Those who have noticed the beautifully illuminated Guthrie Cottonwood Flats completely covered with colorful displays of Christmas lights as you pass over Gumerson Bridge (formerly the Viadock) on Highway 33 have Guthrie’s Very Merry Christmas Association to thank for that festive display.
To get an up-close view of this exciting drive-through holiday experience, start at the corner of 7th Street and Mansur. The Lights at the Cottonwood Flats experience is a seven-block drive-thru Christmas lights exhibit featuring more than 30 different large displays of lights and moving Christmas scenes, including a 40 foot roller coaster with moving cars and riders made completely of lights and a replica of the Griswold’s RV from the “Christmas Vacation” movie. On some weekend nights, visitors are treated with a surprise appearance by Santa Claus or the Grinch! Christmas music plays through the drive, and volunteers are there to hand out pamphlets with more information about the displays and the Very Merry Christmas Association. There is no fee to enter. Donations are accepted at the end of the experience.
The Very Merry Christmas Association is a nonprofit organization in Guthrie that helps the community come together for the holidays and support the elderly in nursing homes. Established in 2020, the group works to remind the elderly patients that they are remembered and brightens their holidays with gifts.
The group raises money through donations and from money raised from the Christmas Lights in the Cottonwood Flats and the Christmas Festival held the 3rd weekend of December, which is not to be missed.
This year’s Christmas Festival will begin on December 16th with food trucks, vendors, and live music; and it will culminate on the 17th with an Illuminated Christmas Cruise and a fireworks display.
Lights at the Cottonwood Flats: every day until January 1st.
Christmas Festival: Friday, December 16th - Saturday, December 17th, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Illuminated Christmas Cruise: December 17th at 6:30 p.m. - begins at the Flats, then continues on to the Scottish Rite Temple, back down Oklahoma, and returns to the Flats for the fireworks show.
Fireworks Display: December 17th at 8:00 p.m. - fireworks are provided by Fireworks A’ Poppin and are scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m.
For more information about the Lights at the Cottonwood Flats, the Festival, or the Very Merry Christmas Association, visit facebook.com/ verymerryguthriechristmas or infoavmgc.wixsite.com/avery- merry-guthrie or call (405) 202-9251.