That’s what will happen tonight when the lights come on for the 12th annual Nature in Lights.

Koy Grant, public information director for Fort Hood’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, said the event began as a way to bring a little holiday cheer for the troops, but it turned into something much bigger.

“This is just something at Fort Hood you can look forward to during the holiday season,” Mrs. Grant said.

Nature in Lights evolved as a means to promote community partnership, to instill the holiday spirit in visitors and enhance the quality of life for Fort Hood soldiers, their family members and the surrounding community, Mrs. Grant said.

On Tuesday, business leaders and corporate sponsors got a sneak peek that included a little holiday snacking, along with Christmas carols and fellowship.

Of course, outside was where many wanted to be.

Wesley Hernandez was one of them.

The young man stood outside with his grandfather, Dennis Roberts, as a wind machine blew fake snowflakes into the sky.

Just like any child would, Wesley cupped his hands to catch a few.

Former Killeen Superintendent Jim Hawkins smiled as he walked by the young boy. “Now isn’t that cool,” Hawkins said.

Cool indeed.

There are more than a million lights and more than 100 displays over a stretch of five miles, and every year, Dennis Bass, the maintenance supervisor at BLORA, has been the one who ensures the display is ready to go.

“I’ve been doing this since day one,” Bass said.

It takes about three months and 24 people to set everything up, and that includes making sure there aren’t any burned-out bulbs or dried-out sockets, and that the displays are properly refurbished.

One of the favorites among some of the holiday revelers is the Tunnel of Lights, a 500-foot-long illuminated tunnel that flashes as the visitors pass through.

Of course, everyone has a favorite display.

“I like the gingerbread men on the trampoline,” Tristan Fletcher said as he finished off the last of his hot cocoa before heading out the door to see the display.

Brig. Gen. Mark McDonald, the III Corps deputy commander who fancies himself a holiday traditionalist, said he was OK with kicking off the Christmas season a week before Thanksgiving.

“This is a spectacular event,” McDonald said.

Last year, BLORA attracted more than 130,000 visitors. Organizers expect to attract even more this Christmas season.