A Winter Wonderland To Light Up Your Holiday: Tanglewood Festival Of Lights

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Bright, colorful Christmas lights bring out the kid in all of us! The sight of more than a million sparkling and glowing bulbs thrills our hearts, thoroughly delights us, and fills us with the spirit of the Holiday Season.

For 33 years, the Tanglewood Festival of Lights has reflected in the eyes of excited visitors as families drive through the park, taking in the magic of over 80 dazzling displays – trees, reindeer, sea serpents, boats, trains, castles, angels, teddy bears, and so much more, many of them animated. With eyes wide with wonder, kids love traveling through the tunnel of lights and the thrill of discovering what’s around the next corner on the five-mile drive through one of North Carolina’s largest and most spectacular Holiday light displays.

The 34th Season Of Tanglewood Festival Of Lights

Tanglewood Festival of Lights has become a beloved holiday tradition for many. The drive through the displays, with holiday music on your radio that corresponds to the light show, is magical. The event draws 55,000 vehicles and approximately 300,000 visitors each year.

Horse-Drawn Carriage And Tractor-Pulled Hayrides

If you wish to experience the Festival of Lights uniquely, up to four guests may ride through in a Horse-Drawn Carriage. Carriage Rides are scheduled by reservation, which must be made early while they are still available. The cost is $100, cash or check, plus Festival of Lights admission.

Another fun way to travel through the spectacular display is on the Tractor-Pulled Hayride. Take in the magic with family and friends in the open air, atop the hay. Hayrides are available every night with reservations. The cost is $175 cash or check, plus Festival of Lights admission.

For more information or reservations for the Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride or the Tractor-Pulled Hayride, contact the Tanglewood Stables at 336-766-9540.

The Gift Shop And S’moresville

Halfway through the display, guests may stop at the Red Barn Festival of Lights Gift Shop and browse through holiday crafts, specialty foods, and handmade gifts by local artisans. You can also purchase an annual Festival of Lights ornament as a memory of your visit.

Just outside the gift shop is S’moresville, open until 10pm each night, but closed Christmas Day. Here, they will be selling roasting sticks with either marshmallows or s’more kits, for you to enjoy by the fire and create a sweet snack before continuing on your trip through the light show. Visitors may not bring their own sticks or items to roast.

What You Need To Know About Tanglewood Festival of Lights

Where Is It Located?

Tanglewood Park is located just 10 minutes west of Winston-Salem, just off I-40 in Clemmons. The entrance for the Festival of Lights is off NC Highway 158 (Clemmons Road). From Winston-Salem, take I-40 West to exit 182, Harper Road/Tanglewood, make a left off the exit and a right at the light on Highway 158. Follow the signs to the Tanglewood Park entrance, on your left. Note: Some GPS services incorrectly bring you to the Idols Road entrance, where you will be redirected to the main entrance on Highway 158.

When is The Festival of Lights?

The Tanglewood Festival of Lights takes place November 14, 2025, through January 1, 2026, from 6pm to 11pm. Weeknights are the best time to visit, as Thursday through Sunday get very busy and the wait to enter can be several hours.

How much does it cost?

Admission to the Light Show is payable by cash or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover only). There is an additional processing fee for using a credit card. The rates are as follows:

• Family Vehicles (cars, vans, trucks) – Cash: $20; Credit Card: $23
• Commercial Vehicles (vans, limos, minibusses) – Cash: $45; Credit Card: $48
• Buses & Motorcoaches (large group vehicles) – Cash: $115; Credit card: $118

Safety Note: Riding through the Festival in the back of a pick-up truck or in/on a trailer connected to a vehicle is prohibited.

Get your tickets in advance from the Tanglewood Park Welcome Center or the Marketing & Events Office, and receive a collectible ticket. Bulk Tickets (100-500+) are available at a discount. Call 336-703-6480 for information.

Discount Nights And Prices

The following nights offer admission at a discount:

• Monday, November 17
• Tuesday, November 18
• Monday, November 24
• Tuesday, November 25

Costs for discount nights are:

• Family Vehicles – Cash: $10; Credit card: $13
• Commercial Vehicles – Cash: $25; Credit card: $28
• Buses & Motorcoaches – Cash: $80; Credit card: $83

Visit the Tanglewood Festival of Lights website for more information.

