Last updated: November 3, 2026 · By Magnolia Megan
The Tanglewood Festival of Lights runs Nov. 13, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, just outside Winston-Salem. You pay per vehicle: a family car is $20 to $28, or $10 cash on four discount nights in November.
Forsyth County says the show has over one million LED lights and draws about 55,000 vehicles and roughly 300,000 visitors each year. Here is everything you need to plan your night, all checked against the official Forsyth County Festival of Lights page.
Tanglewood Festival of Lights 2026 at a Glance
Dates and Hours
The drive opens on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 and runs through Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. The official hours are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The official page does not list holiday closures, a special New Year's Eve schedule, or a last car time, so check the official site before you head out on a holiday or a late night.
Want to see the lights before the cars arrive? A few walk and run events happen before opening night. See the walk nights section below.
Tickets and Prices
Admission is charged per vehicle, not per person. Weeknights (Monday through Thursday) are $5 cheaper than weekends, and paying cash saves $3 per vehicle.
| Vehicle | Mon. to Thu. | Fri. to Sun. |
|---|---|---|
| Family (cars, vans, trucks) | $20 cash / $23 card | $25 cash / $28 card |
| Commercial (vans, limos, minibuses) | $45 cash / $48 card | $50 cash / $53 card |
| Buses and motorcoaches | $115 cash / $118 card | $120 cash / $123 card |
You can pay with cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Advance tickets are sold at the Tanglewood Park Welcome Center or the Marketing and Events Office, and they come as a collectible ticket.
Bulk tickets for groups and businesses
Buying in bulk for an office, church or club? The county offers a $2 discount for 100 to 250 tickets, a $3 discount for 251 to 500, and a $4 discount for 501 or more. Order by calling 336-703-6480 or emailing [email protected].
Who gets in free
Guests staying at the Manor House and campers at the Tanglewood RV Campground get in free. Show your room key or campground pass at the front gate. The RV Campground is open until Dec. 5, so the camping option only works early in the season.
2026 Discount Nights
These four nights are the best deal of the season. Put them on your calendar now.
- Monday, Nov. 16
- Tuesday, Nov. 17
- Monday, Nov. 23
- Tuesday, Nov. 24
| Vehicle | Discount night price |
|---|---|
| Family | $10 cash / $13 card |
| Commercial | $25 cash / $28 card |
| Buses and motorcoaches | $80 cash / $83 card |
That is half the regular weeknight price for a family car. A lower price can also mean more cars, so check the live traffic camera before you leave home.
Getting There and Parking
Tanglewood Park is at 4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC 27012. The Festival of Lights entrance is off NC Highway 158 (Clemmons Road). It is a drive through show, so you see the lights from your car.
- Watch your GPS. Forsyth County warns that some GPS services send drivers to Idols Road. If you end up there, you will be sent back around to the main entrance. Follow signs for NC 158 and Clemmons Road instead.
- Check the line first. The official page has a "Tonight's Traffic" camera so you can see how backed up the entrance is before you leave.
- Everyone rides inside. Riding in the back of a pickup truck, or in or on a trailer hooked to a vehicle, is not allowed.
Questions? The park's phone number is (336) 703-6400.
The Gift Shop, Gift Village and S'moresville
The Gift Shop is at the Red Barn, about halfway through the light show route, so it is a natural spot to stretch your legs. A few things to know:
- Card fee at the shop only. The Gift Shop adds a 2.75% service fee to all debit and credit purchases. This fee is for the shop, not your admission.
- Holiday Market Saturdays. The official page lists a Holiday Market from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12, 2026.
- Gift Shop pre-sale. There is a pre-sale on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
S'moresville is in the Gift Village, right outside the Gift Shop. Forsyth County calls it a long-loved family tradition. You cannot bring your own sticks or food for roasting, but roasting sticks with marshmallows and s'mores kits are sold there. The official page does not list S'moresville hours or prices, so check on site.
Hayrides and Carriage Rides
If you want to see the lights without driving, Tanglewood offers two ride options. Both are paid in cash or check, on top of admission.
- Tractor pulled hayrides: $190 plus admission, by reservation, every night of the light show.
