How Locals and WSSU Connect with the Festival of Lights in Winston Salem

The Festival of Lights at Tanglewood Park is one of Winston-Salem’s cherished winter holiday traditions. The festival is one of the largest holiday light displays in the Southeast region. According to Forsyth County Parks, the Festival of Lights draws more than 55,000 vehicles and 300,000 visitors annually. The must-see attraction features a drive-through display covering miles of over a million LED Christmas lights, bringing on the holiday spirit.

For many locals and WSSU members, the Festival isn’t just a holiday attraction, it's a tradition that makes Winston-Salem feel like home. Some grew up visiting with family, others experienced its winding, glowing trails for the first time. Nevertheless, the Festival of Lights marks the start of the holiday season. “Every year they add something new, and every year I’m like, ‘Okay, they got me again,’” said WSSU senior nursing student Nella Robinson. “It’s how I start my holiday season here at Winston.”

According to Drew Wiles, Marketing and Events Manager for Forsyth County Parks and Recreation, that sense of tradition is exactly what makes the Festival of Lights stand out from other holiday displays. “The festival is profoundly unique compared to other light shows in two major ways,” Wiles said. “It is a tradition with this being the 34th season. There’s a lot of people who attended as kids, and now they’re bringing their kids, it’s a family thing. On top of that, our light show tells a story as you go through the route, so it is not just a bunch of lights. We add on to the light display every year. We have horse stables, farm animals, our gift shop, S’moresville, a clubhouse, and a golf course.”

Whether it’s the familiar tunnels of lights, the warmth of S’moresville, or simply the laughter in a car full of friends and families, the Festival of Lights offers a sense of belonging that carries far beyond Tanglewood’s exit. And for WSSU students and the Winston Salem community, that connection is what makes the start of the holiday season feel complete.