I was told about this place by my co workers who takes their kids and their dogs every year. My family was coming over for the holidays and I wanted us to do something fun. They all enjoyed and loved it even though we thought it is more suited for kids. You pay $30 per car, turn your car lights off and you turn your radio to a specific station that goes with the lights and we thought that was creative. It took about 40 minutes to finish. After the light show, you can go to the Santa village if you want where you can purchase things, buy food, use the restrooms, etc. We got popcorn, funnel cake, fries and others. Everything tasted right. It was nice seeing other families there having a good time. We went on a Saturday, Christmas Eve and the wait wasn't long at all, about 10 to 15 minutes. I was hoping to hear some of my favorite Christmas songs but the ones they played were fine. This was a great experience and I recommended. read more

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My family went primarily for the light show. The show started at 5:30 and we got there twenty minutes early. The show was awesome! About a half hour experience. The lights are in sync with the radio channel they have. Free for military, EMS and law enforcement when we went. There are restrooms at the end of the show where the little market is. Market included a couple of rides, pics with Santa, and a few small businesses. Worth it for the lights. read more

Illuminate Light Show - Festivals Near Me - Doswell, Virginia

Go on a Thursday its a 35 minute wait at most and worth it the lights are so colorful and bright in person fun not generic huneke music decently long show also 100% recommend read more

Need something to get you into the holiday cheer?! If so look no further. This is suppose to be Virginias Largest drive-thru synchronized Christmas light and music show. It's perfect for a date, fun family outing or again just to get you in the spirit! They are open rain or shine and on ALL holidays from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. It cost $30 per family vehicle and there are some other rates for commercial/other special vehicle. They informed me that accept cash and all major credit cards at the show entrance or they have an option for you to purchase tickets online. Tune your radio to 106.3 (May change) and ride along with your headlights off and enjoy! They do warn you prior a few things such as not to get out your vehicle, the light show can cause seizures and one other thing I honestly can't remember. They did so well keeping the lights and music all synchronized and well planed out. They had workers that were assisting with directing people in certain location as well. No complaints. At the end of this lovely show they have a Santa's village. They have photos with Santa, train rides, trampoline jumping, goods for purchase, reindeer rides, and other fun activities you can do. All in all it was a great time and they did a wonderful time putting this together. read more

We come every year and they never disappoint. Every year we come and the ligh show is better than the year before. $30 a vehicle is a bit steep but it is worth it. I recommend coming on a week night because lines on weekends and holidays can have you sitting there for hours. read more

The wait time in line! It's ridiculous how long and slow the wait time is! Forced to give 1 star because nothing less to add! read more

The light show was amazing and always is, although I wish the music was a little bit better sometimes. They (usually) have at least one song for everyone by genre. However, for the years we have attended, Santa's village continues to be a disappointment. The vendors for the kid rides appear to have serious biases towards people of color and it shows. Ride time will be shortened or a child removed for some reasons that make no sense. Tonight I watched several children of color treated differently at the bougie jump ride over and over and several other parents (including white) observed the same. We even watched as the timer was changed for the children of color vs other riders. As well as placed on the same side over and over as to not have to manage the timer being different from the others. My child was placed on the ride, obviously assisted to be clipped in and told have a good time and nothing else (yes I watched). They barely allowed her feet to touch the base to jump properly and when she was trying to gain leverage on the pad to push off she accidentally flipped herself. She is very slender and underweight for her age. Worse is they didn't notice. They noticed when I asked her if she was okay and told her try to hold on and not flip. When I stepped over to her brother to check on him on the other bougie pad they immediately took her off, timer still running with time left. She didn't understand why and started crying. I went back to inquire what was going on and they refused to talk to me until I kept asking. Finally, with attitude one of the girls said she flipped and was taken off. I said it was an accident and you barely fixed her to jump properly can she be given another chance? They said no. No one was in the spot they took her off of. I also said that I saw no one told her any directions just clipped her into the cords and I just spoke to her to understand what happened, again shouldn't she be allowed to finish her time. They responded no they can't trust her. Wow. She is a child. I'm sure this will offend many but it's the season of peace and brotherly love. They didn't bother to even try to understand what happened just made her feel terrible. So, we will do the lights maybe but not Santa's village. Quality is worse and worse each year. read more

Warning this is a complete waste of time. Waited in line for almost 3 hours seriously doesn't look that long from the front entrance. Lights were ok I guess read more

We went to this light show and really enjoyed seeing all the displays and cool tunnels to drive through. I think it was a nice long line up of things to see. The only thing I thought could be better was the music. What they had was definitely family oriented christmas music, I just thought it would have been cute to have some more current music on some displays to make the lights dance with it. Overall, its very nice and a great family activity during the holiday season. read more

