Triangle on the Cheap

Live well in the Triangle on a budget. Find fun, free things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC

Magic of Lights drive-through at Coastal Credit Union Music Park

POSTED BY
Jody Mace

UPDATE: We have a winner in the contest! Meghan W., please look for an email soon with details! And congratulations!

For a second year, Magic of Lights will be at Coastal Credit Union Music Park, adding to the Triangle’s list of impressive Christmas light displays.

This drive-through attraction will be taking place from November 18th to December 30th, 2022, from 5 to 10 p.m. It will be closed Mondays in November.

Read on to enter to win a ticket, good for a carload at Magic of Lights!

We’ve put together a huge list of holiday events in the Triangle, including parades, festivals, markets, Santa visits, and more. Check out our growing day by day list of holiday events in the Triangle!

Magic of Lights is being presented at 20 venues, including Raleigh, and entertains 5 million guests annually.

Guests will weave through a spectacular one-mile holiday lights display with various holiday light features.

The experience will feature themed light displays using LED technology and digital animations. Enjoy the drive-through Blizzard Tunnel, the 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland and The Night Before Christmas.

Dates and times of Magic of Lights

Magic of Lights will be taking place from November 18th to December 30th, 2022, with tickets on sale now. The event does not take place on Mondays in November.

  • 5 to 10 p.m.

Ticket prices

When you buy tickets you do not have to specify the date that you’ll use them.

  • Advance ticket (available November 2nd to December 8th): $20 per standard vehicle
  • Limo/party bus: $55

Purchase tickets for Magic of Lights.

Win A Ticket for Magic of Lights

Magic of Lights is giving away one ticket to a reader of Triangle on the Cheap! A ticket is good for a carload of people, on any night.

To win:

  • Be an email subscriber of Triangle on the Cheap! We send out an email every morning with all the latest free and cheap events and deals.
  • Leave a comment on this post! You’ll have to scroll down a little bit to get to the comment section.

We will randomly select a winner on Monday, October 31st. We’ll email you, and announce the winner in this post. Make sure to check your email.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Perry says

    I haven’t been to see the lights in over 10 years. I’d love to go with my daughter for her last Christmas at home before leaving for college. Holiday Memories ❤️ 🌲

  7. Monica Patrick says

    Entertaining visitors from New York, this would be a very fun addition to our plans! We love to share this email to our retired friends who are always asking for what to do in Raleigh.
    Thanks!
    MonicaP

  14. Brenda says

    I have wonderful grandchildren who now live in the Raleigh area and this would be a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season with them!

  20. Jackie says

    This would be the ‘cherry on top’ as I have family flying in from CA and up north for Thanksgiving. We haven’t gotten together for Thanksgiving in a very long time so I’m looking for special things to do!
    Please pick me! Thanks!

  21. Marlene Allen says

    I’d love to be entered into the contest to win a free ticket! I am a widowed grandmother who would love to take her grandchildren to this exciting event! Thank you for the opportunity.

  32. Jessi says

    Every morning I wake up and find interesting things to do because of your list. Lights bring such joy to so many and have never experienced this event before – would LOVE to win – go with my husband, senior mom (almost 80) and bring a long a neighbor to two to share in the joy!

  37. Barbara Bender says

    We had a blast at this last year. It would be awesome too win so we can go again this year!

  38. Michelle N says

    Recently moved to the area and would love to take my family to see the lights! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication in finding free and budget friendly activities to do in the area – this site is my go to each week when looking for something to do!

  41. judy patoka says

    We would be thrilled to take the grandkids to this event! Keeping my fingers crossed that we will win!

  48. Latoya says

    I have never been and would love to take my daughter and grandson to see the lights. 🙏🏾I win

  58. Ms. Sharp says

    This would be a great treat for my family. We are new to North Carolina and new to this. Plus, we have a new baby that would love to see the Christmas lights. Fingers crossed!!!!

  61. Jolene says

    Woah so excited to have the chance to win! Would love to take my Toddler, to see the joy in his face after such a hard year would be amazing! Thank you for the chance TotC!!