Special Events At Tanglewood Festival Of Lights

It is very exciting to walk or run at night through the bright, sparkling lights at Tanglewood, and you have the chance to do just that. The brilliant displays light your way as you participate in the following events:

5K Miles For Meals – November 8

Be the first to run or walk through the Festival of Lights on Saturday, November 8, beginning at 5:30pm. The 5K Miles for Meals is a fun event for the entire family, featuring a beautiful evening, spectacular lights, food trucks, hay rides, and more, as you support the Hillsdale Church Food Ministry. No Pets allowed. The fee for participation in the 5K is $33 for adults and $23 for ages 0-12 if you sign up before November 7. Price increases to $36.00 after November 7, 2025, at 11:59pm. Register as a Covenant Partner, pay $275 race fee, and receive two event entries and two shirts. The race starts at 5:30. The park will be closed to traffic at 5pm, so arrive early.

Packet Pick Up will be on Friday, November 7, 12:00pm – 2:30pm and 5pm – 7pm, at Hillsdale Church, 5018 US Highway 158, Advance, NC; or Saturday, November 8, 4:15pm – 5:15pm at Tanglewood Park Pool Area. Parking for participants will be in the designated lots at the Pool Area. Once those lots are filled, overflow parking will be at the Golf Country Club Parking Lots.

Visit this site to see the course map for the race. The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 4:15pm – gates for the park will open on race day
• 4:15pm – race day registration & packet pick up opens
• 5:00pm – Park Closes To Vehicle Traffic – arrive early
• 5:15pm – race day registration and packet pick up closes
• 5:30pm – the 5K race starts
• 6:30pm – Projected awards ceremony (will be adjusted based on last finisher’s time)

This race will be timed using a bibtag timing chip, which will activate to record your start time when you cross the start mat. The timing chip will be on the back of the run number, so be certain you wear your number on the front and it is clearly visible. The awards for this race are based on Chip Time and include:

• Top 3 M/F overall
• Top 3 in the following age groups:
  • 1-6 • 7-10 • 11-15 • 16-19 • 20-29 • 30-39 • 40-49 • 50-59 • 60-69 • 70+

For more information and to sign up for the race, visit this website.

TOAST – Totally Outstanding Awesome Stroll Through Tanglewood – November 9

Bundle up, put on your walking shoes, grab your strollers and wagons, and walk through the light show at Tanglewood Festival of Lights, Sunday, November 9, from 5pm – 9:30pm. This fun family event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Clemmons, features a 1.3-mile walk through an incredible display of twinkling lights, plenty of activities, food trucks, pictures with Santa, and more. Gates open at 5pm for parking at Tanglewood’s back gate at 7714 Idols Road. For directions to the Back Gate entrance: click here.

Advanced tickets are required and will be sold for two time slots: 5:30pm and 7:30pm. No tickets will be sold at the door, and each time slot has limited tickets, so purchase yours early.

Ticket Costs are $23.18 (including a $3.18 fee) for a single individual. Children under 13 are free. If you have a car full of people who require tickets (or more than two), your best deal is the per-car price of $55.20 (including a $5.20 fee). Everyone in your car gets entry at this ticket price.

For more information about TOAST and to purchase tickets, visit this website.

Paws In The Park – November 10 & 11

Choose a day and time during this 2-day event and take a walk through the Festival of Lights with family, friends, and your special furry friend! Dogs and cats on a leash (no retractable leashes) are welcome to this unique event. Enjoy a stroll through 1.3 miles of the enchanting displays, shop for Holiday gifts at vendors, grab dinner from a food truck, and get a photo taken at the holiday pet photo booth, all while supporting the Humane Society of Davies County (HSDC) essential programs.

Advanced tickets are required and will be sold for each day in two time slots: 5:30pm and 7:30pm. No tickets will be sold at the door, and each time slot has limited tickets, so purchase yours early. You will select the day you wish to attend and the time slot you want when you are buying your tickets.

Ticket Costs are $20.00 per individual. Children under 13 are free. If you have a car full of people who require tickets (or more than 2), your best deal would be the per-car* price of $50.00. Everyone in your car gets entry at this ticket price. *A car is defined as a vehicle that fits within a single legal parking space. Sponsorships to support the HSDC are available for purchase and include public recognition and tickets. T-shirts are also available for sale.

For more information about Paws In The Park and to purchase tickets, visit this website.

Running Of The Lights – December 31

Here is an exciting way to ring in the New Year! Join the party at Tanglewood on December 31, watch the Times Square Ball Drop, celebrate with a New Year toast, and at midnight run or walk through the Festival of Lights.

