{"id":20331,"date":"2018-11-21T09:39:38","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T15:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flovalleynews.com\/?p=20331"},"modified":"2018-11-21T09:39:38","modified_gmt":"2018-11-21T15:39:38","slug":"christmas-wonderland-returns-to-alton-thanks-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=20331","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Wonderland Returns to Alton Thanks to . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"One<\/a>
One of the many colorful light displays at Christmas Wonderland in Alton Nov. 23 to Dec. 26.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Grandpa Gang<\/span><\/em><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Alton\u2019s Rock Spring Park as the annual Christmas Wonderland light display opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 26.
\nDespite a theft of holiday lights a few weeks ago, once again, the Grandpa Gang, a group of retired volunteers, has been busy hanging lights and counting down to the opening day of Christmas Wonderland.\u00a0\u00a0 More than 4 million lights will twinkle against the beautiful backdrop of Rock Spring Park, lighting the way toward another illuminating holiday season.
\nChristmas Wonderland will be open nightly Nov. 23 through Dec.26.\u00a0 The park is located at 2100
\nCollege Ave, in Alton.\u00a0 Hours are Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
\nThe Grandpa Gang, a group of retirees and volunteers, organizes and designs the Christmas spectacular of cascading lights, tunnels and displays known as Christmas Wonderland.\u00a0 Each evening, the park sparkles against the night sky with millions of glistening lights, all hung by volunteers and the \u201cgang.\u201d Each year, the Grandpa Gang takes time to give back to the community with a portion of the attraction\u2019s seasonal revenue donated to local charities.
\nIn 2017, the Grandpa Gang awarded over 60 grants to local organizations, totaling nearly $45,000.
\nReturning light displays include Disney\u2019s Frozen, an updated Snoopy display and the 12 Days of Christmas.\u00a0 Even a few of Alton\u2019s historical figures visit, including\u00a0 displays of Robert Wadlow, the World\u2019s Tallest Man, placing the star on the Christmas tree and the legendary Piasa Bird carrying a bag of gifts for the kids are featured.
\nA special walk-through only night will be held on Monday, Nov.\u00a0 26 from 6\u00a0 to 9 p.m.\u00a0 Visitors can experience the lights while taking a 1.5 mile walk through the park.\u00a0 Dogs are welcome on a leash.\u00a0 No drive through tours are available. Admission for the walk-through only night is $1 per person.
\nSanta will be ready nightly in the Enchanted Village to hear your Christmas list.\u00a0 Pictures with Santa are $5, or you can bring your own camera for a free photo.
\nAdmission to Christmas Wonderland is a suggested of $7 for cars and small vans or $1 per person for vehicles holding more than 10 people.\u00a0 For more info, call 1-800-258-6645, or go to: www.christmaswonderlandalton.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Grandpa Gang   It\u2019s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Alton\u2019s Rock Spring Park as the annual Christmas Wonderland light display opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 26. Despite a theft of holiday lights a few weeks ago, once again, the Grandpa Gang, a group of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,13,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alton","category-entertainment-travel","category-events","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nChristmas Wonderland Returns to Alton Thanks to . . . - flovalleynews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=20331\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Christmas Wonderland Returns to Alton Thanks to . . . - flovalleynews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Grandpa Gang   It\u2019s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Alton\u2019s Rock Spring Park as the annual Christmas Wonderland light display opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 26. 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