New elements this year include additional large-scale light displays, in-person activations like a personal igloo rental or holiday outpost experience, multiple bike-only nights and a 5K Nights of Lights run/walk.
WRAL Nights of Lights at Dorothea Dix Park is back this holiday season and bigger than ever! The downtown Raleigh drive-thru holiday light event, presented by WRAL-TV in partnership with the City of Raleigh is back for a third holiday season. New elements this year include additional large-scale light displays, in-person activations like a personal igloo rental or holiday outpost experience, multiple bike-only nights and a 5K Nights of Lights run/walk.
WRAL Nights of Lights is the only downtown Raleigh drive-thru holiday light experience. Taking place inside Dorothea Dix Park, the event aims to provide an opportunity for the community to celebrate the holidays with a family friendly event. Attendees will enjoy five themed sections along a 1.3-mile route:
- CBC Village returns with WRAL/FOX 50, MIX 101.5, That Station, and 99.9 The Fan American Tobacco Campus, Rocky Mount Mills, and the Durham Bulls ALL in attendance
- Toyland with a 25-ft gingerbread house
- North Pole Neon made up of more than 500 ft of custom neon from local artist Nate Sheaffer
- Wild Lights includes a 30-ft dinosaur
- Winter Wonderland has Old Man Winter standing guard
Santa’s Workshop features Mr. and Mrs. Claus and an animated 250-ft tunnel.
For a look at the route and event information, visit wralnightsoflights.com.
Reduced car counts and a separate entrance for Fast Lane ticket holders will keep wait times and traffic back-ups to a minimum.
The success of 2021 Nights of Lights made it possible for us to present the Dix Park Conservancy with this $100,000 donation. And thanks to the generosity of the over 125,000 Nights of Lights attendees, over $19,000 was also donated to Inter-faith Food Shuttle.
This holiday season, attendees will have the opportunity to donate to the following non-profit organizations and events:
The event will run from Saturday, Nov. 19, through Saturday, Dec. 24. Special themed nights include the Nights of Lights 5k and two bikes only nights. A portion of available tickets will be given to Triangle area non-profits over the course of the event.
“We couldn’t be more pleased that WRAL Nights of Lights is back for year 3,” said Joel Davis, vice president and general manager of WRAL/FOX 50. “Every year this event gets bigger, better and more exciting. This year attendees will see a huge addition of lights and options for in-person experiences. Along with our partner, the City of Raleigh, we will continue to build this new holiday tradition for area families.”
Buy tickets for WRAL Nights of Lights
Nights of Lights tickets will go on sale Sept. 30, 2022. For more information: wralnightsoflights.com.
Two new packages will be available for purchase:
Visit the Holiday Outpost or reserve your Igloo Experience
Holiday Outpost – We’ve got a little bit of the North Pole at Dix Park! Start your Nights of Lights evening with a stop by our Holiday Outpost at All Faiths Chapel.
Igloo Experience – Become part of the Nights of Lights experience! Enjoy festive food and drinks inside your very own cozy igloo, lit with holiday spirit. When your time at the North Pole is over, you’ll rejoin the route and enjoy the lights in all their splendor!
For special ticket updates and announcements regarding WRAL Nights of Lights become a “Nights of Lights Insider” at wralnightsoflights.com.
About the WRAL Nights of Lights light installation
The light installations are managed by Southern Outdoor Restoration (formerly Vortex), a local Raleigh-based property services company that has been serving our community since 2001.
Thanks to WRAL.com for this Capcom story.
