Bear Creek Winery annually hosts their Garden of Lights during the holiday season, a festive display of Christmas- and winter-themed lights and decorations intended to provide a free space for families to comfortably enjoy outdoor activities.

This year’s Garden of Lights was held for the past two weekends, Dec. 13-14 and 20-21, at the winery.

Now in its ninth year, the event was originally inspired by similar events and lights displays from the Lower 48, according to winery manager Louis Maurer. Maurer introduced the concept to Homer, wanting to share the enjoyment he experienced attending light shows as a kid, and with the help of other winery employees has created an annual Homer holiday tradition.

The Garden of Lights is “always evolving,” he said, with a number of displays maintained and new elements added year after year. In addition to the lights, the winery also provides free hot cocoa and a fire pit for attendees to keep warm.

“There’s a lot of positive energy,” Maurer said. “People are having a good time, and it shows.”

The Garden of Lights is well-attended each year, reliably bringing more than 1,000 visitors to the winery all four nights combined. Last year, Maurer said, nearly 2,000 people attended the Garden of Lights.

“It’s a free event on purpose,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for us to give back to the community that supports us, and provide a safe, fun space for friends and families to come connect with each other and be outside for a bit and have a good time.”

Find more information about the Bear Creek Winery Garden of Lights on Facebook.