Visiting holiday light displays has been a beloved local tradition around Albany and Corvallis for decades. Our real estate agents have all of the details on the long history of this local tradition and all that you can expect to enjoy when you visit these two holiday light displays around Albany and Corvallis.

Christmas Storybook Land

Dates: Now – December 16, 2022

Location: Linn County Fairgrounds – 3700 Knox Butte Rd. E., Albany, OR 97322

Explore an Enchanted Forest of Holiday Wonders and Scenes

The annual Christmas Storybook Land event is back for its 46th year, taking full advantage of the 40,000 square feet of space within the Livestock Building at the Linn County Fairgrounds. Spread throughout the space, you'll find more than 100 holiday scenes, featuring Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves, nursery rhymes, and pop culture characters from some of your favorite Christmas stories.

Kids will have the chance to meet the Claus family, and while there's no professional photography, you're free to capture your own photos with Santa at no cost. No matter which day you visit, you'll be able to enjoy the same fantastic collection of holiday scenes and create family memories to treasure for years to come.

This event is free to attend, and organizers suggest bringing a donation of packaged, non-perishable food for the Fish of Albany food bank. If you're planning to visit on any day from Monday through Friday, the Christmas Storybook Land displays will be open from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM. On Saturday and Sunday, the event can be enjoyed from 10:30 AM – 8:30 PM. Last year, there were more than 18,000 visitors during the two-week event, with more than 13,000 food items donated to support local families.

Pastega Christmas Light Display

Dates: Now – December 31, 2022

Location: Benton County Events Center – 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis, OR 97333

The Story of the Pastega Christmas Light Display

The Pastega Christmas Light Display started with humble beginnings in 1981, when Mario Pastega, along with some talented helpers, decorated the fields around the old Pepsi Bottling Plant with holiday lights, scenes, and characters for the season. Over the years, more and more community members contributed to the event by creating their own displays to add to the scenery, assisting with the setup of the scenes, and helping the event grow larger every year.

After the Pepsi Bottling Plant was closed, the Pastega family and many dedicated volunteers wanted to find a way to continue the beloved Pastega Christmas Light Display. They found the perfect host at the Benton County Events Center, which is where you can find this wonderful holiday tradition in the present day. As it has from the very beginning, the Pastega Christmas Light Display only seems to grow larger, more impressive, and more magical every year.

This is a free event for everyone to enjoy, although event organizers do recommend bringing some canned goods to donate. The display is open every evening throughout December, including the final night of the display on New Year's Eve from 5:00 - 10:00 PM.

On any given visit, you might find everything from scenes of Santa's elves to scenes featuring favorite pop culture characters like Charlie Brown, the Looney Tunes, and even characters from beloved family films like ET. You can enjoy it all from the warmth and comfort of your vehicle, so there's never a bad time to visit during the holiday season.

How to Get Involved With Future Light Displays

As a free event created as a gift to the community of Corvallis, the team behind the Pastega Christmas Light Display is always looking for volunteers to help create and manage these amazing displays during future holiday seasons. If you're interested in getting involved in the festive fun for future years, it's easy to sign up online to volunteer. You will get the opportunity to volunteer alongside amazing people, build displays that bring magic to so many local families, and have a great time in the process. 

Are you shopping for a home where you can enjoy the holidays in Albany or Corvallis for many years to come? Our team is here to help you accomplish your real estate goals. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the area.