Included in registration are:

• A glow-in-the-dark Finisher’s Medal
• Custom Race Shirt
• New Year’s Party Atmosphere and Celebratory Toast
• Times Square Ball Drop Streamed at the Start Line
• Race Photos
• And More

Sign up to participate in one of the following races:

• 5K Run/Walk – $40 + $5 sign-up fee. This 3.1ish-mile route sees the most light displays. Price increases after November 14, 2025, at 11:59pm EST
• Economy 5K Run/Walk – $32 + $5 sign-up fee. The same great race and atmosphere, but no medal and shirt. Price increases after December 14, 2025, at 11:59pm EST
• 1.75 Mile Fun Run/Walk – $28 + $4 sign-up fee. An easy-going run or walk that still allows participants to see some light displays. Price increases after November 14, 2025, at 11:59pm EST
• Economy 1.75 Mile Fun Run/Walk – $25 + $4 sign-up fee. An easy walk/run through some light displays, but no medal and shirt. Registration ends December 31, 2025, at 11:59pm EST
• Virtual Fun Run or 5K – $35 + $5 sign-up fee. Can’t join in person but still want the fun of running on New Year’s? Join virtually. Registration ends December 29, 2025, at 11:59pm EST

The following is the event schedule:

• Early Packet Pick Up
  • Sunday, December 29 – Early Packet Pick up, 2pm-4pm at Fleet Feet Greensboro, 3731 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro, NC
  • Monday, December 30 – Early Packet Pick up, 3pm – 6pm at Fleet Feet Clemmons, 6339 Jessie Lane, Clemmons, NC
• Race Day, December 31:
  • 10:00pm – Gate on Idols Road opens for entry
  • 10:15pm – Race Day Registration opens and Packet pick up
  • 11:45pm – Registration closes and Gate at Idols Road Closes
  • 12:00am – 5K Race Starts
  • 12:05am – 1.75 Mile Starts
  • 1:00am – Awards approximate (subject to rolling awards if short on volunteers)

The 5K race will be chip timed, and the following awards will be given:

• The 3 M/F overall
• Top 3 M/F in the following age groups:
  • 14 and under • 15-19 • 20-24 • 25-29 • 30-34 • 35-39 • 40-44 • 45-49 • 50-54 • 55-59 • 60-64 • 65-69 • 70-74 • 75-79 • 80+

Participants and spectators must enter Tanglewood Park through the back gate at 7714 Idols Road. For directions to the Back Gate entrance: click here. The back gate will open at 10pm and close at 11:45pm. Parking for participants will be in the designated lots at the Pool Area. Once those lots are filled, overflow parking will be at the Golf Country Club Parking Lots.

For more information about Running of the Lights and registration, visit this website.

Lodging At Tanglewood Park

If you would like to spend the night at Tanglewood Park during the Festival of Lights, here are some options:

Excelsior At The Manor House

A Bed and Breakfast restored to reflect the gentility of the Victorian era. The Manor House is a magical place for you to spend a wonderful evening during the Festival of Lights. Enjoy a mix of genuine antiques and reproductions throughout, including original staircases, crystal chandeliers, and 10 bedrooms with unique charm. Excelsior at the Manor House offers a variety of accommodations to suit every guest’s needs, from cozy single rooms to a spacious guesthouse, an apartment, and 4 cottages. Guests staying at the Manor House receive free admission to the Festival of Lights! Just show your room key at the front gate. For Manor House information and availability, call 336-701-0470 or visit excelsioratmanor.com.

RV Campground – Extended Season

The Tanglewood Park RV Campground is open for a few weeks during the Festival of Lights. Enjoy your stay at one of 44 newly refurbished campsites with up-to-date amenities. The park is a true wonderland for whatever your heart desires, including golfing, horseback riding, and hiking. There are Fire Pits, horseshoe courts, a volleyball net, and the RV Park in Pet-Friendly! Campers also receive free admission to the Festival of Lights. Just show your campground pass at the front gate! For more information or accommodations, call 336-703-6494 or visit rvcampground.tanglewoodpark.org.

Enjoy The Holidays In Winston-Salem

Tanglewood Festival of Lights is a not-to-be-missed Holiday Tradition, but Winston-Salem has many holiday activities and Christmas lights you can enjoy. See our article about the places and events that make the Holidays memorable.

What is your favorite display at Tanglewood Festival of Lights? Tell us in the comments..