Tanglewood has already gotten into the Christmas spirit with the Festival of Lights on the night of Nov. 10 at the Manor House Circle. It was dubbed the “Totally Outstanding Awesome Stroll Through Tanglewood,” or TOAST for short. The event was only open for that night but the park will open again closer to Christmas during December.  

Paws in the Park took place Nov. 11 and 12. This event allowed pet owners to walk their pets for free around the park and enjoy the lights with their furry companions. The Running of the Lights event will take place on Dec. 31. There, runners can start the new year by racing through the park starting at midnight.  Currently, the park is still open for horse-drawn carriage rides through the trail for $80. Tanglewood also offers overnight accommodations in the Manor House during the festival period. 

My family and I visited the festival at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. The ticket price was $50 per car, or $20 per person if there were only two in a car. The slightly staggering price was well worth it.

Before we began walking the trail to see the lights, there were other Christmas activities set up. Hot chocolate, toasted marshmallows and smores were offered for free, as well as two complementary professional pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  The waiting line for the pictures was no longer than 10 minutes. 

Food trucks and tents took up half of the parking lot, selling warm foods and Christmas items such as gifts or treats. Dogs were welcome at the event, so many tents offered free dog treats. Actresses playing Anna and Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” were present, greeting kids and taking photos with them. 

The trail decorated with lights was approximately 1.3 miles. The lights were detailed and creative, with some of them having little animations or even being placed in ponds. It was easy to take time and view each one for as long as we wanted. It has a better view than riding in a car and only being able to see them from my car window. The dazzling lights were a proper distraction from the cold weather as well.

Personally, I don’t prefer to celebrate Christmas until after Thanksgiving, although this year Thanksgiving doesn’t fall until Nov. 28. Plus, it is smart to go see the Tanglewood lights before December when everyone crowds around to see them. Extending the Christmas season means more time to appreciate everything the holiday has to offer.