MARYSVILLE — While most people still associate the winter holidays more with snowfall, city of Marysville maintenance workers have been battling strong winds and heavy rains to get the Cedarcrest Golf Course ready for the fifth annual Holiday Tour of Lights.

Parks maintenance manager Mike Robinson was on site with maintenance workers days before the event kicked off Friday, Dec. 11, and continued through Saturday, Dec. 12. He was supervising their efforts as they reset light displays that had been knocked down by the weather.

This year’s Tour of Lights includes more displays, adding a baker’s dozen to the 40 that have been carried over from last year, giving this year a total of 53 displays.

“Our biggest display is a stocking, with an elf, that’s full of presents,” Robinson said. “We’ve also got a candy cane Ferris wheel display, which is really tall, plus one of Santa playing golf with Rudolph and another elf, because come on, it’s a golf course.”

This year also marks the addition of a third passenger train, to help reduce wait times for spectators to take their 20-minute tours through the light displays. Robinson thanked the local chapters of Rotary and Kiwanis for supplying the trains and drivers.

Of course, the features that have become familiar favorites throughout the years will still be present, with holiday music, hot cocoa, roasted marshmallows and complimentary s’mores over the bonfire on the deck of the golf course’s bar and grill, which is offering nightly dinner specials throughout the month of December.

To help keep attendees warm and dry while they wait to board their trains, this year’s event includes a 20-by-40-foot shelter cover from the rain, with kids’ crafts tables equipped with entirely new activities this year, to entertain impatient youngsters.

“We’d tell you more, but we want to surprise people,” Robinson said.

The Tour of Lights continues Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 17-19, and Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 21-23, plus Saturday, Dec. 26, running from 6-9 p.m. all 10 nights. It will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the holidays.

The Cedarcrest Golf Course is at 6810 84th St. NE in Marysville. Although this event is free, donations of $5 per adult, $3 per youth or $20 for the family are suggested.