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Very high tech light show, but I echo what a previous reviewer wrote, that the music is lacking and has no true Christmas feel to it. Felt hollow to me, and reminds me of Charlie Brown and Linus going to get a Christmas tree, and after knocking on the side of the metal tree, and hearing the hollow "clang", Linus comments sarcastically, "This really bring Christmas close to a person". And FYI, at the end of the drive, there is "Santa's Village", which is a collection of high priced vendors (mostly food and activities). Some examples of pricing in 2023 include: $10.00 funnel cake, $8.00 for popcorn, $7.00 for a cup of ice cream and 1 topping. Cannot comment on the horrible wait experience several have mentioned back in 2020. Maybe it's improved, maybe not. We visited on opening night in mid-November (too earlier to be thinking Christmas for many), so that may have helped us. read more

Same ol weird music every year. You would think that there would be Christmas music. Not! The price is ridiculous. After going for the past few years, we've decided not to go this year. read more

Omg!! Awesome experience. Went a date through it so many different cool things to see. I was excited to find it down the street from the cabin we were staying at. Took about 35-40 mins to get through. You can't get out the car but pics & videos are good. You have to turn your headlights off so please pay attention to the car in front. But other than that BEAUTIFUL view!! read more

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I'll preface there by saying we went on 12/31, so after Christmas. It was still pretty busy, but I can imagine it being very long before the holiday. The light show was $30/car; personally, I think it was well worth the money! You turn your headlights off and turn your radio to the specific station that is in sync with the lights. The entire drive through the light show was about 45 minutes. They have a wide selection of holiday music, Christmas music, etc. Fully recommend! read more

2.5 hour line with no option to turn back... Be warned, the line is much, much longer than it appears. Multiple lanes of cars are coiled up like a snake in the large field behind the gate and the road is so tightly packed it becomes impossible to leave. My family was stuck for 2.5 hours on a week night, and after the show and drive home it was past midnight. You'd be better off watching a drive through on youtube with all the lights in your house off. read more

Illuminate Light Show - Festivals Near Me - Doswell, Virginia

We drove from Hampton, Va. so excited to see this "amazing show!". What a huge let down. Lights-4/10, customer service 3/10. 2:45 hr wait in line from 6:30pm til 9:22pmto get to gate to start the show. Bus pulled into line at 2 hours 15 minutes in front of us. The gate had a employee lead a family friend or family member in and to front of the extremely long line! It took 28 minutes to drive through whole thing at 3/4 mph. It was a majority of dancing string lights that were used to make Christmas trees and poles. They had a few singing Christmas tree, light bulbs, but nothing else that was cool. The screen that had videos on it was very poor quality. If you are looking for a drive through light show drive to Newport News park or drive around Williamsburg to see the Williamsburg family home lights. Much better quality. And not $30 Santa village. Was a joke. Everything cost to do with the kids and everything was very overpriced. So disappointed! I will pay to have a great time with my kids but these prices were ridiculous for so little time of fun. Take you kids to sky zone and have a better, longer time, more fun experience. Rest assured i normally don't give horrible reviews but better to be honest! read more

It's been a few years since I've posted a review on here, but this review made me come out of retirement. On yesterday I went to this light show and there was no indication (outside of the reviews on here) that I might want to rethink going to see this show. I arrived at the street to where the park was on around 6pm and I immediately saw a large group of cars inching towards the entrance of the park. The wait to get TO THE ENTRANCE was roughly 40 minutes long. Once you're at the entrance, if you drive in, there will be no place to leave until you get to the booth where you pay for tickets, which will be a two hour wait if cars are backed up to that point. All in all, it was nearly 3 hours before I made it to see the lights and while the light show was nice, it was far from worth the wait. You're better off driving to Virginia Beach and seeing their light show on the strip. Otherwise, avoid this place!!! Oh yeah, might I add that during my 2 hour wait, staff members handed every car a coupon to Papa John's but this is deception. The coupon is really an officer to get up to $200 in Papa John's vouchers in exchange that you sit through a 2 hour presentation on a timeshare. No thanks!!!! read more

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We stopped in the weekend before Christmas and phew, was the wait long (like 2 hours long-long). Fortunately our kiddos did pretty well but there's really no telling how long it's going to be and once you're in that line, there's no way out so plan for it. The soundtrack for the lights as well as the displays themselves were great and our family enjoyed the experience. $25 may seem costly but considering we could stay in the warmth of our car and not tire out the littles walking around it was worth it to us. Glad we stopped in! Would definitely avoid the weekend before Christmas if you can, or plan accordingly. read more

Not only a total waste of money but it took 2 hours BEFORE we got close to the entrance! Another 2+ hours mostly of standing still with no bathrooms and bored children. We turned back which was also not easy. Not worth it. Horrible experience read more

Completely irresponsible to not alert attendees of the length of time you can expect to wait in line. Only one opportunity to exit before finally getting to the ticket booth. What a complete waste of time. read more

