Lights Of Lobethal Festival

Lobethal used to be awesome, slowly driving along the town streets in awe of bright displays, eating hot chips and drinking hot chocolate, watching the nativity with live animals and sleeping the whole car ride home.
Now its bumper to bumper the whole way round, looking at crappy light displays all in a mess, smelling animal poo from the nativity and falling asleep in the car it was that boring.
Well, actually it seems as though not much has changed, just me! I’m not a grinch, in fact Christmas lights are my favourite aspect! But I am over the hustling screaming kids and fake forced Christmas activities, I much prefer cruising my own neighbourhood late at night and chatting to some locals.

So, I’ve been to the Lobethal Lights 3 years in a row and it just seems to get more disappointing.
I can’t agree with Michelle and say that the people go all out, because they don’t, I’ve noticed that most people string up a few coloured light globes and that’s it. You may figure, why bother at all? but you’d be crazy not to when AGL pays for these people’s electricity bill at this time of year.
So I think that what you will find is a whole lot of houses with the bare minimum effort put in eg. a bundle of fairy lights tossed onto a shrubbery. Granted some houses do look fantastic, I just wish they were all on the same street so you don’t have to waste your time driving around looking at half-​assed lighting jobs.
I suggest you get out of the car and take a wander down the main street, it’s pretty festive and everyone seems to be having a good time, also fun to watch the kids in hotted up vehicles scrape their bodykit on the gutter after they nearly run you down. karma’s a bitch.
There is a market open every year which is free to get in and features a few stalls selling produce and Christmas trinkets, its a bit of fun to take a wander in here. If you’re hungry there are a number of setups along the street where you can get a hot-​dog or donuts, basically your regular Adelaide Show-​food. although you can get cherries too and they are pretty damn good.
Take the kids because they will enjoy themselves, the festival is mainly for them anyway which is another reason why I wish people would make more of an effort.

If Xmas lights is your thing this really is as good as it gets. So many beautiful and amazing displays all in one place. It is definitely worth the drive but take the roads easy as there is usually a lot of traffic. In fact in the town itself you can walk faster and are better off, if you can, to find a park and walk around for a while. Check out the stalls they have and get a better view than in the cars anyway. At the same time you can get some exercise and try to tire the kids out a little. Plus it’s way too long to sit in the car all the way there, all around there and all the way home. It makes it seem much further away!
People up at Lobethal know the deal when they live here… and they go all out. There are people who take it so seriously they order special lights through the internet from America. You will see not only amazing displays but some stuff you literally cannot see anywhere else.
Talking to the locals, who are all in the spirit so much more than other area’s, and hearing their stories. Plus everytime I have been there I have seen Santa. It must be his home away from home :-)

In the true spirit of Christmas, the community in Lobethal comes together every year and puts together one of the most spectacular Christmas light show and a host of other activities for all to enjoy.
Staying true to its tradition 60 years ago, the community is popular for its creativity, fun and at times cheeky display of Christmas deco, light and ornaments in their homes and gardens.
This year, the Lobethal Lights light up on Dec 11^th till December 31^st, and usually starts at dusk till midnight. It is truly a magical experience and if you haven’t been to the Lobethal Lights, I encourage you too. From lighted Santa’s, to inflatable and large reindeers, fairy lights framing the home panels to a waving snowman, there is so much to see and marvel at.
I onced came across a Naughty and Nice sign board which left us in stitches.
Apart from the lights, check out the live Nativity scene, Christmas Tree Festival, food and market stalls and Pageant Night. There is truly a family event activity and most of them are free! Check their website for more updates and events.