Festive lights show brighten up McDonald’s drive-thru lanes

Lights show at MAA Diversion Davao —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

In the tradition of the first Christmas when a light showed the way to where the infant Jesus laid in a manger, McDonald’s Philippines is lighting the way for customers to its drive-thru windows.

And just as that light some 2,000 years ago beckoned both kings and shepherds, McDonald’s lights are meant to attract mobile customers regardless of their transport of choice.

Whether the customer is in a car, motorcycle, bicycle, moped, e-scooter (electric scooter), skate boards or roller blades, they will be served at McDonald’s drive-thru windows.

“This is why we call [our Christmas setup] Ride-Thru, not Drive-Thru, to indicate it is not just people in cars who would be served,” says Adi Timbol-Hernandez, McDonald’s Philippines assistant vice president, corporate relations and impact.

McDonald’s Philippines officially turned on the lights on Nov. 8 for the Christmas Ride-Thru at its store on Quezon Avenue Ligaya St. in Quezon City with the Barrio Pasko theme.

Three other stores—on Pioneer-Reliance Streets in Mandaluyong City, Snowy Mountain theme; Paseo Arcenas, Cebu City, Candy Cane Lane theme; and MAA Diversion Road, Davao City, Neon Dreamworld theme—opened simultaneously.

Three more McDonald’s Drive-Thru lanes have been selected for the Ride-Thru project. In the middle of the month, the Ride-Thru light show will be on display in Clarkgate, Pampanga, with a magical Toyland theme; Southwoods, Laguna, Winter Wonderland; and McKinley West, Taguig City, Gingerbread House.

Of course dine-in customers can also enjoy the Christmas displays as they eat their favorite McDonald’s menu items.

The Christmas Ride-Thru project is part of the Love Ko ang Pasko, Love Ko ang McDonald’s campaign, ongoing until early January 2025, from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day, the light show has now become part of McDonald’s Philippines tradition and is meant to bring some holiday cheer to its customers and to share the joyous Christmas spirit.

Hernandez says the McDonald’s light show was first held in 2021 to lift the spirit and lighten the mood of customers who had been cocooned for a year as they sheltered in place to avoid the deadly and devastating COVID-19 that caused a pandemic.

McDonald’s was the first quick service restaurant that transformed its drive-thru lanes to provide families with a fun and festive experience at a time when there were limited places to visit.

“It was such a hit with customers” who found the lights display uplifting after months of isolation and despair, Hernandez says. So an annual tradition was born.

McDonald’s has more than just a light show to celebrate Christendom’s most joyful season.

Customers can enjoy, just for the holiday season, Hazelnut and Tiramisu McFlurry. The popular Chicken McDo has a glazed version.

McDonald’s has other projects to spread holiday cheer, especially among the less privileged. Through the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Hernandez says they would serve “noche buena” meals to 300 families supported by the foundation.

Some P1.5 million worth of Happy Meal toys will be distributed to children through local governments and nonprofit organizations.

With more than 750 stores nationwide and more than a hundred more opening before year-end and next year, Hernandez stresses that McDonald’s is constantly working to make stores convenient, comfortable and accessible to clients.

Interiors are being adapted to different kinds of guests and facilities are installed for the convenience of senior citizens and the differently-abled.

For faster and more convenient service, digitized terminals are available for customers to place their orders so they do not have to queue at counters, except to pay.

McDonald’s is also an early adopter of the electronic wallet payment system, allowing clients to pay using Maya (formerly PayMaya) for cashless transactions. Safer and more convenient, it was particularly welcome during the pandemic when the use of cash was discouraged to prevent the spread of COVID-19

With more stores set to open around the country, perhaps McDonald’s will bring its light show to more places in Christmas 2025. —Contributed

For more information, visit McDonalds.com.ph, or follow @McDo.ph on Facebook, and @McDo_ph on Instagram