A lot of people really liked our larger, three-dimensional ornaments such as the huge bear, so we have five new pieces that are similar.. We would have brought more than 1 water jug had we known!And don't get me started on the train that sounds like it is right in the middle of the campsite! The. The 12 Giveaways of Christmas drawings will take place throughout Illuminights! Call the Visitor Center at (540) 427-1800 for more information about the Artisan Market. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. Despite all of the negativity looming from the coronavirus spike, this was all we needed to truly get into the spirit of the holiday season. Groups of 25 people or more can save an additional $1 on Peak Dates with an over-the-phone offer, the site said. Call (540) 427-1800 or click here for more information! For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. RELATED: Spurs announce magical mile-long trail of lights heading to AT&T Center for the holidays. I cant even begin to explain how baffled I am . Despite complications caused by COVID-19 concerns, including postponing opening night to ensure Illuminights adhered to recently enacted statewide restrictions, parks staff and partner nonprofit Center in the Square was determined to go on with the show. The Explore Park had so much to offer, but we thoroughly enjoyed the visitor center and exhibits and seeing the historic buildings. Artisan Christmas Market Starts on Saturday, November 19th -Open Weekdays 4 PM to Close and Weekends 11 AM to Close. This weekend, you can save money and get a free shuttle Illuminights in Explore Park. Have breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism (home page), Public Service Center, 1206 Kessler Mill RD 24153 (M-F, 9 AM - 5 PM), Brambleton Center, 3738 Brambleton AVE 24018, Explore Park Visitor Center, 56 Roanoke River PKWY 24014 (F-Su, 10 AM - 5 PM), Center in the Square Box Office, 1 Market SQ 24011, One Care-provider will be admitted for Free with a paid admission, December 13th - William Byrd High School Choir, December 15th, 22nd, 29th - Thundershock Jazz Band. 0; Going in-Person at any of these three locations. You can get some good photos with the sea and the boats. As someone who is not very passionate about the sea, I actually enjoyed walking around. (Credit: Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism) 0 ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WSET) . An event of this size is another issue from the lights, and this year particularly, because of COVID and because of all the additional restrictions, so a lot had to change, Schultz said. Dangerous for kids. It should be able to accommodate wheelchairs or individuals with limited mobility. Last year it was really popular.. There are also some new displays organizers are excited to share with visitors. For tickets ($14 for adults, $6 for children 2 to 14) or more information, go online to roanokecountyparks.com/545/Illuminights. Copyright 2021 WDBJ. Located directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 1,100 acre park formerly operated as a living history attraction, but closed in 2007 due to lack of state funding. ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. With the holidays just around the corner, local festive favorites are making a return. Its all made possible through a partnership between Explore Park and Center in the Square. Left: John James carries his 14-month-old daughter, Ella, while on the Illuminights winter walking tour at Explore Park with his wife, Katie Hougasian, in Roanoke on Wednesday. Opening night for Illuminights is November 25 and this season you can do more than just gaze at holiday lights. Kids will have a chance to write letters to Santa Claus, who will also be available virtually from the North Pole to hear their Christmas wishes. A lot of traditional holiday themes are on display, but many also celebrate the outdoor activities the Roanoke Valley has to offer. So that was a bit of a hassle with 16 people. We got to the top of the hill and we see one of the staff saying oh I could have brought the golf kart down to help you - completely clueless and no one even making sure people were okay down there , no park staff through the primitive area at all . With our windows rolled down, the holiday hits blaring from our car speakers and plenty of distance between our vehicle and others, we felt the simple joys of Christmas all through the air. Shop at the 2022 Artisan Market for a chance to win some amazing, holiday gifts from one of our 50 participating artisans! Explore your holiday spirit through a unique experience on our half-mile wooded path featuring over 650,000 lights. Example: Nothing to stop one kid from zipping into another at high speed in the dark..except that they're supposed to yell "Clear!" Drinks and food, including marshmallow roasting, are also on the agenda. We are working to have a limited amount of scooters available for the event. An artisan Christmas market in the parks visitor center will feature more than 50 regional craftspeople selling their handmade wares. Illuminights set to shine again at Explore Park. While youre here, shop for artisan crafts, roast marshmallows around the campfire, and enjoy additional family activities on select nights. SAN ANTONIO With the rise in COVID-19 cases across the nation and right here in San Antonio, well have to find