Meadow Lights cancels its Christmas light show, candy store for 2020

Meadow Lights, dubbed the "largest and oldest Christmas light show in eastern North Carolina," won't open this year because of the ongoing pandemic.

The popular light show in Benson, which draws thousands each year, announced on Facebook Thursday morning that it would not open for the 2020 season. The announcement comes a day after Raleigh Parks announced that another popular event — the Holiday Express at Pullen Park — would not take place this year too.

"Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and to prevent spread of the virus we have made the difficult decision to cancel our Christmas light show and the opening of our candy store for the 2020 season," the post on the Meadow Lights Facebook page says. "We will open again next year on November 19th 2021. We will miss seeing everyone but look forward to a bigger and better 2021 season. Stay safe and please come see us next year."

Meadow Lights started more than 40 years ago on Godwin Lake Road in Benson, according to its website. It opened a country store in 1994 to sell drinks and old fashioned candy. The lights are visible from the road, but Meadow Lights also operates three trains, which take visitors through 10 acres of displays, according to the website. The destination also includes a carousel, along with visits and photos with Santa.

There are still some Christmas events that are scheduled to go on as planned.

Tickets are on sale for the Great Smoky Mountains Railway's Polar Express, which is west of Asheville.

Closer to home, leaders at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham also hope to hold its annual Santa Train and are working on ways to adjust the event to make it safer during the pandemic.