A Guide to the Tanglewood Festival of Lights

For over three decades, the Tanglewood Festival of Lights has highlighted the holiday season in Winston-Salem. Named the top holiday light display in North Carolina by Travel + Leisure for several years running, this dazzling spectacle is a must-see for locals and visitors alike.

The event returns for its 31st year in 2024, running from Nov. 14 to Jan. 1. As you embark on your holiday adventure, let this insider's guide illuminate your way through the festivities. 

The Basics: Festival of Lights FAQ

• What is the Festival of Lights? In short, the Festival of Lights (FOL) is a holiday drive-through attraction that runs directly through Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, a suburb 10 miles west of downtown Winston-Salem. The route is nearly five miles and consists of 80 unique displays and more than a million total lights.

• When is it open? The event runs nightly, 6-11 p.m. from Nov. 15 to New Year's Day. However, because of the event's popularity, wait times can swell to several hours on certain nights, particularly weekends in December. (**INSIDER TIP**) To save time, try visiting on a weeknight early in the season, particularly Mondays or Tuesdays. You could also save some cash by visiting on a half-price discount night (Nov 18, 19, 25, 26).

• How much is admission? Tickets are $20 cash / $23 credit card for family vehicles (cars, trucks, vans). Entrance fees are paid at the gate before entering Tanglewood Park. (No advanced sales.) 

• What else is there to see and do? Make sure to stop at Tanglewood’s Gift Shop in the Red Barn, about halfway through the route, where dozens of exhibitors sell holiday crafts, specialty food items, ornaments, and other handmade gifts. Next to the Gift Shop is S’moresville, a marshmallow-roasting station that's open nightly until 10 p.m. (Outside marshmallows aren’t allowed, but you can purchase roasting sticks with marshmallows or s’more kits on-site.) 

• What are some other ways to see the lights? For those wishing to experience the festival in the open air, you can make reservations for a horse-drawn carriage ride or tractor-pulled hayride by contacting Tanglewood Stables at 336-766-9540. There are also several walk-thru events and fundraisers that unfold along the festival route, particularly early in the season. You can see a list of special events here. 

What's new at the Festival of Lights this year?

• New traffic route: Due to ongoing construction at the Tanglewood Golf Clubhouse, the standard route is taking a detour this year, bypassing the hill leading up to the clubhouse. "We've rearranged all the displays in that area, which adds a new look and feel to parts of the show," said Drew Wiles with Forsyth County Parks & Rec. "So the route distance is slightly shorter, but we'll have more lights than ever this year."

• Photo-op displays: You'll find three new photo ops/booths at the Gift Shop area, ranging from 6 to 10 feet tall. The photo ops add an interactive element to the festival that had been lacking in previous years while allowing visitors to create and share memories.

• New sights: You'll see a few new scenes mixed in with the classic displays this year. The most noteworthy of the new sights, a display called "Old Man Winter," is one of the largest scenes ever unveiled at the FOL. Look for it just before the Gift Village on the left-hand side.

• Expanded gift items. You'll find an expanded selection of Festival of Light-themed merchandise at the Gift Village, including a new collectible ornament. Other items include short and long-sleeve t-shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, winter hats/beanies, and more.

Festival of Lights Insider Tips:

• Charge up. Make sure your phone is fully charged, and be sure to bring car chargers with you. (You'll be amazed how many photos, videos, social posts, and other "ohhhh!" moments you'll want to capture.)

• Go before you go. Be sure that every member of your party uses the restroom before heading out to the park. Wait times can be long. You want to be comfortable, especially if you plan to picnic in the car. That said, there are a few bathrooms located throughout the FOL. You can find locations on the event website here.

• Fill up the tank. You won't need a full tank of gas, but you will have your car running for a while. Do yourself a favor and top off the tank, clean the windows, and make sure your vehicle is in good working order.

• Pack a snack. The whole idea here is to have some good, old-fashioned holiday fun. So bring along some Moravian ginger cookies, sweets from local Dewey's Bakery or Krispy Kreme (founded in Winston-Salem!), or a thermos or two of something warm, steamy, and sweet. 

• Don't forget the tunes. Music makes the event come to life. You could stream tunes from your Smartphone or download a playlist or audiobook ahead of time. You could also check out the nonstop holiday tunes on 99.5 FM (the Triad's home for holiday music). Or, if you're feeling up for it, try an impromptu sing-a-long with holiday carols, Broadway show tunes, rap, rock; whatever your crowd enjoys. Anything to make the evening feel special.

• Dress cozy! You could plan to attend in your jammies (or at least your comfiest cozy sweater). It's a nighttime activity, after all. And you won't be home until after dark. So why not dress the part?

WANT MORE HOLIDAY MAGIC? 

The Festival of Lights is just one of the many things to love about the holidays in Winston-Salem. For a look at a few more seasonal spectacles and attractions, check out Our Favorite Things: 8 Reasons We Love the Holidays in WS