Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is the Arboretum's annual walk-through holiday light show, running November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027. It features over one million lights in the gardens along a one-mile trail, with live music from local performers and cocoa and s'mores. This year's displays include "Forest Floor," "Beneath the Riverbed" and "Between Water and Woods."

Good to know, per the Arboretum: tickets are priced per vehicle, so everyone in the car gets in on one ticket, with Value, Standard and Peak date tiers. Guests arrive by motorized vehicle only, not on foot or by bike. Pets are not permitted (service dogs are welcome), anyone under 16 needs an adult, and it is an all-weather event unless the Arboretum closes for a weather emergency. Plan on at least an hour to see the displays.

Tickets and the full FAQ are on the Arboretum's Winter Lights page.