Upcoming Events in Western Massachusetts
Bright Nights at Forest Park
Bright Nights at Forest Park will kick off its 32nd season on Wednesday, November 25, with a special guest flipping the switch on all 750,000 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.
Visitors will be in awe as reindeer leap over cars. They will look to see which has the red nose. The Blizzard Tunnel transports travelers to the North Pole Village where elves toss toys into Santa’s sack, while others tend to his sleigh, and more elves prefer to frolic and play. Santa can be seen flying high above the historical Springfield Municipal Group.
There are the Winter Woods, Winter Garden, Garden of Peace, and Jurassic World with a volcano that shoots out snowflakes, animated displays for the Springfield Thunderbirds, and MGM Springfield. There is a frog that leaps from his lily pad and makes a splash. The 48-foot tall Giant Poinsettia Candles light the way for a safe trip home.
It is a magical holiday journey that has welcomed more than 7 million visitors since 1995.
November 25th – January 3rd
Closed November 30th and December 1st
Monday, November 30th
Rain Date: December 1st
Bright Nights Roll Back Night
Wednesday, November 25, 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.
$12 Tuesdays
Tuesday, December 8th & 15th
Climb aboard a wagon or the Cinderella Carriage and enjoy many of Bright Nights at Forest Park’s magical displays. The crisp winter air and the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves make for a memorable experience among the twinkling lights.
The tour begins at the Bright Nights Gift Shop. Passengers are then carried away to enjoy the glimmer and glow of Seuss Land, the tranquility of the Garden of Peace, and the jungle of Jurassic World. Upon return to the gift shop, they can purchase gifts and souvenirs, visit with Santa, enjoy a tasty treat, and bask in the glow of Bright Nights at Forest Park’s Grand Christmas Tree.
The private horse-drawn wagon for as many as 12 people is $300 and includes two complimentary vehicle admission tickets for Bright Nights at Forest Park. The Cinderella Carriage holds up to four people for $250 and includes one complimentary vehicle admission ticket
The wagon and carriage departs approximately every half hour starting at 5:30PM. The last departs at 8:30PM.
Reservations Required
Thursday, December 3
Thursday, December 10
Thursday, December 17
Sunday, December 27
Friday, December 4
Friday, December 11
Friday, December 18
Santa – Photos & Visits
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.
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.
