Knox County’s annual Holiday Festival of Lights at The Cove at Concord Park will sparkle and entertain each night from 6 to 9 p.m. starting Friday, Dec. 13 through Saturday, Dec. 28, excluding Christmas Day. The Cove is located at 11808 S. Northshore Drive.

There will be a special kick-off event at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 during which Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will flip the switch to turn on the lights and start the festival. Other elected officials may be in attendance. At the kick-off event, the Webb School Madrigal Singers will perform carols and Publix will be serving free cider. Santa Claus will also make a special appearance.

The Holiday Festival of Lights has grown over the past few years with new displays and a series of lights coordinated to music. Visitors walk the three-quarter mile greenway trail to view the lights. Pets on leashes are welcome.

The park staff at The Cove does all the decorating, which includes placing displays, adding several thousand lights to trees and building bonfires for roasting marshmallows.

The event is free, but Knox County will collect non-perishable food items for The Love Kitchen. The Love Kitchen provides meals, clothing and emergency food packages to the homebound, homeless and unemployed.

The 2013 Holiday Festival of Lights is sponsored by Publix, B97.5, the Knox County Mayor’s Office and Knox County Parks & Recreation.