COSTA MESA, Calif. — Some people and places go BIG with holidays lights. But how about more than ONE MILLION lights at one spot? The spot is in Costa Mesa at the fairgrounds in Orange County.

And one of the many people who helped bring the Night of Lights OC together is Katrina Carlson. The producer said, “Yes holidays are a huge deal. I love Christmas.”

During this time of year, Carlson would normally be trimming the tree with her family. But she said she’ll be decorating her tree without the usual crowd. And just like her personal holiday plans, the event she has helped bring to the fairgrounds for the past several years, has been reimagined due to COVID-19.

She said, “We had sledding. We had ice skating. We had a parade. We had fireworks every night. And unfortunately, we’re unable to produce that this year.”

So that’s why Carlson and more than 150 employees have been busy putting together a drive-thru experience. And there’s been a lot of work to do — including getting a ton of lights ready, “Over a million different lights," Carlson added.

Not just lights. “Santa’s gonna be here all the way through December 23," Carlson said. "And then Santa’s going to go back home.”

But, just because Santa will be leaving, doesn’t me the holiday lights are going away too. The Night of Lights OC will be here through January 10, 2021.

“We got snow falling, we have bubbles,” said Carlson. She said that there are Christmas trees, characters, ice princess, and so much more. All elements the producer of this show said she hopes can help fill a void people may be feeling this holiday season.

Carlson said it’s her way of helping people feel better, though not in the original way she had planned. She explains, “I have a BS in health science and a was going to nursing school. And I was working as an event manager part time to get through school.”

Carlson has fallen in love planning events and said events like Night of Lights OC is “still helping people in a different way.” A space providing a place for people to feel a little joy in a year Carlson said we could all use a little extra light.

The Night of Lights OC tickets start at $49.99. All people must wear a mask to attend.