June 10, 2024 2:50 a.m.

Timed entry and parking reservations for the Holiday Lights event at Shore Acres State Park are now available online.

An Oregon Parks and Recreation Department release said the event runs November 28th through December 31st. Parking time slots are available for 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. daily. A reservation is needed for a vehicle to park at the event and includes entry for everyone inside the vehicle.

Lee Ricci, park manager for the Sunset Bay Management Unit said, “The reservation system has been extremely successful from our perspective”. Ricci said, “Since launching in 2022, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the public, with a lot of visitors telling us they’re happy to have a place reserved to park”.

Ricci said the system has significantly improved visitor safety, which is why park staff worked with the Friends of Shore Acres to implement the new system three years ago. The release said a bonus is that vehicles are no longer waiting in long lines on the road to enter the event. The Friends of Shore Acres has put on Holiday Lights annually since 1987.

To make a reservation or get complete information, go to: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=300