Griffith Park is to Los Angeles what Central Park is to New York City.  There’s a zoo, a miniature train, acres of green grass, a carousel, and a big fancy fountain, among other things.  And every year for over ten years now, there are holiday lights.  A million of them.

It’s a relatively new tradition in the city of angels.  The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power creates a Festival of Lights along a mile stretch of Crystal Springs Drive, reached by the southbound side of Interstate 5 (or “the 5″ as locals call it) or by turning north from Los Feliz Ave onto Crystal Springs.  Signs along the way declare how long the wait time would be if you were stopped there.  Luckily for us, we went at 5:30PM, shortly after the 5PM start time, so we didn’t have to wait at all.  It may be better after Christmas, because the festival runs through Dec. 30.

For the green-conscious, be aware that the DWP switched to LED lights to save energy.  Certain interests underwrite the costs of special displays.  There’s a toy collection drive at the entrance where you can donate a new unwrapped toy for needy children.

Like I said, go early, or prepare to make a night of it.  I’ve heard of people being stuck in line for 2 hours.  You can also park at the zoo and take a bus along the route, or walk.  If you want to take pictures, make sure your car windows are rolled down, and you stay still enough that the lights don’t make trippy patterns in your shot.

It was worth the 40 minute Friday evening drive.  My 3 year old, upon going through the entrace tunnel of lights, declared, “This is AWESOME.”  And he knows his holiday lights.