I love Bright Nights. I love Holiday in the Park at Six Flags. I love my neighbor who sets out a faded blow mold snowman every year. Those are all lovely traditions. However, if you love holiday lights displays as much as I do (or even less) then you have, have, have to make Winterlights at Naumkeag your new December tradition.
Winterlights is a half-mile, self-guided walking tour through the grounds of Naumkeag (a National Historic Landmark) which are decorated for the season. The lights and decorations are stunning. Unlike anything you'll see this season. There is beautiful music playing throughout the grounds. You can walk through a rainbow tunnel of trees, discover a lit fairy garden, leave your mark on a wall made of flip sequins or look up on a forest trail and discover fairy lights dancing in the pine trees. It's pure magic and provides a very peaceful and artistic way to celebrate the season for all ages. (My pictures here do not even do it justice).
While young kids will love to explore the grounds, this attraction is especially perfect for teenagers who may feel awkward visiting more "kiddie" lights attractions. There are no character or Santa displays -- just colored bulbs everywhere you look. Yet it's not busy or overwhelming. There is a simple snowflake scavenger hunt that will keep younger kids interested. At the end of the walking tour, you can enter the historic home and hang a personalized wish tag on one of the wishing trees inside. You are welcome to tour the bottom floor of the home which is decorated for Christmas.
Tickets are $17.99 for adults, and FREE for kids 12 and under (you still need to reserve the kids a free ticket online when you order yours). Tickets MUST be ordered online in advance. There are no tickets sales on site. The tickets are quite specific -- you must reserve your date and half-hour window of arrival when you make your purchase. It's not like you can just buy a ticket and use it at some point during the season. Winterlights is open Thursday - Sunday evenings from 5-8 p.m. through December.
I wouldn't recommend bringing a stroller. It is possible; however, many of the paths are wood chips or mulch and then there's the headache of trying to cram a stroller on a crowded school bus. (No thanks). Using a body carrier would be a much better choice. Plus, you'll both stay warmer.
The website recommends planning to stay on site for an hour. We toured for about 90 minutes and would have stayed longer but the event only runs from 5-8 p.m. with the last shuttle bus leaving the site at 8:30 p.m. and we ran out of time. Bundle up and enjoy.
Parking for this event is off site at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy up the street from Naumkeag. The bumpy, twisty, turny bus ride alone is worth the price of admission for little kids. No outside food or drinks are allowed on the grounds but there a few hot chocolate stands scattered around the site.
Naumkeag is located at 5 Prospect Hill Road in Stockbridge. But don't forget that parking for this event is held up the road at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, so set the GPS for 2 Prospect Hill Road. Hope you find the event as en"light"ening as we did. Happy Holidays!
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