new ways to celebrate Christmas this year, safely and at a distance. Illuminights will take visitors over a glowing river of holiday lights and through woods lit up by festive scenery, echoing Christmas music in Explore Park. All proceeds from Illuminights go to support the valuable missions of Center in the Square and Explore Park! We get a closer look at some of the items featured at Illuminights Artisan Christmas Market & Gift Shop. For more details you may also contact April Corbett. Get the Parkway Travel Planner (Digital or Paper), 2023 Blue Ridge Parkway Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved, https://www.roanokecountyparks.com/545/Illuminights, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Sunday Music Jams at the Floyd Country Store, Parkway recorded information line: 828-298-0398. Dont get me started on the train .. not one staff member decided to tell us that there was a loud train right beside our campsite that ran every 30 mins.. it wasnt even listed on the map even though we could see the train go by . What a wonderful time for any age. Food, hot chocolate, apple cider with crafts.Great time 5stars! Treetop Adventure Course was well laid out and staff were excellent. You can save $1 off of each ticket on select Savings Days, according to their website. Scenic Guided Motorcycle Tours by MotoPlaN8 3-Hour E-Bike Sightseeing and Breweries Tour Roanoke Scavenger Hunt: A Big Lick Of Roanoke. For more photos, visit roanoke.com. People walk through light displays at the Illuminights winter walking tour at Explore Park in December 2019. It's time for Illuminights, the valley's traditional holiday walking tour. The Explore Park trail has more than 600,000 lights and is. ROANOKE, Va. - Illuminights kicks off the holiday season by returning to Explore Park this weekend. He is joined by 650,000 of his light friends at Explore Park during the 33-night event! Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20! Organizers said there have been at least 40,000 visitors each year since it began in 2019. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, ALEXIS HELMS-BECKNER Southwest Virginia Ballet will be out here several nights with some of their dancers, so well also have live dancers among the lights that are already tuned to the music, Schultz said. Getting Here The Blue Ridge Parkway is OPEN and Explore Park can be accessed on the Parkway at Milepost 121 from US Route 220 headed North, at Milepost 112 from VA 24 headed South, Mill Mountain Parkway at Milepost 120, or our alternate entrance at 3900 Rutrough Road, 24014. Archery Camp Level 1 & 2 7/10 - 7/12 & 7/17 - 7/19! The food drive donation box will be located at the Walk of Lights Trail Entrance and Explore Park Visitor Center. Illuminights is back at Explore Park By WDBJ7 Staff Published: Nov. 9, 2022 at 1:41 PM PST ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The annual holiday light show Illuminights will be back at Explore Park. You will see Lumi in our promotional videos and you might see him during your visit to Illuminights! The display features more than 4 million twinkling lights, an abundance of snacks on-site . You can cancel at any time. The half-mile pathway through the woods . Above: People walk through light displays that use more than 500,000 lights at the Illuminights winter walking tour at Explore Park on Dec. 18. Outrageous pricing for something so small . Explore Park is set to light up on Saturday for the holiday season. Have you started shopping for the holidays? ROANOKE, Va. Illuminights kicks off the holiday season by returning to Explore Park this weekend. Read our, Top Selling Tours & Activities in and around Roanoke. With altitudes ranging between 700 to more than 3,000 metres, the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park is the perfect example of the beauty of nature in the Pyrenees. Copyright 2022 WDBJ. Tickets purchased online are $13 for ages 15 and older and $6 for ages 2 to 14. A collaboration between Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism and Center in the Square, IllumiNights lined a newly created half-mile woodland walking trail with 500,000 animated Christmas. when it's safe to go. Illuminights has been canceled for Friday, Dec. 23 due to the wintry weather mix that is rolling through our area. I was assured we did. The Illuminights trail was constructed to be as accessible as possible considering the terrain. The 3rd annual "Illuminights Winter Walk of. Travel down our half-mile wooded path while taking in the sights and sounds of the season. It is scheduled to last until December 30. The third and final Adventure Saturday of 2022 is coming up tomorrow., September 17 at Explore Park!Adventure Saturday will feature many family activities including Treetop Quest, nature activities, disc golf demos, outdoor gear vendors, live music compliments of Friends of the Blue Ridge, Roanoke Valley Chapter, and a Twilight Zipline experience at Treetop Quest. We were in the group site. The IllumiNights winter walking tour includes a one-half mile pathway through the woods with light displays of nature, winter, adventure sports and traditional Christmas scenes. The display features more than 4 million twinkling lights, an abundance of snacks on-site, social distancing between vehicles, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. Were excited to be back for the