Warm Beach lights shine for what you can pay on 2 nights

WARM BEACH — There are many traditions at the Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center’s annual Lights of Christmas extravaganza, and now there may be a new one.

For three nights, the regular admission fees have been waived and anyone may attend on a “pay-what-you-can” basis.

The 16th annual event, featuring more than 1 million Christmas lights, entertainment, food, shopping and more, runs for 22 nights between Nov. 29 to Dec. 29.

The first donation-only night was opening night. The next two are today and the final night, Dec. 29.

Event organizers started the pay-what-you-can nights last year.

“We decided to do it because a lot of people can’t afford it, and we wanted them to have an opportunity to come and enjoy it anyway,” said Jo Reed, marketing coordinator for the Christian camp.

Admission prices are $15 for adults (ages 13-59); $10 for seniors and military; $9 for kids ages 4-12, and free for children age 3 and under. Parking is free.

Marisa McCoy of Marysville, who went with her husband and two young girls on opening night, liked the pay-what-you-can idea.

“It is pretty expensive to come with your whole family,” she said.

The camp roughly breaks even on the event, director of administration Pat Patterson said.

It costs several hundred thousand dollars per year to stage the Lights of Christmas, he said. The electricity bill during the holidays is about $12,000 to $15,000. About one-third of the lights are replaced every year at a cost of $8,000 to $10,000, Patterson said.

A seven-member crew works five days a week putting up lights from September until opening day. About 65 temporary employees are hired during the holiday in addition to the camp’s 35 full-time, year round staff, he said. The camp hires entertainers and staff for security and parking. The camp hasn’t counted the number of people who have taken advantage of these pay-what-you-can nights. So it’s unknown how many people have attended the nights last year or opening night this year, Reed said.

Still, the camp has received some positive comments, she said. Groups such as the Union Gospel Mission are among those who have attended on the pay-what-you-can nights.

“We’ve actually had a couple of people pay more,” she said. “That was really a neat spirit of giving.”

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

If you go

The Warm Beach Camp is located at 20800 Marine Drive, south of Stanwood. For more information go to www.warmbeach.com/lights-of-christmas or call 360-652-7575.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.