Looking for a professional Christmas Light display you can drive through? KAG Contributors Lindy Wilson & Kristina Hernandez visited The Upstate Holiday Light Show and have all the information you need, from pricing to the extras you’ll find and what to expect.
Our contributors were provided with tickets in order to facilitate this review.
For more choices of Holiday Lights see our Guide to Holiday Lights Near Greenville
Our trip to see the Upstate Holiday Light Show
It’s pretty easy finding the speedway (since it’s on a race track, did I mention that? Car fans will love it!). We ended up backtracking from the west but if you take the 385 into downtown, just turn right on N. Academy which becomes the 123/ Calhoun Memorial Highway and the track is on your right, go past it for the main entrance. If you hit Hot Spot, you’ve gone too far. (See the route on Google maps)
You’ll want to tune your radio to the correct FM station for the accompanying holiday music because the show is synchronized. The lights dance to an ongoing playlist of classic and new Christmas carols. Don’t let the race car setting fool you- the lights are on par with some of the best I’ve seen. There are two stations – one is traditional Christmas music and the other is a more kid-friendly station (think more Frosty the Snowman). The kid’s station is 92.1FM and the traditional station is 104.3FM.
Admission is based on vehicle type/capacity, not the number of passengers. So going on your own is the same as a minivan full of kids. Large passenger vans and buses are extra. Carpooling is encouraged to save on costs per person. You can buy tickets in advance.
From most the attractions’ parking areas, you can sit to watch the lights if you want to linger. Otherwise, you can drive around the track as many times as you like. How often do you get to take the family on a ride around a race car track? The bleachers are completely covered with jumping lines of lights. Huge trees of holiday lights swirl and bounce in the center of the track. If you’ve only seen a glimpse from the road driving by, don’t count it out.
There are several light tunnels you get to drive through during the show, which is pretty fun.
This show is great but momentarily dims or explodes in brightness depending on the dramatics of the music. The sheer variety of colors and movement was astonishing. Resist thinking it’s not impressive if you just saw a few low lights in passing. The full brilliance of this display is only seen if watched for at least one or two songs, if not the whole playlist, which lasts about 30 minutes. You’ll want to squeeze it into your holiday plans. It was a great way for my family to kick off the season.
Other Things to Do at the Light Show
Upstate Holiday Lights Show also has small carnival rides and a petting zoo, with animals like kangaroos and donkeys, you can walk or drive through, so watch for that when you’re driving after the light show.
Admission Fees to Upstate Holiday Light Show 2022
Cars, Minivans, Trucks, & SUVs – $35
Vans (up to 20 people) – $75
Buses (20+ people) – $100
FastPass – starts at $120, but varies depending on your FastPass time (Early Bird, Prime Time, or Night Owl) and vehicle type (only available Friday – Sunday). See the website site for detailed pricing.
Plan your own trip to see the show
800 Calhoun Memorial Highway
Easley, SC 29642
864.295.5764
www.greenvillepickens.com
Opens on Thanksgiving through December 31. Hours are Sunday – Thursday 6- 10 pm and Friday – Saturday 6 – 11 pm.
Has your family ever seen the Upstate Holiday Light Show?
Lindy Wilson
Source link
