Saddleback Church presents Light of the World: 2021 Review
Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA
We never did finish our 2021 Halloween season updates, so those will continue to show up into next year, but with Christmas around the corner, we figured it might be worthwhile to post some holiday updates. While Westcoaster’s Christmas coverage is a fraction of our Halloween season coverage, this year’s been a little more delayed than usual because I was busy off getting married in November. And while dear Jim did his best holding up the fort with a great update from Knott’s Merry Farm, he’s not the biggest yuletide fan.
In any case, today, we have a Christmas attraction that debuted last year, in the middle of the pandemic, as one of many drive-thru holiday attractions that graced the Southern California landscape. This year, however, Light of the World is being presented in its originally-intended, full pedestrian form, and honestly, it’s a pretty darn spectacular holiday production!
A nativity scene anchors the Starry Night area, which is full of string light-wrapped trees and hanging string light orbs.
Setting aside whatever sentiments people might have about the church… or even Saddleback Church (we know Knott’s Scary farm Fear: 5150 fans are still a little bitter), this holiday attraction is a wonderful, extensive, and completely free winter experience that is great for the family. Advanced online registration is required, and at this writing, only a few times tomorrow, December 16th, remain. So this review is more of a photo tour that might inspire you to mark this for your calendar next year. But I think it’s still worth exploring—even if it’s via gallery form.
Located at the main Saddleback Church campus in Lake Forest, Light of the World is made up of eight sections, with access points from the property’s main parking lots—the Worship and Bridge parking lots on the east side and the Upper and Lower parking lots to the west. Guests on the church side to the east pass through a “Starry Night” section that also includes an outdoor nativity scene display before walking by the main church building and coming upon the site’s towering 70 foot tall Christmas tree in the main plaza.
The 70ft tall Christmas tree is among the tallest in the area.
Descending a grand stair takes guests to the campus’s lower section, where the remaining six sections are spread out. There’s a “Candy Cane Lane” with luminous photo ops, a “Winter Wonderland” featuring Frozen’s Anna and Elsa—or if Disney lawyers are reading, Alana and Elisa—a cute “Christmas Village” square featuring some Sesame Street-style characters on displays and full scale dioramas, and a Nativity section tucked behind the Winter Wonderland that tells the story of Jesus Christ. Incidentally, this is part is the only portion of the attraction that presents anything overtly religious (other than infrastructure of the church campus itself). The walkthrough is a series of switchbacks that present the story of Christ via projections and inspirational music, culminating in an ethereal nativity scene and an invitation to share tidings for peace by lighting a candle at a display located by the exit.
Elsa and Anna converse A LOT with guests throughout the night and enjoy the Winter Wonderland vibe.
Candy Cane Lane is one of the less spectacular spots of Light of the World but still has its photogenic parts.
The Christmas Village area is more of a town square organized on the lawn around a neat glowing orb Christmas tree, but it features a lot of photogenic spots.
Over on the west edge of the campus, guests can find the most spectacular portion of Light of the World—a dazzling light show themed to “The Little Drummer Boy” featuring dozens of synchronized strobe and theatrical lights dancing to the beat of an energetic version of the classic Christmas tune. It’s quite a feast for the eyes and easily the highlight of the event, so in my opinion, saving this for last is ideal. However, those with sensory problems related to bright flashing lights may want to take care near this area or avoid it.
The Little Drummer Boy section flashes and dazzles with an impressive looping light show.
Guests passing through can also pick up complimentary hot chocolate by the “Winter Wonderland” area, and there are also a couple of food trucks scattered about the grounds. There are also plenty of friendly volunteers waiting at entry points and stations through the campus to help with wayfinding.
Like most Christmas display attractions, Light of the World is entirely outdoors, which is at least safer from a Coronavirus concern perspective compared to indoor events. While there are no mask-wearing or proof of vaccination requirements, guests attending the event should make their own risk assessments and take their own precautions. Thanks to the reservation system, I never felt the grounds were too crowded and did not feel uncomfortable in the outdoor setting, since I was masked and have gotten my COVID booster shot as well. Of course, with the chilly near-winter nights well, guests should make sure to bundle up!
The Nativity section, culminating in Baby Jesus in a manger before guests can opt to light a candle near the exit.
Overall, I found Light of the World to be a charming and elaborately produced Christmas event that was wonderfully photogenic and fun to explore. Those who might have visited this event as a drive-thru last year will find many similar displays, but enjoying them on a pedestrian scale is certainly more inviting and intimate. In addition, there are plenty of Instagram-worthy photo opportunities staged for people looking to share something on social media or just have a nice family or group photo with a fun frame. For those looking for a nice Christmas attraction, I would certainly recommend checking Light of the World out—if not this year, then certainly next!
Light of the World is located at Saddleback Church main campus at 1 Saddleback Pkwy, Lake Forest, CA 92630. This year’s run spans Thursday, December 2 through Sunday, December 9, from 6:00 - 10:00pm Mondays through Thursdays and 7:00 - 10:00pm Fridays through Sundays.
Architect. Photographer. Disney nerd. Haunt enthusiast. Travel bugged. Concert fiend. Asian.
