Cover Story: Gilmore Car Museum

The Gilmore Car Museum’s “Winter Wonderland,” a drive-through holiday lights display at its Hickory Corners location, is returning for a second year. “The Gilmore Car Museum celebrates both cars and history on an exceptionally beautiful 90-acre campus in the Michigan countryside, so it’s truly the perfect place to host a drive-through and walkthrough holiday lights experience for our community,” museum executive director Josh Russell said in a news release.

The attraction, combined with the museum’s “Christmas Through the Decades” event, will be offered 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays from Friday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Dec. 30, plus other select days, at the museum, 6865 W. Hickory Road. The museum will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. “This spectacular Christmas and holiday lights show will bring our Michigan winter wonderland to life, and create lasting holiday memories for our guests in the museum, in their family car, or perhaps taking a ride through the lights in one of our classic automobiles,” Russell said. Nationally recognized lighting specialists have been working with museum staff this year to provide new outdoor lighting, which includes motion, animation and sound. Visitors also can explore a maze of holiday infl atables, a 1960s fresh Christmas tree and wreath lot that includes a vintage Shasta camper trailer, Santa’s hot-rod workshop inside the 1930s Shell station, classic cars displayed inside snow globes and artwork by automotive illustrators.

Participants also will have the option of riding through the lights in Ford Model A’s, a Checker cab, a 1963 Cadillac convertible and several other vintage cars from the museum’s collection. The rides are free with the cost of admission to the event.

In addition, there will be indoor Christmas tree displays throughout the classic car galleries at the 400-

IT’S A WINTER WONDERLAND AT GILMORE CAR MUSEUM

plus vehicle museum. Hot chocolate, adult drinks and holiday-themed food and sweets will be offered and holiday gift shopping will be available.

Santa Claus will be there to greet the children.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children at the door. There is a $2.50 discount per ticket if purchased ahead of time online at GilmoreCarMuseum.org. Children 4 and under are free.

The event is presented by Hagerty, provider of specialty insurance for classic vehicles.

More information is available by calling the museum, (269) 671-5089, emailing info@gilmorecarmuseum. org or on the website.