  66. Ann Jeffrey-wilensky says

    After being in poor health for several years, it would be amazing to rediscover the magic of the holiday season.

  68. Hollie Fogle says

    I’d love to win a ticket to see the lights with my husband! I’m sure they’re great and we haven’t seen them before so it would be a first!

    • Aly Attaway says

      My family enjoys your newsletters immensely as they help us find all of the fun spots to explore (especially as clueless recent transplants). My kids would love to see the Magic of Lights, and I would be grateful to be able to give them event tickets as their bday presents. Thanks so much for the opportunity!

  69. Ed Best says

    I love receiving Triangle on the Cheap for all the great things happening in the Triangle. I would love to win tickets to the Magic of Lights.

  75. Ashley Ballman says

    We would love to go! We have a Billet player this year from Canada that is playing with the Jr Canes and would love to take him!

  76. Mai Domi says

    We moved from California and would love to experience the lights! I hear it gets bigger and bigger every year.

  77. Rae Nelson says

    First thank you to Magic of Lights and Triangle on the Cheap! These days it is hard for a family to go out for entertainment and something fun to do as things are so pricey. This is great fun and would love to be able to enjoy with my family. I live only a hour away and my oldest daughter lives in Raleigh attending NCSU! This is a great opportunity for fun family time! I love the Triangle on the Cheap newsletter and is a valuable source of information and savings/events! Thank you

  80. Stephanie H. says

    This website is awesome. It is a great resource when looking for something fun to do. I hope to win! If so, I will be taking my grandchildren and my mom who is 89 years old and visiting from Memphis.

  93. Lisa Welch says

    After a very rough year, financially, mentally and physically, I would love to be able to escape for a few hours and go on this wonderful tour.

  101. Dawn Hair says

    This is so very exciting!! The kids and I can’t wait to see all the beautiful lights and decorations.

  103. Susan says

    Every year my daughter comes to visit during the holidays and we find festive things to do. This would be a super Christmas event to do closer to home.

  108. Kari Skamanich says

    I love this website! I’m not from this area and had no idea that anyone had a drive-through holiday light show. I miss my hometown area during the holidays because they do this kind of cultured togetherness. It makes me feel like I’m home! I can’t wait to go to this event and invite my family to come to NC for the holiday this year! Thank you for making the effort to create it and for telling the community all about it. 🙂

  116. Katie Clark says

    We’re new to the area and are so excited for the holiday season and to explore new places!

  118. Agnes Baxter says

    30 years ago we took our kids and drove through the lights at Walnut Creek and it was magical! Glad that they have returned. I look forward to riding through with my grands! 🥰🥰

  119. Beth says

    Exciting! Would love to win — first Christmas in NC ☀️🎄🚗
    Thanks for the info & the chance to win!

  121. Melissa Freed says

    My 6 year old son and I have officially been here from PA for a year. The holidays were a struggle last year, but this year they’re bound to be better! I’d love to experience the lights with him! Thanks for the opportunity!

  124. Marquita Lilly says

    I’ve never had the chance to attend the Magic of Lights event. I would love to win!!

  128. Gillian Holt says

    We’ve just moved to the area from Texas and would love to make this a new holiday tradition! Thank you for the opportunity!

  130. Karyn Mainwaring says

    It would be so nice to win! Even if I don’t, I still think I’d go no matter what

  132. LaToya Perkins says

    My kiddos would love to see this!!! Thank you all for always keeping us updated on family friendly events in our area. Being a homeschool family, taking field trips and extending our educational experiences, this has been the best decision to sign up for this awesome newsletter. Praying 🙏🏽 we get a chance to win.

  133. Marie Magniccari says

    As my family is new to NC and Raleigh. I LOVE to get your emails chocked full of fun for my family. Christmas is so magical and I so look forward to enjoying the holiday season here. The drive through lights sounds like fun. I hope I win but if not I will still be there. Good luck to everyone who enters.

