ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — A drive through Lake Shore Park on Friday night to see Ashtabula County’s annual Lights on the Lake display will be well worth the drive.

Along with the beauty and joy of the festive holiday light display, the first 3,000 visitors will receive goody bags containing valuable coupons from local businesses.

“The coupons are worth way more than the price of the ticket,” said Larry Fargo, marketing director for the Lights on the Lake Committee. “And — like in years past — our gate workers will be handing candy canes to our visitors.”

Tickets are $5 per carload. If

you buy your ticket ahead of time, you are entered into a drawing for $500 when you come through the park.

Commemorating its fourth year, the Lights on the Lake Committee added several new displays and additional lights to the hills and trees of Lake Shore Park.

“If you came to Lights on the Lake a couple of years ago, come back,” Fargo said. “We’ve moved things around and added more scenes and displays.”

The lights will be switched on officially at 6 p.m. Friday and will continue to twinkle 6 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Friday through New Year’s Eve.

The Lights on the Lake Committee believes visitors will be surprised by the enormity and the number of new displays, including local artist John Torma’s 12 hand-painted murals at the entrance of the park.

Another unique display was designed, built and wired by Boy Scout Chip Ranck of Ashtabula specifically for Lights on the Lake, but Chip wants the details to be kept a secret until Friday night. Hint: It’s huge, and it’s at the water’s edge, near the boat launch ramp.

The drive-through light display also boasts a train, a police car, elves, candy canes, toys, Santa, poinsettias, a nativity scene and more.

“The nativity scene is popular,” Fargo said. “This year, we’ve added Noah’s Ark.”

Several of the displays originated right here in northeast Ohio. For example, the covered bridge, the fishing boat, the historic Ashtabula Harbor lift bridge and the flying saucer, which is reminiscent of the flying saucer gas station that once stood at Five Points, all bring a hometown feeling to the show.

As spectators ride through the 80 or so displays at Lights on the Lake, they will see that the 25-foot-tall Christmas tree is topped now with a new star.

It took 30 volunteers about six weekends to set up the display.

This year, Lights on the Lake also has teamed with the Lift Bridge Community Association to display more lights on Bridge Street. The store owners will be keeping their shops open until 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 19.

Ashtabula County’s Lights on the Lake has several events and activities planned for the 2009 season, and the committee encourages area residents to participate, especially in its Help Your Neighbor Night program, set for Dec. 18, 19 and 20. The committee will be collecting nonperishable food items, which will be distributed to county food pantries. Take the canned goods to Lake Shore Park.

Other events include:

n Dec. 6 — Lakeside High School Choir ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. in the Rock Garden Pavilion by the park office at the east end of East First Street or inside the building if the weather is bad;

n Dec. 20 — Trinity Presbyterian Youth Choir will perform at 7 p.m. in the Rock Garden Pavilion by the park office at the east end of East First Street or inside the building if the weather is bad;

n Dec. 4 and 11 — Lonely Oak Wagon Rides will offer horse-drawn wagon rides. Two wagons will be available at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Crow’s Nest at Lake Road and Route 11. Cost is $3 per person. Tickets can be purchased from the Crow’s Nest on a first-come first-served basis. These rides sell out quickly, so get your tickets soon. For further information, call the Crow’s Nest (440 964-2696).