Oglebay Festival of Lights
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The Oglebay Festival of Lights is one of the largest and most popular Christmas light displays near Pittsburgh and the Ohio Valley region. The Oglebay Festival of Lights is a 6-mile drive-through light display that continues to grow yearly!
Oglebay’s Festival of Lights is one of our favorite Christmas light displays near Pittsburgh because of its grand scale, and there is much more to do at Oglebay than just driving through the lights during the holidays! This post covers everything you need to know about visiting Oglebay for the Festival of Light and during the holiday season.
Oglebay Festival of Lights
The Oglebay Festival of Lights is a 6-mile drive-through Christmas light display that spans the entire Oglebay resort grounds and golf courses. The display features 90 displays, including Christmas favorites like the Grinch and snowpeople, and more unique displays like a carnival and dinosaurs! Many light displays include moving parts and dancing lights, making them unique compared to other light shows! Since the Festival of Lights is 6-miles long, give yourself enough time to drive through the entire display, especially if you’re going on a weekend or holiday.
After you get your pass, you can drive through as many times as you would like for the season! Several of the displays feature “Sounds of the Season,” which couple music and sounds to the displays. So make sure to keep an eye on your map for those displays. The driving tour is self-guided and has multiple areas where you can pull over or go back the way that you came.
For $18-25 per person, you can take a trolley tour through the lights instead of driving yourself! Trolley tickets must be purchased in advance.
Oglebay Good Zoo and Light Show
While the Oglebay Good Zoo and it’s light show are an additional cost, they are definitely worth visiting, especially if you visit with children. During a visit to the Good Zoo, you can visit the resident animals, ride the Polar Express, visit Santa, and enjoy more Christmas lights!
Learn more about things to do in Wheeling, WV
How much does the Oglebay Festival of Lights cost?
The Festival of Lights operates on a donation system, so technically, you could enter the light displays without paying. However, the recommended $30 donation gives you access for an entire season and helps literally keep the lights on at Oglebay! And you get an Oglebay coupon book with your purchase that offers coupons to Oglebay restaurants, services, activities, and more!
Hilltop Shops and Gardens
After driving through the light display, stop at the Hilltop shops to get some holiday shopping in or enjoy some snacks. After some shopping, make sure to walk around the gardens and enjoy more Christmas lights, selfie stations, and life-sized nativity!
Oglebay Mansion Tours and Glass Museum
The Oglebay Mansion and its rooms are decorated for Christmas during the holiday season! Self-guided tours are available for $10 per adult and are free for children under 17. In addition to seeing the Mansion decorated inside, make sure to stop by the mansion in the evenings for a free laser and musical show outside!
In addition to the Mansion Museum, you can tour the Glass Museum and learn about the history of glassmaking in West Virginia. Live glassblowing demonstrations are also available at select times.
Practical Information for Visiting the Oglebay Festival of Lights
The Oglebay Festival of Lights is an extremely popular event during the holidays, so consider arriving early or going later in the evening to beat any lines. Weekdays are also less busy than weekends.
Hours: November 10 – January 8, Nightly from dusk to midnight, including holidays
Admission: $30 donation
Location: Oglebay Resort and Park, Wheeling, West Virginia
Learn more about things to do in Wheeling, WV
Oglebay Festival of Lights Overnight Packages
Consider taking your visit to Oglebay to the next level by booking one of their overnight holiday packages, which includes a room in the Wilson Lodge, a breakfast buffet, and a pass to Festival of Lights!
Since Oglebay is a large resort, they offer a range of overnight Oglebay Festival of Lights packages. All packages allow you to select what room you would like. Oglebay Resort has multiple hotel wings that range in price and amenities from luxury to budget. The Magical Midweek Package is a discounted rate for visitors from Sunday through Friday. The Festival of Lights Package is available for weekend visitors. All packages include the Mountainer breakfast buffet (which is a massive and delicious spread for the next morning), the Festival of Lights pass, and one commemorative Oglebay tree ornament! By staying at Oglebay during the holidays, you’ll get to enjoy evening entertainment and refreshments! These packages are great for those looking to spend more time at Oglebay resort during the holiday season.
Lastly, Oglebay Resort offers two New Years’ Eve celebrations, one for families and one for adults only.
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