Tanglewood Festival of Lights Christmas Show in North Carolina

Tanglewood Festival of Lights © Katrena

If you enjoy seeing holiday light shows and are in the Southeastern United States, the Tanglewood Festival of Lights show offers a large display of color, music, and festivities. The largest holiday light show in the Southeast attracts an average of 250,000 visitors each year from mid-November through January 1.

Christmas Light Show at Tanglewood © Katrena

Tanglewood ranks in the top 20 events in the Southeast and the top 100 in North America and has been delighting guests since 1992 with a peak year in 2001 with 300,000 visitors. They offer nearly four miles of nearly one million brightly colored LED lights with about 100 different displays. Yep - this is a big one!

Largest Light Show in Southeast © Katrena

The park is located near Winston-Salem off I-40 and can be reached via exit 184 or 182. We have tried both exits and it seemed like exit 184 moved a little faster. If you have a flexible schedule, I would highly recommend going on the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving or having plenty of fun activities for the kids to enjoy during the wait. We cut our wait time from over two hours on a weekend near Christmas to two seconds when we visited on the Monday before Thanksgiving! Tanglewood also offers Throwback Nights during the season where visitors can enter at discounted rates.

Holiday Light Show Near Winston-Salem © Katrena

Many people ride through the Festival of Lights in a car, truck, van, or bus, but they also offer hayrides for large groups on horse-drawn wagons and smaller carriage rides for an extra fee. Those wishing to set up a wagon or carriage rides may inquire about an alternate route for entry. Runners in the family might be interested in the Running of the Lights, held at midnight on December 31.

Light Show in North Carolina © Katrena

Many of the lights are timed with animations. Soldiers might salute while fishermen may throw their catch. The rocking horse rocks, and Frosty waves as the little ones wave back, smiling with wide and wondrous eyes. My kids particularly like going through lighted tunnels and seeing reindeer jump over the car!

Drive-through Holiday Light Show © Katrena

Just past the big lake with the mermaid was a wooded section with brightly blinking bells. Roll down the windows and visitors can enjoy original music composed by Music Technology students at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Winston-Salem Festival of Lights © Katrena

After traveling through part of the light show, guests may park and head to the Holiday Gift Village. The building is loaded with beautiful handmade crafts, jewelry, baked goods, and much more. They also have a large fire outside so that folks can enjoy roasting marshmallows over the open flame. Santa is also ready for a photo opportunity with the kids here as well.

Christmas Crafts at Tanglewood © Katrena

My kids loved looking at the wide variety of ornaments and clothes in the Holiday Gift Village. The wooden pieces and winter-themed artwork were quite festive and fun to see. My youngest would have gladly stayed with the little baby dolls nestled in crocheted beds. The scent of homemade breads and fudge beckoned everyone who entered.

Volunteer at Tanglewood Christmas Light Show © Katrena

Tanglewood's Festival of Lights offers a huge display, but the volunteers give the winter wonderland a hometown feel and lots of personality. They are quick to offer a smile. Many of them come back year after year, even when temperatures call for winter coats or even rain gear. The guys at the gift shop just laughed and smiled when I asked if I could take their pictures. All of my girls and I agreed that their generosity and efforts are a special gift!

Largest Holiday Light Show in NC © Katrena

If you would like to take a test drive of the Festival of Lights, here is a fun video of the Festival of Lights set to music that EmilyElzbth posted in 2006. Many of the displays are the same, but each year, you can expect to see something new. Those interested in visiting the Festival of Lights can find hours, prices, directions, special discounts and more at the Festival of Lights web page. Those visiting or living in Forsyth County might also consider visiting Old Salem, the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem, or Adventure Landing.

Fun Christmas Activities for the Family © Katrena

Readers may also wish to read about Tanglewood's Gift Village that is located in the park. Find more of Katrena's travel articles at Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids.