Wayne County Lightfest

If I could alter my review I would but I can't, so: I will say that some may argue that it's not a CHRISTMAS Lightfest, well if so why all the Santa's with presents and reindeer? Why the Grinch? There are many Christmas-only elements. The Nativity was conspicuously absent. We didn't go last year so maybe it was gone then, and it's a small change yet a big one too. We notice those things. They're raking in big bucks so don't do a giant display of one holiday but then leave the main reason for the season out :(

We were disappointed to see that the Christian faith is not at all represented at the Wayne County Lightfest this year, 2022, the way it has been in past years, and the way the Jewish holiday Hanukkah is with it's dreidel and menorah display. No "Merry Christmas" throughout the whole thing, and no Nativity scene. A sign of the times I guess but one we weren't happy with. It's definitely just a holiday light display, and not for Christmas. Also this year, there were no instructions about turning your lights off or staying in one lane, so that others could fully see the displays. We didn't have a long wait (on Dec. 18th) which was nice, it is a good deal at $5 per car, and we did enjoy the lights, but it just seemed different this year. Probably because it was.

The lightest has become an annual tradition for me. It’s a good time for $ 5! The best part is, it has remained $ 5 since it opened. Can’t say many things have stayed the same price for 20 years.
The route is about 5 miles long and filled with fun festive lights. Many of which are animated. Since I’ve gone pretty much every year I’ve noticed they do add new stuff each season. So if you think you’re getting the same experience every year it is switched up.
My biggest complaint are the morons who don’t follow the rules. 1. Put your parking breaks on. There is no reason to have your lights on. I’m there to see THE lights not YOUR lights. 2. Stay in your car!!! There is no reason to get out and wander around. Because now the sheriffs are ruining it for me because they are rolling up on these people with their lights flashing to tell them to get in their car. This happened at least 3 times!

A family tradition! No matter what religion you are, Christian, Jew or Muslim, the Wayne County Lightfest is sure to raise your holiday spirits!
Happy Holidays. Peace and Happiness

I love the Lightfest! It makes my commute home much nicer to see all the pretty lights. I took my mom through this year and we were both impressed.
It’s not the most «wow» thing you’ll ever see in your life. I just think it’s a really neat thing to take the kids or your mom through once a year. It would be even nicer if people followed directions and drove with only their parking lights on. Headlights shining in your back window really suck out some of the magic. Perhaps the people at the pay booth should give that instruction instead of assuming people will read the sign.

Very pretty, something whimsy to do with the family. Dinosaurs were my favorite. Loved the light tunnels.

This show made feel like a seasick crocodile. I waited 2 hours to see half-​human space wizards. It was a three decker toadstool sandwich with saurkraut sauce. DON’T BELIEVE YOUR COWORKERS IF THEY SAY IT IS WORTH SEEING.

I have heard a lot about the Wayne County Lightfest and I finally got a chance to check it out for myself. WOW! It’s amazing what they can do with the lights! It is well worth the price to see these displays. It took awhile to actually get into the lightfest, but once we got in it was pretty smooth sailing. Hopefully we get the chance to check it out again before the end of the year.

