Beware the DWP's Griffith Park Lights Festival

Driving down the 5 on Sunday night, as we approached the 134 one of the Caltrans signs warned of bad traffic to come: "LIGHTS FESTIVAL 2 HOUR WAIT."

We quickly hopped on the 134. But it continues to astound me that people are willing to wait -- in their slow-moving cars! -- for two hours to catch the light festival in Griffith Park.

It ain't worth it. It's cool, and your kids will dig it (especially if they're under 6), but 2 hours won't make up for the 10 minutes it takes to drive through the display.

There are two ways to properly check out the lights festival and avoid the wait: Either go on a Tuesday at 6 p.m., when the line is still short... or park at the Zoo and walk it.

Once the weather begins to warm up again, I'd go with choice B. Not only do you avoid the wait, but walking the lights festival lets you really take it all in.

Meanwhile, whatever you do, avoid Los Feliz Blvd. around the 5 freeway between 7 and 10 p.m.