Kick start your Christmas season by visiting the Franklin Festival of Lights on Friday night, Nov. 26, which is the opening night of the 19-day festival. The festival opens at 5:15 p.m. each day.

The lights that shine at the Phifer Ice Dam Park, 880 Main Rd., Lehighton (Franklin Township), will be a little brighter this year, as the Franklin Township Lions Club, organizers of the holiday festival, have incorporated LED lights into the display.During the Festival of Lights, the Phifer Ice Dam Park takes on a magical glow as more than 400,000 lights shine brilliantly in a giant walk-through display that lights up the park. Additional festival dates are Nov. 27 and 28, and Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28 and 29.Visitors will enjoy walking through candy cane-lined lanes to see a magical winter wonderland. There are synchronized musical light shows at the bandstand. There are several new displays this year. See deer jumping and Santa's train, the jumping dolphins and Cinderella and her prince in a lighted coach.Santa appears nightly up until Christmas.Many families have made coming to the Franklin Festival of Lights a tradition. After the light show, everyone is invited to stop at the Christmas Cafe and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or a tasty treat.Tom Zellner, coordinator of the event, said that LED lights shine brighter and are helping save on the electric bill. He has also coordinated a giving campaign that has helped the Lions Club replace some of the traditional lights with LEDs."This year we tried to make the festival a little greener by using LEDs, which have brilliant colors," said Zellner.For the handicapped or elderly, there will be golf cart driven tours available. Anyone requiring a golf cart should call (610) 377-7703 for reservations.