Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights
It is that time of year again! Whether you have never visited Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights, or if you go every year, we have a surprise for you! It is the 20th anniversary, and there will be brand-new displays throughout your Festival of Lights journey. Beginning November 19, 2011, Tanglewood Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland with an abundance of holiday and storybook scenes that are sure to make you and your children smile!
Personally, my family loves to take out-of-town guests to this event. Grandparents enjoy this experience as much as the kids as we all pile in the car, turn up the holiday music, and enjoy the fantastic display around us. Mark your calendar now for an evening to gather up family and friends and ride through the Festival of Lights. It will immediately put you in the holiday spirit.
You will find new additions at the Gift Village this year, too. This is located at the Red Barn about halfway through the lights show route. Here you will find holiday crafts and gifts made by over 75 area craftsmen, and Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus will be available for pictures! ($10 for a photo CD with rights included–that means you can print off as many as you’d like from anywhere.) The park has also added a live Christmas tree lot to the show which includes trees, garland, and wreaths. On the website is a $5 off coupon that can be printed and taken off your purchase price at the lot. Another new addition to the show is that the park has switched out many of the traditional bulbs on displays to LED lights–this means the light displays are brighter and more earth friendly!
Even if you have been to this show many times, you may not know that Tanglewood offers a wide variety of concessions also located at the Red Barn. You can enjoy soft drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, sandwiches, hot pretzels, nachos and popcorn. As always, Tanglewood will have plenty of marshmallows available for roasting at the giant marshmallow roaster!
The park will be open nightly from 6-11 pm November 19 through January 1. We encourage you to visit on a Mon-Thurs evening in order to avoid a long wait time. On most weekends, you can plan to wait about 2 hours. The entrance fee must be cash or check. Prices are as follows:
Friday-Sunday and all holiday evenings:
- Family – cars, vans, and trucks: $15
- Commercial – vans, limos and mini-buses (25 passengers or less): $25
- Motorcoaches and buses: $90
- Family – cars, vans and trucks: $10
- Commercial – vans, limos and mini-buses (25 passengers or less): $20
- Motorcoaches and buses: $90
Plus, on November 21, 22, 28 & 29 you can receive a special discounted rate for “Throwback Night.” Cars-$5, Commercial-$15 and Buses-$65.
In the past, my family has really enjoyed the hayrides through the park with groups of friends. Unfortunately, the carriage rides are all booked up for this year, but this is your reminder to plan ahead for next year and book early!
All contact information and additional tips can be found on the Festival of Lights website at http://www.forsyth.cc/parks/tanglewood/festival_of_lights.aspx. We hope to see you there! If you have been to Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights previously, share your favorite memories with us below!
Tanglewood Park was the winner of the Best Local Park in this year’s Mom’s Choice Awards. To find out more about Tanglewood, visit http://www.forsyth.cc/parks/tanglewood/.
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