HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Here’s a list of the top spots to check out light displays across Hampton Roads that are merry and bright!
Chesapeake
Deck the Hall and Fa La La Land
A dazzling winter wonderland is coming to Chesapeake City Hall. Gather your family to experience this drive-thru light display from the comfort of your car.
Dates: Thursday, November 25, 2021 through Sunday, January 2, 2021 (Walk through only dates on December 11 and 18)
Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Chesapeake City Hall, 306 Cedar Road
Fees: The event is free and open to the public.
Come celebrate Christmas with Triple R Ranch and see the ranch aglow with lights, from the comfort of your car. Dinner meals will be available for purchase on the following nights: December 10, 11, 17, and 18, 2021.
Dates: December 10 through December 31
Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: 3531 Bunch Walnuts Road
Fees: No tickets. The ranch welcomes donations to help support and sustain Triple R Ranch.
Hampton
Holiday Wonder Walk at Waterwalk Path
The lighted walk will feature lights and displays showcasing the Hampton Coliseum, Candyland, “Frozen”, and more! This year, the path will also include two stages of holiday entertainment, vendors selling hot food and holiday merchandise, kid’s activities, strolling performers, and new lights and displays. As part of the lighted path, a limited number of “Community Trees” will be available for Hampton clubs, businesses, churches, and organizations to decorate using the theme “From the Sea to the Stars.”
Dates: December 4, 2021 – December 12, 2021
Time: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: 1000 Coliseum Drive, Hampton
Cost: FREE
Newport News
Newport News Park will be transformed by over a million individual lights, creating animated holiday and fanciful scenes. For its 29th year, the event will add new magical trees and upgrade other features.
Dates: Nightly, November 25, 2021 – January 1, 2022
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Location: Newport News Park, at the intersection of Ft. Eustis Blvd. and Jefferson Ave.
Cost: $12 per vehicle Monday-Thursday, $15 per vehicle Friday-Sunday. Advance purchase tickets are available at the Newport News Visitor Center for $10, good for any night.
Enjoy an evening Nature Night Walk through the Virginia Living Museum’s outdoor trail decorated with lights and holiday decor. Have your picture taken with Otter Claus Friday and Saturday nights! Enjoy the planetarium show Star of Wonder at 6 p.m. and Holiday Magic Laser Show at 7 p.m. each night for an additional fee.
Dates: Nights vary | Thurs-Sun – 11/26-11/28, 12/2-12/5, 12/9-12/12, 12/16-12/19, 12/20-12/23, 12/26-12/30
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (timed tickets)
Location: Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Cost: $12. Ages 2 and younger are free. Click here to purchase tickets.
Norfolk
Nauticus’ WinterFest on the Wisconsin returns to the Downtown Norfolk waterfront this holiday season with over 650,000 lights, featuring new, uniquely themed light zones, below deck tours, live music & entertainment, a never-before-seen Santa Experience, and a new restaurant inside the Battleship Wisconsin’s historic wardroom.
Dates: November 11, 2021 – January 2, 2022
Time: Wed-Thurs: 5-9 p.m., Fri-Sat: 5-10 p.m., Sun: 5-9 p.m.
Location: Nauticus, 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk
Cost: Wed-Thurs – $12.50 adult, $10 child, Members – $9.50 adult, $7 child | Fri-Sun – $14.50 adult, $12 child, Members – $12.50 adult, $10 child. Click here to purchase tickets online. Walk-up tickets cost an additional $5 each.
Norfolk Botanical Garden of Lights Million Bulb Walk
Walk at your preferred pace along one mile of enchanting lights. This year’s route is brand new and includes features such as The Wall of Light at NATO Tower.
Dates: November 12, 2021 – January 2, 2022, including holidays.
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. nightly.
Location: Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk
Cost: Monday-Thursday, $18 adult, $16 military, $12 child (3-17), Friday-Sunday $25 adult, $23 military, $15 child (3-17) | Prices for garden members: Monday-Thursday, $15 adult, $10 child (3-17), Friday-Sunday, $20 adult, $10 child. Purchase your tickets online. Walk-up tickets will each cost $5 extra.
Zoolumination at the Virginia Zoo
The Virginia Zoo is welcoming 29 inflatable animals to its Zoolumination event this holiday season. Zoo visitors can walk through the zoo and observe the new “animals.” At night, guests can drive on zoo grounds and see the inflatable sculptures lit up and listen to a “compelling conservation audio story.”
Dates: November through Jan. 9, 2022
Time: Daytime walkthroughs run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Nighttime Weekday (Sun–Thurs), 5 – 9 pm: Members: $35 per vehicle, Non-members: $45 per vehicle
Nighttime Weekend (Fri–Sat), 5 – 11 pm: Members: $40 per vehicle, Non-members: $50 per vehicle.
Purchase your tickets online.
