WS Chronicle

The 27th annual Festival of Lights at Tanglewood Park opens Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 and runs through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. The show’s operating hours are 6 p.m.-11 p.m. nightly, with the exception of Dec. 31st when Festival of Lights closes at 10 p.m.. Forsyth County Parks and Recreation is excited to have Lowes Foods returning as the title sponsor for the 2018-2019 season.

This year, Festival of Lights is proud to introduce several new light displays. Festival of Lights patrons can also enjoy original compositions from the UNC School of the Arts Music Technology students showcased through our interactive musical displays. We encourage visitors to tune their radios to 99.5 WMAG through Dec. 25 to hear holiday music as they drive through Festival of Lights.

For the most enjoyable experience, visit Festival of Lights Monday-Thursday evenings early in the season. Friday-Sunday evenings as well as the days just before Christmas are very busy and extremely long wait times should be expected.

S’moresville, operated by Lowes Foods, will continue the marshmallow roasting tradition at the Gift Village, right outside the Gift Shop. Lowes will sell roasting sticks with marshmallows and s’mores kits on-site. Visitors to S’moresville may not bring their own sticks or food items for roasting. Other family friendly activities will be held at S’moresville on select nights throughout the show. S’moresville will close each evening at 10 p.m. and will be closed the entire evening of Dec. 25th.

The Gift Village is anchored by the Gift Shop located inside the Red Barn. The Gift Shop will have holiday crafts, wood workings, seasonal treats, and other fine gifts for sale made by local artisans. The Gift Shop will be open each night of the show and will close at 11 p.m. Sundays- Thursdays and 12 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with the exception of Dec. 31st when it will close at 10 p.m..

Due to unfortunate circumstances, Santa and Mrs. Claus are unable to attend Festival of Lights this season.

Tanglewood Farms is now taking reservations for horse-drawn carriage rides and tractor- pulled hayrides. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (336) 766-9540.

There will be several Festival of Lights special events this season:

*The Festival of Lights Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, Nov. 18th. Lunch will be served at 11a.m. with a 12 p.m. shotgun start on the newly renovated Championship course. The entry fee is $60 per person or $50 for Tanglewood members.

*Running of the Lights is Monday, Dec. 31. Start off the New Year with a race through Festival of Lights at midnight.

Nightly ticket prices are as follows:

*Family (cars, vans and trucks): $15 -Commercial (vans, limos and mini-buses): $35 *Motorcoaches and buses: $100

Festival of Lights also offers Discount Nights! On the following nights only, receive reduced pricing:

*Monday, Nov. 19

*Tuesday, Nov. 20

*Monday, Nov. 26 -Tuesday, Nov. 27

The reduced pricing is Family (cars, vans and trucks): $5 -Commercial {vans, limos and mini-buses}: $15 -Motorcoaches and buses: $65

Stay at Tanglewood and enjoy the lights for free. Guests of the Manor House and RV campground receive free admission to Festival of Lights. Call 336.703.6494 for reservations.

Festival of Lights attracts an estimate of over a quarter million visitors annually.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.forsyth.cc/Parks/Tanglewood/fol/ or call 336.703.6481.