November 6, 2026–January 2, 2027
Bryson City is the hometown of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, and it's also home to one of the region's biggest drive-through light shows. Smoky Mountain Christmas Lights is the drive-through light show at the heart of Bryson City Nights of Lights, the town's new name for its holiday season. Stay warm in your car as you roll under glowing arches and past giant custom LED scenes at the Great Smoky Mountains Event Park.
What You'll See
Look for the Snowflake Arch, a train made of lights, a field of 200 glowing orbs, Santa's home at the North Pole, a manger scene, Sweet Tooth Lane, and a tunnel of lights. Bring snacks and holiday music for the ride. The drive takes about 15 minutes. The show runs rain or shine.
2026–2027 Dates & Hours
- November: Fri.–Sun., Nov. 6–8 and Nov. 13–15, then nightly Nov. 18–30
- December–January: Nightly, Dec. 1, 2026–Jan. 2, 2027
- Hours: 6–10 PM. On New Year's Eve (Dec. 31), the show closes at 8 PM.
Tickets & Prices
- $20 per car or family van $40 per activity van or limousine
- Tour buses and school buses are not allowed because of tight turns at the entrance.
- Buy tickets online or at the gate. The gate takes cash or card.
- Online tickets have an added service fee.
- Your ticket works on any night and at any time during the show's run. The date you pick online is only for planning.
Lights That Give Back
The Swain County Tourism Development Authority runs the show, and all proceeds support local nonprofits.
Location
Great Smoky Mountains Event Park (formerly Inspiration Park) 1130 Hyatt Creek Road, Bryson City, NC 28713
Plan Your Trip to Swain County, NC
Bryson City Adventure Guide 
Things To Do
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride in Bryson City
Book now for this holiday ride to the North Pole on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Offered by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, the train is on a mission to pick up Santa. People of all ages…
Bryson City
Ride the train on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad before you explore Bryson City's downtown shops and galleries, or paddleboard down the river. Nearby Deep Creek in the Smokies features camping…
Explore Bryson City Travel Guide
Order a free vacation travel guide (or download a digital version) for the Bryson City area with things to do, dining and lodging for the Great Smoky Mountains. Includes the "All Aboard" official… More Information
Swain County Heritage Museum
Located on the second floor of the historic courthouse in Bryson City, see photos, exhibits and video about the early settlers in the Great Smoky Mountains, including a restored log cabin porch.… More Information
Bryson City Lodging: Cabins, B&Bs & Hotels
Find a wide variety of lodging accommodations in Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains, including log cabin rentals, boutique hotels, bed and breakfast inns and campgrounds.
More Information
Bryson City Restaurants
For a small town, you'll find a nice variety of restaurants, ranging from Southern home cooking to a brewery and gourmet dining. A nice reward after a day of exploring the Great Smokies and… More Information
Pair the Lights with THE POLAR EXPRESS™
You can do both in one evening. The light show is about a 10-minute drive from the Bryson City Depot, and The Polar Express train riders should check in one hour before departure.
More Holiday Fun in Bryson City
Make a long weekend or a week of it during Bryson City's Nights of Lights!
- Christmas hayride at Darnell Farms
- Ice skating at The Yard
- Visit the lighted downtown and walk through the tunnel of lights
- Attend the Christmas parade and tree lighting
- Have Breakfast with Santa
- Write letters to Santa with cocoa and cookies at the Visitor Center.
See the full holiday calendar on Explore Bryson City's website. Go to Explore Bryson City's website to learn more.
