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

The event returns for its 35th year in 2026, running nightly from Nov. 13 to Jan. 1. As you embark on your holiday adventure, let this insider's guide illuminate your way through the festivities. 

  
More Ways to Experience

There’s more to the Festival of Lights than the lights themselves, with holiday shopping and fireside treats adding to the evening’s fun.

About halfway through the route, stop at the Red Barn Gift Shop (formerly called the Gift Village) to browse holiday crafts, specialty foods, ornaments, and handmade gifts. The shop also hosts the new daytime Holiday Market on select dates. Just outside is S’moresville, where you can gather around the fire and roast marshmallows—a cozy excuse to stretch your legs and linger a little longer. Roasting sticks with marshmallows or s’mores kits are sold on-site; outside roasting supplies aren’t permitted..

While you’re in the Gift Shop area, look for the annual Festival of Lights ornament inside the Gift Shop and snap a family photo at the nearby holiday backdrops. 

For an open-air view of the lights, book a horse-drawn carriage ride or tractor-pulled hayride through Tanglewood Stables. Carriages accommodate up to four guests and cost $110; hayrides are $190. Both require reservations, with festival admission charged separately and ride payments accepted by cash or check. Call 336-766-9540 for availability and booking details.

  
What to Look For in 2026

Alongside new and refreshed displays, the 2026 festival brings a few new ways to shop and celebrate.

►Tanglewood Drone Skytale. A new holiday story moves from screen to sky as an animated film on a 30-foot screen leads into a live performance by 300 illuminated drones. The roughly 35-minute outdoor show runs for 10 nights during the holidays, beginning at 7 p.m. Guests can enter at Tanglewood's back gate off Idols Road beginning at 5:30. Here's what to know:

• The dates are Nov. 14–15, 19, 24; Dec. 4–5, 9, 12, 18–19. 
• Visitors park and walk to the viewing area, so bring chairs and blankets and dress warmly. 
• Tickets are $80 per family vehicle and include a FOL pass for that evening or any night this year. 
• Each show is limited to 375 vehicles. Buy tickets online in advance, as none will be sold at the gate. Visit the event website for more details and to purchase tickets.

►Daytime Holiday Shopping. Browse more than 40 vendors at the new Tanglewood Park Holiday Market, held at the Red Barn Gift Shop on Nov. 28, Dec. 5, and Dec. 12, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Festival of Lights admission isn’t required, and light concessions will be available outside in the Gift Village. The annual Gift Shop Pre-Sale on Nov. 7, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., offers an earlier start on holiday shopping.

While you’re at the Gift Village, look for the annual Festival of Lights ornament inside the Gift Shop and snap a family photo at the nearby holiday backdrops. The Gift Village is also home to S’moresville, where visitors can roast marshmallows during the nightly light show.

►Look before you leave. Check the two TrueLook traffic-camera feeds on the festival website before heading out. They offer a live view of conditions inside the park to help you choose when to visit

Walk or Run the Lights

Want to experience the displays at a different pace? Special events offer a chance to explore on foot before the festival opens to regular vehicle traffic—and to welcome the new year beneath the lights. These events have separate registration and ticket requirements. 

• Miles for Meals 5K — Nov. 7. This family-friendly run/walk begins at 5:30 p.m. and supports the Hillsdale Church Food Ministry. Food trucks, hayrides, and other activities add to the evening.

• TOAST to the Holidays — Nov. 8. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Clemmons, this approximately 1.3-mile stroll welcomes walkers, strollers, and wagons. The event runs 5–9:30 p.m., with timed admission at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

• Paws in the Park — Nov. 9–10. Bring your four-legged companion for a special walk through the illuminated displays. Check the festival’s special-events listing for reservation details.

• Running of the Lights — Dec. 31. Ring in 2027 with a run or walk through the lights at midnight. Choose the 5K or a shorter 1.75-mile fun run/walk, with a celebratory toast and hot chocolate adding to the festivities. The race begins at 12 a.m. Jan. 1, 2027.

  
Six Essential Insider Tips

1. Charge up. Bring a fully charged phone and a car charger for all the photos and videos you’ll want to capture. Let your passengers handle the photography while the driver keeps an eye on the route.

2. ‘Go’ before you go. Have everyone use the restroom before leaving for the park. There are restrooms along the route, but a long entrance line is a bad place to discover that someone needs to go.

3. Get the car ready. Top off your fuel or charge before heading out—you may spend a while waiting and driving slowly. Clean the windows, too, so everyone gets a clear view. 

4. Pack a snack. Bring Moravian ginger cookies, treats from Dewey’s Bakery or Krispy Kreme, or a thermos of hot chocolate. A few favorite snacks can turn the drive into its own little holiday outing.

5. Bring your soundtrack. Download a holiday playlist before leaving, or tune in to seasonal holiday music on 99.5 FM. An impromptu car sing-along is always an option—enthusiasm counts more than perfect pitch.

6. Dress cozy. Holiday pajamas or your comfiest sweater fit the occasion. Bring coats, hats, and blankets for carriage and hayrides, or for a S'moresville stop.

WANT MORE HOLIDAY MAGIC?

The Festival of Lights is just one of the many things to love about the holidays in Winston-Salem. Explore our Holiday page for more seasonal traditions, sights, and experiences.