- nations and gratuities wel- come.

TIPS: The Castle’s activi- ties will be closed for snow, ice or winds over 20 miles per hour.

INFORMATION: (918) 687-3625 or www.okcas- tle.com.

ONLINE: For a complete list of events at the Castle, vis- it www.muskogeephoenix.com and click on this story.