Do you ever wish you could shrug off the weight of your adult responsibilities and recapture the wonderment of childhood? Brook here, and I felt more tuned into those long-forgotten, magical feelings than I have in many a moon after driving through the North Carolina Arboretum to take in this year’s Winter Lights.
Featuring hundreds of thousands of colorful, twinkling lights over fun + whimsical exhibits — like life-sized unicorns — across a one-mile route, it’s a delightful way to get into the holiday spirit. Come along with me to find out how you can #TryThis.
Experience:
Drive-thru Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
What we tried (with pricing):
We headed out to the Arboretum at 7 p.m. on a weekday evening in November, so it was already cold + dark, a.k.a. the perfect time to take a spin through a sparkling winter wonderland. And great news: the exhibit runs nightly from 5:30-10:30 p.m. (incoming gates close at 10 p.m.) through Jan. 10, so you have ample time to check it out. Pricing is $25 per car when you purchase ahead of time and $30 at the gate, and Arboretum Society members receive $3 off pre-sale tickets.
Upon entering, you’ll meander along through an enchanted forest and admire the sights. The bulk of the exhibits are nearest the buildings, and as you drive along, it’s a great time to crank the heat and roll down your windows. This way, you can better see all the colorful lights and hear both the peaceful sounds of Bent Creek and the excited squeals of children like mine. Pro-tip: The show follows a one-way route, so there’s no stopping or turning around, but you can slow down to snap pics and take it all in at a leisurely pace.
As you near the top of the hill, you see more displays coming into view, including an enormous, captivating Christmas tree whose lights rhythmically change color and design. It was so lovely + mesmerizing, I reverted to my childlike self and smushed my face against the car window to get the absolute closest view I could.
What not to miss:
Who needs reindeer when you have unicorns? This is the first time in my life I’ve seen unicorns in a holiday setting, and as a former unicorn-obsessed child, I have to say I hope it’s not my last.
The three legendary creatures look to be prancing festively into the season, and maybe most importantly, they’re life-size with rainbow-colored manes + tails. It was pure joy to hear my child, along with others, pointing their fingers and yelling out excitedly upon seeing these mythical horned beasts.
What we’re still talking about:
The blend of traditional + contemporary elements make for a really rad holiday show. We’ve all seen icicles, Christmas trees, and other familiar winter scenes, but the new nature-themed displays are fun, fresh, and festive. Among the standouts, there are adorable butterflies, a giant daisy garden, a glimmering rainbow, a lovely lotus flower, polar bears, birds + insects (including an enormous caterpillar), toadstools, and my personal favorite, the cutest ladybug you can imagine.
How you can experience this:
Buy your ticket online and select the date + time you want to visit.
Things to know if you go:
- Experience: Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum
- Price: $25 per car pre-sale and $30 at the gate; Arboretum Society members get $3 off pre-sale tickets
- Website: https://www.ncarboretum.org/winter-lights/
- Address: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
- Hours: Nightly from 5:30–10:30 p.m. (Note: The gatehouse closes promptly at 10 p.m.)
- Social: Facebook I Instagram I Twitter
