Bright Nights at Forest Park
December 3, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Bright Nights at Forest Park will kick off its 31st season on Wednesday, November 26, with a special guest flipping the switch on all 675,000 lights. In addition to the magical lighting display illuminating the three-mile drive, Santa’s Magical Forest will be welcoming visitors to enjoy, snacks, souvenirs, and whirl on the carousel. Santa will be greeting visitors at the entrance on opening night as well.
November 26th – January 4th
Closed December 1st & 2nd
Bright Nights Roll Back Night
Wednesday, November 26, 5pm to 9pm
Admission Price $6 per car, Same as our opening year in 1995!
Tickets must be purchased in advance. No coupons will be accepted.
Climb aboard the Bright Nights Wagon or Carriage. The tour begins at the Bright Nights Gift Stop, located just passed Seuss Land, and takes passengers through the Garden of Peace, Jurassic World and back through Seuss Land. Dress warm! After the ride, passengers return to their vehicles to enjoy the many other magnificent holiday lighting displays in Bright Nights.
The wagon and carriage departs approximately every half hour starting at 5:30PM. The last departs at 8:30PM.
Reservations Required
Bright Nights Welcomes Santa For Bright Nights at Forest Park from opening night to Christmas Eve. The big man in the red suit will be listening to holiday wish lists, posing for photos, his camera or yours, and spreading holiday cheer.
All the excitement will take place in Santa’s Magical Forest, sponsored by PeoplesBank. It is located just passed Seuss Land. There will be a big sign with Santa directing passerby’s in to see Santa, for snacks, souvenirs, and a ride on the grand carousel.
Since 1995, Bright Nights has been a unique public/private collaboration between the City of Springfield’s Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management and the Spirit of Springfield, a private non-profit organization. Together they have welcomed more than 6 million visitors. It has been calculated that if every bus that had visited were lined bumper to bumper, they would go from Springfield to Cape Cod. The cars would go as far as California.
Admission is just $23 per car. Discounted admission is available on opening night. The price rolls back to 1995 when guests paid just $6 per car. There are two $10 Tuesdays, December 10th and 17th when a car full of holiday revelers is just $10. (Coupons not accepted on discounted admission tickets.) Be sure to add snowflake wands to your online ticket order. Available only online! You will receive them when your ticket is scanned at the entrance to Bright Nights at Forest Park.