- Horse drawn carriage rides: $110 plus admission for you and up to three guests, by reservation only. The county says to call early.
Call the Tanglewood Stables at (336) 766-9540 to reserve.
Walk and Run Nights: TOAST, Paws in the Park, Running of the Lights
The festival is a drive, but a few special events let you see the lights on foot. Most happen before opening night, so plan ahead.
- Miles for Meals 5K, Saturday, Nov. 7. A 5K run or walk at Tanglewood Park at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $33, or $23 for ages 12 and under, and goes up after Nov. 6. Register for Miles for Meals.
- TOAST, Sunday, Nov. 8. The county describes it as "a perfect event for families, walkers, strollers, and wagon rollers through the majestic lights." Clemmons Rotary hosts this walk, and the ticket page lists $50 per car (everyone inside) or $20 per person ages 13 and up, with kids 12 and under free. Tickets are timed, sold in advance only, and TOAST guests use the back gate off Idols Road. Get TOAST tickets.
- Paws in the Park, Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10. Bring your dog for a walk through the light display. It benefits the Humane Society of Davie County. The reservation page shows Nov. 9 at 5 p.m., so confirm your night and the price when you book. Reserve a spot for Paws in the Park.
- Running of the Lights, New Year's Eve. A race through the Festival of Lights that starts at midnight, as Jan. 1, 2027 begins. There is a 5K and a 1.75 mile fun run or walk. Register for Running of the Lights.
On every other night, plan on seeing the lights from your car.
Best Time to Go and Tips
With around 55,000 vehicles a season, timing matters. Here is how to make the night easier on your wallet and your patience.
- Go on a discount night if you can. A family car is $10 cash on Nov. 16, 17, 23 and 24.
- Pick a weeknight. Monday through Thursday is $5 cheaper per car than Friday through Sunday.
- Bring cash. It saves $3 on admission, and the hayrides and carriage rides are cash or check only.
- Check the traffic camera before you leave. Weekends can back up. The "Tonight's Traffic" feed on the official page shows the line in real time.
- Set your GPS to Clemmons Road (NC 158), not Idols Road, for the drive through. (TOAST is the exception: it uses the Idols Road back gate.)
- Go early in the season for a walk night. TOAST and Paws in the Park are your only chances to see the lights on foot before the drive opens.
- Plan a stop at the Red Barn. The Gift Shop and S'moresville are about halfway through the route, and s'mores supplies are sold there (you cannot bring your own).
Make a Night of It in the Triad
Clemmons is a short drive from Winston-Salem, so it is easy to pair the lights with dinner or a day out. Start with our list of things to do in Winston-Salem, grab a pint at one of the Winston-Salem breweries we like, or spend the afternoon at Reynolda House. Coming from the east? Our Greensboro guide has ideas for the drive over, and our Piedmont Triad guide covers the whole region.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Tanglewood Festival of Lights 2026?
A family vehicle is $20 cash or $23 card Monday through Thursday, and $25 cash or $28 card Friday through Sunday. Commercial vans and buses pay more, and four discount nights drop a family car to $10 cash.
When are the Tanglewood discount nights in 2026?
The 2026 discount nights are Monday, Nov. 16, Tuesday, Nov. 17, Monday, Nov. 23 and Tuesday, Nov. 24. A family vehicle is $10 cash or $13 card on those nights.
What are the hours of the Tanglewood Festival of Lights?
The lights are on from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., from Nov. 13, 2026 through Jan. 1, 2027. Check the official site before you go for any schedule changes.
Can you pay with a card at Tanglewood?
Yes. Admission takes cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express, but card prices are $3 higher per vehicle. The Gift Shop also adds a 2.75% fee to debit and credit purchases.
Can you walk through the Tanglewood lights?
Yes, on a few special event nights. In 2026 that means TOAST on Sunday, Nov. 8 and Paws in the Park on Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday, Nov. 10, all before the drive opens on Nov. 13. On other nights, you see the lights from your car.
Where is the Tanglewood Festival of Lights?
It is at Tanglewood Park, 4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC 27012, just outside Winston-Salem. The entrance is off NC Highway 158 (Clemmons Road).
Looking for more holiday plans? Browse more things to do in NC.