Location: Virginia Zoo, 3500 Granby St., Norfolk
Suffolk
Festival of Lights at Sleepy Hole Park
Enjoy a sprinkle of holiday cheer at the inaugural Suffolk Festival of Lights at Sleepy Hole Park. View an exhibit of five holiday light themes from the warmth and comfort of your car at the quaint Festival of Lights drive-through display.
Dates: November 26 – December 30, 2021
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Sleepy Hole Park, 4616 Sleepy Hole Road
Cost: Free.
Virginia Beach
BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the BeachCruise along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk in your car! This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. The nautical themed light display is presented by BayPort Credit Union. WAVY-TV and FOX43 are the exclusive media partners. The event begins at 2nd Street.
Dates: November 19, 2021 – January 2, 2022.
Time: Sunday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Location: 2nd Street at the Boardwalk
Fees: $30 general admission. New this year, purchase tickets online in advance for a designated time slot.
Witness the magic of the elaborate displays of lights throughout the popular Virginia Beach KOA campground. Sync your radio to your favorite holiday tunes and take in the holiday magic. If you’re looking for the ultimate holiday experience, book a horse and carriage ride. The grand illumination ceremony is November 27, beginning at 5 p.m.
Dates: November 12, 2021 – January 2, 2022.
Time: Sunday-Thursday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Location: 101 KOA Lane in Virginia Beach (the entrance is off Prosperity Drive).
Cost: General admission is $25. Purchase tickets online.
Horse and carriage rides open November 27. $20 for adults, $15 for children ages 5-12. 4 years and younger are free.
Williamsburg
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens
“The World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park will once again be transformed by the season with over 10 million twinkling lights, one of the largest light displays in North America. Christmas Town™ classics such as Santa’s Workshop, the Christmas Town Express and ‘Twas that Night ice skating show renew holidays traditions, while three NEW heart-warming shows offer a merry surprise for all. Thrilling rides, festive treats and holiday shopping complete the experience with spirited fun for the whole family. Christmas shines brightest at Busch Gardens Christmas Town.”
Dates: Select dates from November 12, 2021 through January 2, 2022.
Time: Hours vary.
Location: 1 Busch Gardens Boulevard, Williamsburg
Fees: You can purchase tickets online.
Neighborhood Displays
Christmas At Savedge Manor
Location: 1474 Sexton Rd, Elberon (Surry County), VA 23846
Opening date: November 26, 2021.
Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 5:30-9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30-10 p.m.
Christmas week: 5:30-10 p.m. every night
Cost: Free
“The display at Christmas at Savedge Manor consists of about 100,000 lights. Christmas at Savedge Manor’s display consists of over 400 blowmolds, dozens of lighted deer, commercial-grade lighted Nativity, horses with carriage and ice skaters along with many other lighted items. Christmas at Savedge Manor also, includes a lighted tree forest, and features outdoor music. In addition, features include a lighted walk-thru with numerous lighted archways so that guests can get an up-close and personal view of what the display has to offer. There is plenty of parking available (even for buses). Christmas at Savedge Manor has something to offer for the young and the young at heart.”
Dances Bay Christmas Light Show
Location: Dances Bay Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909
Opening Date: November 25, 2021
Holt Family Lights
Location: Tallahassee Drive, Chesapeake, Va.
Opening Date: November 20, 2021
Mennicucci Family in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
The Mennicucci family is at it again in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Their holiday lights display is bigger and better than ever… and they hope the same for donations they’re once again collecting for a good cause.
You’re invited to drive by the lights display on Clamshell Drive behind the Belk Shopping Center in Kill Devil Hills.
The Mennicuccis ask that while you’re enjoying the sights, you donate money or nonperishable food items which they will donate to the Beach Food Pantry in Dare County.
Piazza Family Christmas Lights
Location: 913 Pleasant Ridge Drive, Chesapeake, Va. 23322
Opening Date: Coming Soon. Click on the link above for updates.
Priest Family Christmas
Location: 820 Sydenham Boulevard, Chesapeake, Va. 23322
Opening Date: Coming Soon. Click on the link above for updates.
Sheely Family Lights
Location: 703 Ava Court, Chesapeake, Va. 23322
Opening Date: November 25, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Special Event: “Lights for Eliza”. Sunday, Dec. 12 is “Eliza Hope Night” featuring a special guest: Santa! He’s arriving at 6 p.m. and pictures will be available with a donation. The Eliza Hope Therapy Center has put together a wish list of items needed for the center that we will be collecting. These items include: white poster board, glue sticks (disappearing purple), large size construction paper, washable non-toxic kids paint and finger paint, baby wipes, Kleenex tissue, anti-bacterial Clorox wipes, anti-bacterial hand soap, Lysol spray, white paper plates, plastic cutlery (spoons/forks), small Dixie cups, paper towel rolls, toilet paper, Swiffer pads.
Woodland Christmas Wonderland
Location: 4028 Woodland Drive, Chesapeake, Va.
Opening Date: November 25, 2021
** If you know of any other spectacular local light displays, please let us know so we can spread the word. Email WAVY at this link. Please include location and a link to information if available.