Bright Nights at Forest Park is a favorite New England pastime, with nearly three miles of holiday light displays. Every year, Bright Nights is open from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day,
with operating hours of 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM from Sunday through Thursday, and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Friday, Saturday, and holidays.
For some local residents, it’s a favorite family tradition; for others, it’s an annual headache. Either way, here’s our annual Bright Nights Survival Guide.
Be prepared for the traffic.
As one of the biggest and most popular light attractions in New England, the traffic from Bright Nights can be intense, especially on the weekends. If you’re going on a weekend, be prepared for a lot of sitting and waiting, and pay close attention to the signage leading up to the park. If you don’t want to sit in as much traffic, you can always opt for a weeknight as those days tend to be slightly less busy or get there early to get a good spot in line.
If you’re just passing by the entrance on Sumner Ave and you get caught in the Bright Nights line, look for signage redirecting “Thru Traffic." There’s often a separate lane for cars that are passing through the area to help keep the stream of traffic moving.
Need a bathroom break? Or more snacks? Make a stop at Santa’s Workshop.
Only experienced Bright Night-ers know about this hidden treasure! Santa’s Cottage is a great halfway stop on the Bright Nights tour, located in the middle of the park with portable restrooms, souvenirs, snacks, pictures with Santa, and more! On the left-hand side of the road just after Suess Land, this little oasis is a great place to stretch your legs and experience some magical lights out of your vehicle.
At V&F
At V&F, we strive to provide our customers with a well-rounded knowledge of all things automotive.
Since 1988, our family-owned and operated service center has been providing top-quality auto repair services to Agawam, Feeding Hills, Southwick, West Springfield, and the surrounding Massachusetts communities. If your car needs maintenance or repair before this winter season, call us at (413)314-2280 or schedule an appointment online.
This article was originally published in 2018 and is updated annually for accuracy.
