Bright Night’s Survival Guide

Posted on November 22, 2021 in Our Community, Tips From The Pros

Bright Nights at Forest Park is a favorite New England pastime, with nearly three miles of holiday light displays. This year Bright Night’s is open from November 24, 2021, through January 2, 2022 (closed November 29-30), with operating hours of 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM from Sunday through Thursday, and 5:00 PM to 11:00 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 your 2021 Bright Night’s survival guide.

Buy Your Tickets In Advance

New this year, tickets for Bright Nights at Forest Park must be purchased in advance. Prices start at $23 per car though larger vehicles must pay a bit more. It’s not a cheap outing, but there are ways to save a few bucks:

December 7 and 14 are “$10 Tuesdays” where cars will be admitted at $10 each.
Buy a pass at Big Y for just $16.50 with your Silver Savings Club Card from November 11, 2021, thru January 2, 2022.
If you’re a frequent visitor, you might also consider enrolling in the Bright Night’s Loyalty Program to get a few extra perks and save even more.

Learn more about dates and rates or buy your tickets here.

Be prepared for the traffic.

As one of the biggest and most popular light attractions in New England, the traffic from Bright Night’s can be horrific, especially on the weekends. If you’re going, 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 passing by the entrance and you get caught in the Bright Night’s mayhem, look for signage redirecting “Thru Traffic." There’s often a separate lane for cars that are just 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 Night's 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

...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.