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Bull Run Festival of Lights: drive-through family fun!

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UPDATE DEC. 21, 2016:  Win a car pass to this amazing display! See details below!

By Patricia Hall, FairfaxFamilyFun.com

You can’t miss the lights while driving on I-66 (especially traveling east from Manassas):  the Bull  Run Festival of Lights is back! Visiting this annual holiday lights display at Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority’s Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville is a tradition for many local families. This year, the festival takes place November 23, 2016, through January 8, 2017.

Bull Run Festival of Lights

Driving along the Bull Run Festival of Lights

The main attraction of the Festival of Lights is the drive-through light show, which features elaborate illuminated displays that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own car.  As you drive along the 2.5-mile-long circular route, you will see scenes depicting Santa’s workshop, the Twelve Days of Christmas, and other holiday and winter scenes. You also will spot penguins, snowmen, candy canes, “flying” reindeer, and in one section even some very cool lights that resemble snow falling overhead. Since this is a drive-through attraction, it’s an event you can enjoy no matter what the weather is like from the comfort of your car.

If the winter weather is nice or you’re bundled up and ready to brave the cold, also make time to visit the carnival at the end of your ride. The carnival is open on select dates and features traditional midway rides and games (ride tickets are not included with the basic festival admission). Also visit the Holiday Village to enjoy bonfires, s’mores, hot cocoa, holiday merchandise, photos with Santa, and Santa’s Enchanted Lights, 40,000 twinkling lights set to music. On select dates there are also free family activities including cookie decorating, bingo, crafts, and nature shows, and, for a small fee, even camel rides!

Bull Run Festival of Lights

Fun and festive signs at the Bull Run Festival of Lights

Admission prices are per carload. Mondays through Thursdays, the fee is $15 per car; on weekends and holidays, the fee is $20 per car, except all Saturday nights in December, when the fee is $25 per car. The times for the festival (and the carnival, on applicable dates) are 5:30-9:30 Mondays through Thursdays, and 5:30-10 pm Fridays-Sundays and holidays.

Some tips to enjoy the festival:

  • Go on a weekday:  you will save money and avoid the crowds (another plus: with fewer cars, you usually can go a bit slower to enjoy the drive more)
  • Download the coupon: save $3 per weekday admission (for a $12 entry Mondays through Thursday) with this coupon from the festival website
  • Gather friends:  as long as you’re paying by the carload, take along some friends for extra fun!
  • Set the mood:  make some hot cocoa before you go and put it in travel mugs to enjoy during your drive, set the radio to a station playing holiday music, and bring blankets and the kids’ favorite stuffed animals

Win a car pass to the Bull Run Festival of Lights

One winner will one free car pass to the Bull Run Festival of Lights, good for any day during the 2016-2017 operating season. The winner will receive a free entry pass for one vehicle that can be used for any day and time (subject to availability). To enter this giveaway, sign up for our newsletter and leave a blog post comment below before 11 pm on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. One winner will be randomly selected and notified immediately via email at the address the winner used when placing the comment; the winner will need to respond with 24 hours to the notification email or risk forfeiture. The ticket will be mailed to the recipient via regular U.S. Postal Service mail. This promotion is not affiliated with Facebook. Contestants agree to abide by our giveaway terms and conditions.  This giveaway is open to persons ages 18 and up. Total prize value is up to $56.

All photos courtesy of Bull Run Festival of Lights

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  14. We have no plans for this holidays. This would a nice outing with kids. would love to win this for my kids 🙂

    Reply

  19. Now that my daughter LOVES & UNDERSTANDS the lights and decorations, she’ll absolutely be astonished by the lights!

    I can’t wait to see her reaction!

    Reply

  42. We went there this year but our young kids fell asleep throughout the ride! We would love to go there again, hopefully with awake kids at this time.

    Reply

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