Ever heard of the Tryon Christmas Lights? Millions of lights are on display through more than 2 miles of entertaining Christmas lights in the Christmas Wonderland Light Show at the Tryon International Equestrian Center only an hour from Greenville, SC. We sent Kristina and her family to try out this holiday day trip and give readers the scoop on everything they need to know. Media tickets were given so Kidding Around could review the Christmas Wonderland and Winterfest Village.
In one of our area’s best drive through Christmas light displays, the Christmas Wonderland Light Show has set up millions of lights synchronized to an orchestra of holiday music in Tryon, North Carolina at the beautiful Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), just an hour from Greenville, SC. And Winterfest Village is a great add-on to the drive through light show with ice skating, s’mores, live music and entertainment, and lots more.
2023 Dates for the Christmas Wonderland Light Show: November 17th, 2023 through January 1st, 2024. Winterfest happens Fridays-Sundays December 1-17 and 19-23, 2023.
If you’re familiar with Saturday Nights Lights during the warmer months of the year at the TIEC, the light show and Winterfest Village happens at the same location. The Christmas Wonderland Light Show happens every night from 6-10 pm, November 17, 2023, through January 1, 2024. I’ve been to several drive through light displays and this is absolutely one of the very best ones out there.
What to Expect at Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
When you get off at the exit for the TIEC, you’ll see signs directing you toward the light show, which is across the bridge if you’re coming from Greenville. Hang a left after the exit for 74 West onto a gravel road, where you’ll follow the road down to a bridge that you’ll go under and be directed to the entrance to the light show.
Tune your radio to 92.9 FM so you can listen to the music and watch the lights dance along.
Once you pay the entrance fee, turn off those headlights and start your adventure. This is drive-thru only and you can’t get out of the car during the ride. There are millions of lights over about two and a half miles. The road twists through tons of light displays and both kids and adults will be awed by the lights, especially as they sync up to the Christmas music.
You can only go through once with your admission so go slow and take it all in. It took us about 25 to 30 minutes to go through the whole light show. Once you are through the synchronized lights, you head into the TIEC through a back entrance and enjoy silly and creative Santa light displays.
The first time I took my kids, they were 8 and 5. Now they are 11 and 8 and they still loved it. They were blown away by all the lights and thought the music was upbeat and fun. The tunes are a mix of traditional and newer Christmas music. They wanted to go through it again when we were finished.
Winterfest Village at the Tryon Resort
Winterfest is back! Every Friday-Sunday December 1-17 and 19-23, families can head to the Legends Plaza which is transformed into Winterfest Village. Entrance is free but most of the activities do require a Winterfest admission ticket. The paid activities include Grinch & Whoville experience, Santa Meet-and-Greet, bounce houses, carousel rides, and Tryon Minis meet-and-greet. Admission is a wristband for kids, which is $10 Fridays and Sundays and $12 on Saturdays. Parents don’t need a wristband to accompany their kids. Ice skating is also an additional fee. In addition to on-site dining and concessions, Winterfest includes:
- Meet the Grinch
- Tryon Mini’s Pumpkin and Daisy
- Evening closing parade
- Visits with Santa
- Carousel Rides
- Bounce House
- Live Music and Entertainment
- Shopping
- S’mores & Storytelling
Ice Skating
Winterfest Village includes ice skating in 2023, which is super fun! The rink is situated right in the middle of the action in the area where normally the horses compete. Your ticket to ice skating includes an hour on the ice (real ice, by the way). And the ice skates are probably the nicest skates I’ve ever rented. You can also bring your own skates.
Tickets for ice skating are $20/each and kids ages 4 and up can participate. You can purchase timed tickets online or at the gate. Ice skating at the TIEC will run through January 1, 2024. You can even have a birthday party or field trip here!
And don’t forget to get hot chocolate right next to the ice skate rental tent. It is delicious, nice and chocolatey. There is Christmas music playing and the atmosphere is festive and fun. People who don’t want to skate can hang out at the picnic tables next to the rink or enjoy the other activities in the same area such as the ice slide, bounce house, kids horse jumping area (they can jump over obstacles like horses), or mechanical horse.
Santa’s Workshop & Breakfast at Winterfest
Both kids and adults can take professional photos at Santa’s Workshop during Winterfest. Photos are for purchase but they have such a cute and cozy setup along with an elf who will welcome you and introduce you to Santa.
The Tryon Resort also has Breakfast with Santa available on November 24, 25 and December 2, 9, 16, and 23. Seatings are at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11:30 am. Tickets include a kid-friendly breakfast buffet and must be purchased ahead of time. Tickets are $39/adults, $18/ages 5-14, and free for ages 4 and under.
Information You Need to Know About Christmas Wonderland & Winterfest
The Christmas Wonderland light show happens daily from 6 – 10 pm, including holidays. Expect to wait a bit more if you go on weekends versus weekdays.
2023 admission to the light show is below:
$35/car or family van (8 passengers or less)
$75/activity van or limo or mini/half bus
$150/tour or school bus.
Admission grants you one pass through the light display for the date you chose. If you want a fast pass to get to the front of the line, those are available for $60/car.
Parking for Winterfest
Additionally, parking for Winterfest is $10/car for Fridays-Saturdays 4-9 pm starting Thanksgiving Weekend.
Will you plan on going to Winterfest and the Christmas Wonderland Light Show in Tryon this year?
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
4066 Pea Ridge Road, Mill Spring, NC
Thanks for posting this information. I’ve always wanted to see Shadrack’s Christmas, but it was stopped in Greenville before I even realized it was there. Sounds like a nice day trip!! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!