Bright Nights at Forest Park will kick off its 29th season on Wednesday, November 22, 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.
Bright Nights Roll Back Night
Admission $6 per card
November 22nd
5pm to 9pm
Friday, November 24th and Saturday, November 25th
Reservations Required
Bright Nights Welcomes Santa
For Bright Nights at Forest Park’s 29th season, Santa will be back full time. From opening night on November 22nd to Christmas Eve, the big man in the red suit will be listing 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.
Santa will be in his cozy cabin provided by The Barn Yard. Photos with Santa start at just $12.
Bright Nights Named Best of the Best
Bright Nights at Forest Park, the Northeast’s premier holiday lighting event, has been named to the American Bus Association’s “Best of the Best” for 2020. The list includes attractions and events from throughout the United States and Canada. Bright Nights is the only holiday lighting event chosen for the distinction.
Bright Nights at Forest Park is featured in the Festival and Events category along side Eastern States Exhibition, Home of the Big E, Philadelphia Flower Show, and the Quilt Gardens Along the Heritage Trail in Elkhart, Indiana.
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 5th and 12th 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.