Very subpar light show. The music is horrible and consists of tribute bands. No true Christmas feel to it. Not to mention the several-hour wait to get in. Also, staff at the ticket booth were not wearing masks. read more

I just visited tonight with a friend did enjoy the light show. You drove through this light show slowly with your lights off, set your radio station to 106.3 and listened to the music light up the lights! It's definitely something the entire family should see at least once. One disappointment was some of the lights noticeably not working, but other than that, a trip you should take at least once! It was $25.00 per car, so load up (safely) and enjoy a rocking musical light show. After the show, you end up at Santa's Workshop Village, however, there was not many venders or crafters on hand, but it's nice to get out and stretch your legs. They had Santa available for photos (you cannot take your own so there is a cost), some food and venders selling their wares. read more

Light show is just OK. Pretty lights that's a nice experience if you had a 30min to 1hour wait. I came on a weekday from 1 hour away and experienced a 3.5 hour wait. Nowhere was it advertised how long the wait is except the Facebook page. Nowhere do they have food, drinks, gas, or waiting system except being stuck in standstill traffic. Multiple merges and unmerges slow it further. All in all a 6 hour trip on a Tuesday evening. The music that the lights are synchronized with are all covers and mashups (think Metallica's Sandman combined with Journey's Don't stop believing combined with Christmas carols). I came for festive holiday spirit but some songs were very strongly Christian only and defensive which was a turn off. Overall don't waste your time unless you can guarantee it's a low traffic time. read more

Light show is nice. However if we knew of the 3 hour wait time would have never come. Just when you think your close think again more circles of traffic once inside. By the time we got in child was asleep!! read more

Lights are great- but the music is TERRIBLE. And considering you pretty much have to listen to the music to enjoy the show, it's pretty torturous. I think the entire time we heard one recognizable Christmas tune. It was mostly really strange Christian mashup/covers of nirvana and journey songs that mentioned Santa or Rudolph to try and convince you they have something to do with Christmas. Super weird. read more

This is a great experience for kids of all ages. It was approximately 2 miles of lights that were timed with all types of holiday music. There was a small con to the event. It took us 45 mins to get to the ticket booth, the whole time you are driving in your car in bumper to bumper traffic worse that an accident on I-95. My suggestion: they should have tickets for a certain day. Our ticket could be used any day until the event was over. Tickets on line only, you are in two lanes of traffic mixed with cars with tickets & having to buy tickets. Great event but, you need to have gas in your car for the line prior to the start line of the event, snacks/ drinks for the wait getting in, go to the bathroom, port a potties on the way in but, you are playing leap frog through the two lanes on traffic to get back to your car moving through the park, and a lot of patience. Enjoyable once you start the event. read more

I went for the lights and I was disappointed. The lights flashing to the music that gets broadcast to your car radio was very too upbeat to a point that it did not feel festive at all. I feel like there should have been signs to warn about the rapid flashing and possible seizures. Speaking of signs, I didn't notice any signs to direct you to the entrance. Overall I feel that you'll see a better arrangements of lights at the mall and this experience was not worth the trouble. read more

First and most definitely our last time visiting this light show. Took 3 hours in line just to get to the starting point...no kidding, 3 long hours on a Tuesday evening at that...going 3 days before Christmas was definitely not a good idea. And I certainly didn't think the 35 minute light show, made longer because people disregarded the signs and stopped along the route, was worth waiting in line for 3 hours. read more

So we were very hesitant on coming here, we really prejudged this place because of our experience on Long Island at the Jones Beach light show. Let's just say I ate my words! This show is very long and worth the money. The lights dance to the sound of the music and they all function! The only downfall I could find is if you have to go to the bathroom during the tour, you will not make it till you get to the end. I would recommend this place and would return to this location. read more

They charge by the carload, not by the number of people in the car. And you can even bring your dog. I got a half price ticket for the car. I was kind of skeptical about going because just seeing it from the road it seemed really cheesy. But we went on December 23rd and the wait was crazy. We waited an hour to get in. we found out later that we were lucky it was only an hour and that there have been wait times up to 4 hours especially on the weekends so keep that in mind if you're going on a weekend. also make sure that you use the bathroom before you go because there's nowhere to use the restroom while you're waiting in your car to get in or even after you get in. The first bathroom available is after you're done driving through the light show. The light show itself was really nice which I was surprised about the music was timed exactly to the lights and it really made everything pop. And there is a mixture of religious music for those of you that are religious and secular Christmas music for those of you who just like the holiday and none of it was hitting you over the head with whichever song it was. I was with my 19 and 15 year olds and my husband and I have to say that the girls loved it and I consider them to be pretty typical jaded know-it-all teenagers. I would definitely go back even at full price. read more

