Gift of Lights flipping the switch

The eighth annual holiday light show, the Gift of Lights, goes green this year when it opens Friday at Sunset Park, 2601 E. Sunset Road.

Organizers will begin a multiyear project to convert all of the colorful holiday lights to LED technology, which uses significantly less electrical power and lasts three times longer than traditional bulbs.

The Gift of Lights presents more than 400 holiday displays, featuring more than 1 million lights, in a drive-through exhibit at the Las Vegas park.

Admission is $13 per vehicle, and hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays and from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays through Jan. 4. A bag of gently used clothing donated to Goodwill of Southern Nevada will equal a $2 discount per vehicle.

The first 15,000 vehicles visiting the light show will receive a gift bag with coupons and goodies valued at approximately $100.

It takes about 20 minutes to drive through the Gift of Lights, and participants can listen to special holiday music on an in-park only radio channel.