First Night at Nights of Lights Drive-Thru Attraction at Dix Park — Dec 30 & 31 (yes, the acorn will be there!)

 

WRAL/Capitol Broadcasting, in partnership with the City of Raleigh, is bringing a new holiday attraction to the Triangle.

WRAL Nights of Lights is a drive-thru light show at Dorothea Dix Park.

The 1.3 mile route will wind through the park, with illuminated trees, festive light displays and local art installations, all with the towering oaks, rolling hills and open fields of Dix Park as the backdrop.

As of the time of this update (December 29th) there are still tickets available for December 30th and 31st, during which there will be additional “First Night” features, courtesy of Artsplosure. And, YES, that’s where Raleigh’s giant acorn will be for New Year’s Eve!

Please note that due to the modified executive order, the attraction ends earlier each night than originally planned.

Some more details: For the rest of its run, Nights of Lights will honor all tickets purchased for time slots from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Anyone who purchased tickets a later time slot will automatically be issued a full refund beginning Thursday afternoon.  Others who have decided not to come can request a refund.

If you go:

• Expect a wait.
• Use Western Boulevard and go to the Hunt Drive entrance
• Have your ticket ready for scanning

Other Light Displays

Please also note that we have put together a HUGE list of Christmas light displays in the Triangle, including some that should not pose a big delay. The list includes 8 ticketed attractions and 26 free ones. 

See the best Christmas light displays in the Triangle

More information about Nights of Lights

Some of the displays:

• Magical Christmas trees
• Holiday light tunnel
• Santa and elves
• Wintry fun scenes
• Snowflake Land
• Penguins
• Christmas Toy Factory
• Patriotic display
• Snow Family
• Railroad lights

Learn about other spectacular light displays throughout the Triangle this holiday season.

Dates and Times

Nights of Lights will operate nightly from Wednesday, December 16th, through Thursday, December 31st, 2020, with the exception of Christmas Day.

• December 15th: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Bike Night)
• December 16th to 27th (except December 25th): 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• December 28th and 29th: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• December 30th: 5:30 pm. to 9:30 p.m.
• December 31st: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Due to the modified stay-at-home order, the show ends at 9:30 p.m. every night. 

Logistics and Road Closures

The dog park, Grove and Harvey Hill will remain open to the public during this time. Hunt Drive will be closed December 9th and 10th from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

On event nights road closures around the event route start at 5 p.m. A vehicle height limit of 10 feet will start on December 10th.

Here’s more information, and a map, of road closures.

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets will be available for 30-minute time slots, with limited tickets available for each block. You can arrive up to 10 minutes before your time slot.

Tickets are $15 per car or pickup truck, and $30 for vehicles with 9 or more passengers.

Some time slots have sold out, so don’t delay in purchasing your tickets!

There’s a 10 foot vehicle height limit.

You can purchase tickets for WRAL Nights of Lights online or by calling 800-514-3849.

Discount Nights

There will be discounts on Monday, December 28th, and Tuesday, December 29th.

On Discount Nights the price is just $10 per vehicle for cars and pick-up trucks and $25 per vehicle with 9 or more passengers.

Bike Night

Ride your bike through the Nights of Lights event during the special designated time for visitors on bicycles only. Tickets are $4 per person. Event route will be modified so bikes enter and exit at Hunt Drive park entrance.

Full bike route will be 2.6 miles. For safety, bike lights, masks and socially distant riding is required.

Bike Night is Tuesday, December 15th, 2020, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All bikes must exit by 6:30 p.m.

First Night Celebration

On Wednesday, December 30th, and Thursday, December 31st, there will be an extra dose of New Year’s Eve sparkle, from Artsplosure.

On December 30th and 31st, during the First Night festivities, tickets will be $20 for cars and pickup trucks, and $40 for vehicles with 9 or more passengers.

Express Lane Tickets

A limited number of express lane tickets will be available within every 30-minute time block for $30, except on the4 discount nights and the First Night Celebration.

More Info

Enter from 75 Hunt Drive, Raleigh. Have your tickets downloaded or printed out. You must remain in your vehicle the whole time. Restrooms will not be available. There will be no food or beverage sold. You can bring your own food and beverage, but no alcohol.

 

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More upcoming holiday events

Check out our huge list of holiday events in the Triangle, or look at a few of them here:

Friday, April 16, 2021