FRANKLIN TWP — Visitors got the first look Friday night at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland as it opened for the holiday season.

Organizers say that the show will attract thousands of people to see and hear the Christmas-themed music and light show at the Big Butler Fairgrounds on Route 422.

Several of the families who went through on the first night said they used to enjoy a similar light show at Hartwood Acres in Allegheny County, which is no longer available.

“It was awesome,” said Chloe Darrell, 13, of Butler Township of the display Friday night. “We’ve been wanting to come back and see a light show for three or four years because we saw the show at Hartwood Acres and liked it.”

Keavy Callwood, 12, of Saxonburg said she and her family members took videos of the lights using a cell phone.

“We thought it was cool how the music coordinated with the lights,” Keavy said.

Vehicles enter the show from the fairgrounds’ Unionville Road entrance and drive through a 2.4-mile course that features hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights.

The first half of the show features lights synchronized to music, while the second half features animated displays in the theme of Santa’s Beach Party.

The music is available by tuning to 88.7 FM and the lights are synchronized to 12 songs, according to Shannon Glover of Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland of Bristol, Tenn.

Most families that drive through take at least 30 minutes to see the lights. They can stop and take photographs, but they cannot get out of their vehicles.

“We encourage people to take their time. There’s enough room for two cars on the route so they can pull over and enjoy the show, and others can pass if needed,” he said.

Lenny Zirnsak of Connoquenessing said he brought his family to see the new holiday attraction.

“I brought the granddaughter. We thought we’d come up and take a ride around, and now she’s going to see Santa,” he said.

Rhonda Hartman of Center Township said she brought her two children and two of their friends on the first night to avoid running into crowds and long lines later in the season.

They didn’t have to wait in line at all, she said. They took about 45 minutes to go through, often stopping to watch and listen to the music.

“I like the lights that went with the music. And the flashing lights,” said Stephanie Hartman, 10.

Toby and Lisa Barrick of Punxsutawney said they go to as many Christmas-themed events and light displays as they can find, and Shadrack’s has been their favorite so far.

“Just the lights and the music and how it’s all connected. It blows everything else out of the water,” Lisa Barrick said.

There is also a Santa’s workshop featuring concessions, a chance to meet Santa Claus, games and other entertainment.

Proceeds from the concession stand will go to benefit nonprofit agencies that are working there. For the first nine days of the show, it is staffed by the Butler AM Rotary Club. It will also be staffed by the Junior Women’s Club of Butler, the McQuistion Backpack Initiative and others.

The show is open nightly, including holidays, from 6 to 10 p.m. and runs through Jan. 3.

There is a fee to drive through. For information, visit shadrackchristmas.com.

Glover said the company has made arrangements with police to direct traffic on Unionville Road and Route 422 if long lines make it necessary.

Glover said that there are two full-time employees from Tennessee on site for the show. It also has 8 to 10 local people hired to help run the show.

The company operates its Christmas light shows in a number of states. This year there are shows in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.

At some locations, up to 1,800 people drive the route in a night.