  135. Phoebe Platt Simon says

    We have extended family coming and would love to show them this and so much more that the triangle has to offer. Our hope is they’ll move here!

  140. Richard Gorberg says

    we love seeing the lights around the area every year. we have not seen these lights and would love to go! Pick us!

  147. Ashley says

    Yay!!!! We LOVE THE LIGHT SHOW!!! Can’t wait to see what you guys do this year!! Pick me, Pick me!!!

  152. Cheri says

    I already subscribe to TOTC and love it! It’s the only place I go to find what to do! My family would love to win a ticket to the drive thru!! Thank you!

  154. Jim Matzko says

    I enjoy looking through Triangle on the cheap every morning. It is a great site and has saved me a lot of money. Note: I wish it would work on my desktop computer. Somehow my email service is blocking the content.

  155. Anne Walker says

    I’ve never been to see the lights in Raleigh. If I won the ticket I would make the trip in with the grandchildren from Durham for it though. We’re always looking for new things to do.

  157. Tammy Sheldon says

    See! So many of us love this site! Thank you for doing for us what we don’t have time to do…finding so many fun things available to do in our area that we otherwise likely would not have known about.

    As a caregiver to someone celebrating a 96th birthday on 11/29, this holiday drive will be a wonderful, doable, safe addition to her birthday festivities.

    Everyone enjoy and send out peace to the world.

  159. Angela says

    Can’t wait to see the beautiful displays! This will be our daughter’s first Christmas and we can’t wait!

  160. Sue Leavenworth says

    I would love to go see this because I have never been. My granddaughter and the rest of my family would really enjoy this, so I hope I win.

  165. Cheryl Kenny says

    Have never done one of these, but with three young grandchildren coming here for Thanksgiving, this could be the perfect family outing!

  167. Jasmine Jones says

    LOVE triangle on the cheap and would love to win tickets to this light show! Can’t wait for Christmastime to come around 🎉

  170. Catol says

    I do look forward to your newsletter;it really helps me know what’s going on in the triangle! Thank you for the opportunity to win a great prize!

  171. Chester Swift says

    First time hearing of this because we are new to the area. This looks amazing and can’t wait to see the lights.

  172. Kathy Taunton says

    This is so much fun to drive thru– Out family really enjoys the excitement of seeing the magic of the lights 🙂

  175. Tomekia S Bartee says

    Thank you for always keeping me updated on events happening! It helps me to find activities for my teenagers that we can do as a family! Keep up the great work!

  182. Lloyd Bennett says

    We went with our granddaughters who were age 7 and 5 last year and we loved it! Highly recommend “Magic of Lights!” While I am in a recommending mood, subscribe to the “Triangle on the Cheap” daily email newsletter. Send it on to your friends and family. It’s a great source for finding things to do for you and yours and it’s guaranteed to save you a few bucks. We can all use that!

  188. Patricia Krohn says

    Moved to Raleigh area a couple of years ago. Since moving near my daughter I have been blessed to have 2 new granddaughters. I would love to bring them to see the lights. One is 6 months old and the other 22 months old. They are what Christmas is all about. Full of wonder!

  189. Sue says

    Years ago I went through a light display here and it brings back so many memories. Happy to know it’s back and look forward to seeing it.

  193. Lisa Lewis says

    I have lived in Durham for 25 years but have somehow never been to this event! I would love to go.

  211. Elizabeth says

    Would love to share the magic of Christmas with my little! We live Raleigh and everything it has to offer or family!

  213. Erin McNell says

    Entered! I love the email newsletter, I’ve been subscribed since I first moved to the triangle!

  215. Marlynn White says

    I’m looking forward to enjoying the Magic of Lights this year during the most wonderful time of the year!!!

  216. Angelica says

    So exciting ! Would love to win and take my mom for her birthday while she visits that week 🙂

  222. Andrea Peddicord says

    Would love to take my 2 year old to see the lights! The look in her eyes to see such amazing sights would be so worth it!!!

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