VIDALIA &045; Visitors to the Winter Wonderland of Lights may have some new incentives to tour the holiday display this month.

Throughout December, each paying car will receive a ticket for drawings to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Prizes have been donated by area merchants, said Jan Simpson of the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce.

Merchants include Fred’s, Blockbuster Video, Lasyone Furniture, Kmart and Trippe’s Western Auto.

Also, Monday nights are military nights, which means those who present a military ID will receive $2 off. On Thursdays, senior citizen night, those age 60 and older receive $2 off.

Simpson said the promotions are an attempt to attract more visitors to the event, whose proceeds will help benefit United Way of the Greater Miss-Lou, which is finishing its fund-raising campaign for 23 Miss-Lou agencies this month.

&uot;The week of Thanksgiving, we had 200-plus cars a night,&uot; Simpson said. &uot;Things slowed up when school started.&uot;

The Winter Wonderland opened last month along the riverfront, with more than 60 displays and more than 1 million lights designed as Santas, stars and other holiday shapes.

The displays are open seven days a week through Jan. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The cost is $8 per car and $25 per bus.

Proceeds are being split between United Way and the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce.

And the chamber is still looking for people to help out at the event.

&uot;We’re still looking for volunteers to take tickets,&uot; Simpson said.

Anyone interested in helping in the evening can call city hall at 336-5206 or the chamber of commerce at 336-8223.