third year here at Illuminights to make memories for families and individuals who come out and make it a Christmas tradition, for those whove been out before, and maybe start a new one for those who havent been out at the park, said Alex North, the Marketing and Administrative Coordinator for Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Lumi is the new animated mascot of Illumininghts Winter Walk of Lights! I don't THINK anyone has been hurt there yet, but in my opinion it's just a matter of time. Get that and more recent celeb news here. Take a look and see what Illuminights 2020 looks like at Roanoke County's Explore Park from above. Explore the sights and sounds of the season on the Walk of Lights Trail, which features over 650,000 lights! We visited the drive-thru on a Tuesday night, and the crowd wasnt too large. "We're switching things up this year with reversing the trail, we have some new . Everyone enjoyed the time there and want to go back. You have permission to edit this article. Explore Park's Illuminights tickets now on sale, starts Nov. 19 This year's event will feature over 650,000 lights, displays, trail enhancements, photo ops, and more FILE- Illuminights 2021. This elegant bird of prey, while smaller than the Griffon Vulture, is majestic and expert in the air. Please subscribe to keep reading. The one-half mile pathway through the woods includes light displays of nature, winter, adventure sports and traditional Christmas scenes. There is a need for something like this, Kohler said. This years festivities include 600,000 lights, 100,000 of which will be new and featured in new displays and trail enhancements. All proceeds from Illuminights go to support the valuable missions of Center in the Square and Explore Park! Description Tickets are available now for the 2022 season of Illuminights at Explore Park in Roanoke County! Theres a whole lot we had to consider.. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. There was a problem saving your notification. 175 58 Illuminights Christmas Lights Review of Explore Park Reviewed December 31, 2019 Took my grandchildren and their parents to see this light display at Explore Park. IllumiNight is a good idea if looking for a holiday family outing or are just looking to boost your spirits this Christmas season. Tickets must be purchased in advance with assigned arrival times, according to Roanoke County officials. The one-half mile pathway through the woods includes light displays of nature, winter, adventure sports and traditional Christmas scenes. The food drive will be available each night at Illuminights. Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or illumi-Night.com. Moreso than any other year.. Roanoke County is about to flip the switch on year two of Illuminights. Circuit Court of Appeals. One accident like this could result in a serious injury. Travel down our half-mile wooded path while taking in the sights and sounds of the season. A giant Christmas tree is one of the first light displays visitors see as they enter Explore Park for the IllumiNights winter walking tour on Dec. 18. Visitors can experience 100,000 new lights, displays, trail enhancements and family activities. Brighten your nights and explore your holiday spirit through a dazzling world of over 650,000 lights at Illuminights Winter Walk of Lights. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. All rights reserved. Brittany Wier joined the 10 News team as the morning reporter in August 2021. Attendees can access Explore Park for Illuminights from the Blue Ridge Parkway North (US 220) at Milepost 121, Blue Ridge Parkway South (VA 24) at Milepost 112, or from Explore Park's Alternate Entrance at 3900 Rutrough Road. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Above: People walk through light displays that use more than 500,000 lights at the "Illuminights" winter walking tour at Explore Park on Dec. 18. Explore Park MP 115 Blue Ridge Parkway Roanoke VA 24014 Google Map Notes regarding time Nov. 20-21, Nov. 26-30, and Dec. 26-30 from 5 PM - 9 PM and Dec. 1-23 from 5 PM - 10 PM Description Brighten your nights and explore your holiday spirit through a dazzling world of over 600,000 lights at Illuminights Winter Walk of Lights. Those days are Dec. 1, Dec. 5, Dec. 6, Dec. 7, and Dec. 8. Getting them over the phone - Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 540-387-6078 ext. Explore Park will host a full day of expanded family activities on Saturday, July 15 at Adventure Saturday featuring T-Rex Trail, Treetop Quest day and twilight zipline events, nature activities.. Read on. The well-lit affair boasts such family activities as a Snowville Miniature Christmas display, Artisan Market, a Santa Experience, and performances from the Southwest Virginia Ballet. IllumiNights takes place over 26 days, starting Friday and ending Jan. 1. The 3rd annual Illuminights Winter Walk of Lights is returning to the county and ready to welcome in thousands of guests over the next six weeks. Out & About: Illuminights at Explore Park. The stay of work in the Jefferson National Forest came late Monday from the 4th U.S. Thank you! Review of: T. Shevchenko Central Park of Culture and Recreation. We really enjoy seeing families come out, creating a family tradition of coming out to see the lights every year.. have partnered with Kroger to offer a canned food drive at Illuminights.