SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The Friday after Thanksgiving will not be so black due to thousands upon thousands of lights shining brightly to bring awareness to childhood cancer.
The Hugs for Brady Holiday Light Show, one of the biggest and brightest light shows in central New Jersey, will welcome up to 500,000 people from Nov. 25-Dec. 30.
“We are so excited about this event,” Jeff Schnier, committee chairperson, said in a statement prepared by the Hugs for Brady Foundation. “If preliminary ticket sales are any indication of our success, the Hugs for Brady Holiday Light Show is going to be big. We have people coming from Connecticut, Atlantic City and New York City, too. The Hugs for Brady Holiday Light Show is going to be a new family tradition. What a wonderful way to have a fun time and raise funds to end pediatric cancer.”
The Hugs for Brady Holiday Light Show will take place at the DeVry University campus, 630 Route 1 north, North Brunswick, from 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 4-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
The opening weekend from Nov. 25-27 will feature marching bands, choral groups and a live simulcast on WPST radio.
Daily shows at varying times will feature a 110-foot-wide, three-story high display of thousands of constantly changing colored lights, all synchronized to music for a 20-minute, nondenominational entertainment show for everyone in the family.
Attractions will also include several two-story trees, a Jumbotron, huge snowflakes, commercial snow machines, a 50-foot animated light tunnel, an animatronic 8-foot snowman that talks, gourmet food trucks, heated tents with crafters and vendors, ice sculptures, roast your own s’mores, glow-in-the-dark face painting and a two-story igloo play area.
Sherrie and Michael Wells started the Hugs for Brady Foundation in 2009, shortly after their 13-month-old son, Brady Michael, was diagnosed with undifferentiated acute leukemia, a very rare form of leukemia. In 2010, Brady passed away at 23 months old, after he had battled the disease for 10 months. Since then, the couple and 500 volunteers have raised money for research funding to ultimately end cancer in children. It is estimated that over 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S.
Tickets are $15 for adults; $12.50 for seniors, college students and veterans; and $10 for children. For group sales of 50 or more, contact Jeff at [email protected]. Parking is free.
To reserve a vendor or crafter table, bring in a food truck, volunteer and/or purchase tickets, visit www.hugsforbrady.org. For event updates, visit the Hugs for Brady page on Facebook.