A fun holiday drive thru light show at the fair grounds. Definitely more suited for the kiddos but I LOVE Christmas lights, so I definitely had to check it out. And it's the best way to view lights in my opinion, you get to stay warm in your car! We visited on a Thursday evening around 9pm (they're open until 10) and there were still a lot of cars going through, I don't want to know how busy this place must be on the weekends! The light displays themselves were ok, the best ones were the tunnels you drive through - they were really pretty and made for some great photos! Not sure I'd turn this into a regular holiday tradition but it's at least worth a visit if you've never been before. read more

Illuminate Light Show - Festivals Near Me - Doswell, Virginia

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This was an absolute cluster. We sat in traffic for ever just to get up to the entrance. Once there they create a third line...note that these three lines have to merge into one. It took us 1.5 hrs just to get to the entrance, then another 3 hrs to get to the ticket booth. The light show want that great , you can see most of it while sitting in traffic on the main road. Waste of time money and gas. read more

I loved it! Took my family on a Monday(weekdays are the best time to go to avoid long wait times and huge crowds) and we had an absolute amazing time. The lights danced to the music on your fm radio. The music varied as well, which was nice. Some upbeat, some down. I loved how some of the characters in the light show sung along to the music! Staff at front gate was amazingly nice as well. That is very important to me. There is a few warning signs at the entrance that do give you precautions... previous review said there wasn't but there was. Only thing I would have liked to see different was Santa's Village. It was basically a big mall. Just things to spend money on so it kind of took the allure away. But my children had a blast and it was a very festive experience. Def worth the $22 entrance fee (Military discount!) read more

Illuminate Light Show - Festivals Near Me - Doswell, Virginia

Holy crap where to begin. Let's see. First, no signage leading to where to enter. Me and several other cars followed what LOOKED like the way in, only to have to do a U turn and try again. Second, over an hour and a half wait in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic before the ENTRANCE GATE. When we got close enough we asked an employee who was directing traffic if the way out was behind him and left. Tickets need to be sold for specific time slots and visitors should be told do NOT stop, keep moving at 5mph at all times. The entrance off of the main road from the highway should be where tickets are shown and the ungodly winding queue (think Disney Pirates of the Caribbean for cars!!) should be scrapped. If improvements aren't made I can guarantee *I*'ll never waste my money again. read more

This is not worth the trip the wait in line is very long it took me over 3 hours from the main road to even get to the lights. In all honestly the best sight to behold was the porta potties . Once inside you are trapped it's not a enjoyable experience at all. Avoid at all cost. read more

I got here at 8:20 on a Sunday night (they recommend Sunday as their least busy day). I waited in line for almost 3 hours. Finally got to the ticket booth at 11:05 and was done driving through by 11:30. The music was very unimpressive and lame. I was sorely disappointed. This is not worth the wait at all!! The lights are pretty cool but the music is so weird and the wait was so long I would definitely not recommend. read more

Went on a Saturday night and have been waiting almost 4 plus hours and still haven't made it in. Employees that are supposed to be helping with the traffic are standing around talking and smoking cigarettes. No signage stating how long the wait is to get in. Once you are in line no way to exit. The drive into the light show is 3 miles before you even hit the ticket booth. The worst experience and I haven't seen the lights yet!! NEVER AGAIN! read more

DON'T GO!! We sat in line almost 4 HOURS before we even reached the ticket booth. Granddaughter got car sick from the constant stop-and-go along an endless line.And there was NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE LINE . Lights were only ok. We'll never go again. read more

The wait to get in was three hours. We left home at 7:30 pm and got home at 1:30 am. I expected a wait of around 1.5 hours for a Monday evening. The schools are closed this week and it's COVID so I knew it may be a little longer than usual, not twice as long. There is no sign to tell you that you are approximately three hours from the show. There is no food or drink sales while you wait. Check your gas before you get in line. After three hours we made it to the ticket booth and in front of it a pistol was displayed. I am not sure if that is to deter theft or angry parents who feel scammed. Bring food and drinks and a flashlight for the dark port a potty and that might help some. Can't recommend them at this time. They need to clearly communicate times so people can make informed decisions about the wait. With a curfew going on that lack of information for the consumer required us to be out post curfew. read more

I went for the first time in December and had an absolute blast. When we arrived, the line was already long, but it moved quickly. They have you turn the radio to a designated station that is synced to the lights- it ranges from new and upbeat Christmas songs to the classics. You drive along a path you get to enjoy the lights as they blink to the songs. I was pleasantly surprised with how long the experience was. Can't wait for the next holiday season. read more

We waited in a line of traffic for an hour and a half! The website says there might be waits up to 2 hours but there is no indication from the street that there would be this incredible wait and once you turn in, THERE IS NO EXIT. We never would have waited this long to pay $25 and then drive through the lights, still in bumper to bumper traffic. It really ruined the experience and the night. read more