A white 100 foot tree aglow with 250,000 lights, 90,000 feet of brilliant maze, an ice skating trail, a Christmas Market reminiscent of the old country, and some interesting beverages delighted visitors at the Nationals Park – Enchant Christmas.  Visiting as many Christmas light displays as possible was my goal for this holiday season. Why? I love the creativity and imagination. When Enchant Christmas was announced, I put it on my list.

The night we visited was chilly and rainy. Armed with raincoats, boots, and umbrellas, my friends and I braved the D.C. rain-soaked rush hour traffic; scolded WAZE for giving us directions to turn left at a “no left turn” sign; could not find our email confirming that we had paid for parking; and were ever so sternly turned away from the poorly marked entry gate because our tickets were  NOT VIP tickets. How was this going to get better?

• 

When we finally entered through the “correct” gate, the attendant told us that the skate trail was closed and that the shops on the main level were open. She motioned to below and said something to the effect that we could walk around the maze if we wanted. We peered over the railing and saw lights – lots of lights and a very large white tree. Since we had not come to shop, but to see the lights, we descended the stairs to the Nationals’ playing field. The stairs were decorated with charming lamp posts covered by tiny lights. We were standing on the ground where the World Series Winners, the Washington Nationals, play baseball! That in itself was exciting (and I am not a huge baseball fan)!!

My annoyance with our arrival experience quickly melted away as I was enveloped in brilliant lights, perfectly formed trees, towering reindeer, and one enormous diamond ring! Understandably, the skating trail was closed due to the standing rain water. The drizzle and occasional rain did not thwart my friends’ and my enthusiasm for the adventure. There were nooks and crannies that revealed interesting shining objects. We went on a reindeer hunt to find Donner, the reindeer after whom my friend’s Olympic horse was named. There was an interesting warm aroma that lingered in the air. Coffee?  It was hot chocolate. My friend offered me some hot chocolate. Most of my life I have shunned and disliked the stuff; this was warm, rich, and tasty. We noticed people carrying “lighted light bulbs” which turned out to be adult beverages called the Light Bulb (I believe). The people who were carrying the blub-shaped glass told us that it was delicious.

The 100 foot tree is amazing! Because it is not real, every branch and every light were in the right place. As we looked all the way up to the top, we wondered what crane or cherry-picker was able to get into the stadium and then assemble the enormous tree. My friend, an engineer, remarked about the huge cables and toggles that secured it. Not only were there mazes and displays, but looking up into the seats, there were twinkling lights and “falling snow” projections creating an enveloping atmosphere.

Because the weather was inhospitable, there were no crowds. We lingered, doubled back, and took thousands of photos. We people watched. There was a family with three small children in colorful rain ponchos and adorable rain boots; there were young adults and teens dressed in high heels and short skirts; and there were seniors enjoying their stroll. The displays were very photogenic. I improved my skill of taking photos on my iPhone with my left hand while wearing  tech-touch gloves.

As we finally tore ourselves away from the lights, we climbed back to the top where we were greeted by friendly elves, cheerful toy soldiers, and carolers in Edwardian costumes. The market vendors offered interesting and unusual items ranging from handmade shawls to glass ornaments. The wood of the market stalls smelled like Christmas. The booths were small enough and well stocked.

While this is purely a commercial enterprise we enjoyed ourselves tremendously on many levels. What a great idea to illuminate a winterized ball park and bring the magic of Christmas where for a little while we can leave the rush and schedules behind and count reindeer. Friendly elves handed out chocolate coins as we said good-bye. Oh, and we exited through the VIP gate – the same grouchy attendant wished us a Merry Christmas! Fun.

• 

•