Wayne County Lightfest combines two of my favourite holiday experiences: Christmas lights and staying toasty in the car. You cannot beat turning the radio to the holiday station, sipping hot cocoa, and traversing the meandering turns of Hines Drive at 10 miles an hour.
Five dollars nets you entrance to one of the great holiday traditions in the area which runs all December long. My little one is obsessed with holiday lights, so a visit to Lightfest became a must-​do event this Christmas. Last year an inopportune power outage thwarted our visit. It’s a long drive for me from the Royal Oak area, and wisely the family ate before starting the adventure. Come prepared for traffic backups and lineups, as everyone in the Tri-​County area knows about this not so hidden secret.
It starts off fabulously. Traffic snakes along both lanes under twinkling LED snowflakes on the lightpoles. The light displays stop for the whole of the trip up to the front gates where you pay, and only two attendants at gatehouses processes vehicles fast as they can.
TIP: Bring cash to pay.
After about a quarter mile, we were plunged into total darkness and strafed by oncoming high beams.
TIP: Turn off your highbeams to spare the light-​dazzled oncoming drivers.
We showed up early. It made no difference. It took us nearly 45 minutes to navigate the crawling traffic, at which time our patience for Dean Martin was exhausted, our baby was starving despite every snack and food pouch we could scrounge up. He bleated pathetically and squirmed for an escape for his car seat, but because traffic snailed along, we couldn’t let him free. He cared not one bit for the sparkling candles at the gate, a welcome sight like a water stand after traversing the Mojave Desert. There is no option to turn around at any point and give up, either, so be aware your only escape is far down the road.
Now to the light show: it’s lovely. Drive in the left lane at a higher speed to avoid snailing along on the right. A wide variety of displays range from tunnels of lights arched over Hines Drive to holiday figures on the roadside — jack-​in-​the-​boxes, playful yetis, somersaulting teddy bears, skiers, and several trains just to name a few. The scale of these displays is equally diverse. The reindeer hopping over a bridge were a particular hit, but the trains at Santa’s station and the present express really stand out. Getting through is the hard part, but the drive is especially nice if you’re not exhausted from the wait, half asleep, or serenaded by a cranky toddler.
TIP: If you want to take a photo, pull over and don’t block traffic behind you unless you want us all to be Grinches.
We had not a dash of snow on the ground, which certainly made the roads dry and took away a little from the dazzling reflections. I don’t like the evil white stuff as it heralds a miserable season of cold and bad driving and potholes, so a little less magic is fine by me. It was a pretty cool display and clear skies improved the matter considerably.
However, the wait and total lack of signage or any kind of light displays on the exterior so we at least had something to look at except tail lights really spoiled the mood for me.

How excited can I get about Lightfest?
I really need a list called «Michigan’s Okay Events», but who’d want to check out those?
As long as there is snow, it will be ok. It’s a tradition around here. But I think you can see lots more exciting displays in your neighborhood.
The funny thing is, WWj Radio gets more excited announcing that the light crew is working on the display more than anyone else does!

One of my favorite places to visit around the holidays. Around 4 miles of a drive down Hines filled with views of delightful lights along the side of the road, some static and others flashing and moving. These days I feel like a something like this might be looked at as too quaint or simple but I really love how old school it is. I love lights around Christmas and this is like driving in the most decked out part of your neighborhood times, like, a thousand.
I go cookie crazy that time of year and bake up a few different varieties and so we’ll pack a tin of those treats and stop by a coffee shop, get a hot chocolate, tune the radio to Christmas songs, and hit the road to enjoy the sights.
The closer you get to the big day the crazier the lightfest gets which is kind of the reason I’m only doing 4 vs. 5 stars. Not really their fault that so many people want to come out but it does take a while to get into the park to drive through. As such it’s not exactly the best place to go if you’re on a time crunch so plan for a leisurely evening and pack plenty of cookies!

The Wayne County Lightfest is the finale to our year each year. After our annual NYE dinner at Buddy’s we head over to the lightfest. At only $ 5/​car, it really is a steal. We have been happy with the additions they have made each year, including the light tunnel and this year the LED tree. Put on BPM if you have Sirius Radio and channel your inner raver as you drive through the light tunnel if you please. We do! :)
Yes, there are many cheesy, worn down display pieces, but the kids love it. Its a family tradition that is affordable and fun for all ages.

This is one of our most favorite holiday traditions. We load up the van and bring along a load of candy canes to chomp. There is a warm familiarity to many of the displays we have come to expect, but always a newly noticed detail to enjoy as well. It seems like it has been in need of some serious maintenance the last couple if seasons, so I hope we aren’t on a downhill trend. All in all a «must» for us every season.

If you are thinking about going to the Wayne County Lightfest, do it! For only $ 5/​car, I recommend it. I think I read it is four miles long. You sort of creep along slowly so you can enjoy the displays, which are pretty and some quite tall, so it takes about an hour. I hear it is busiest between Xmas and New Years and can take even two hours when there are a lot of cars.
The Sunday night we went, Dec. 4^th, it was raining and some of the displays were out partially or completely, but it was still beautiful on the overall. I had missed this by just a couple of days on my last trip to the area in 2007 so I was glad I was here to see it this trip.
The entrance is off Merriman to Edward Hines Parkway.

The yearly holiday lightfest was really nice. Being from the eastside i was really lost trying to find the entrance, which is way down Merriman road. I’d tried to enter Hines off of Ford Rd but once on they closed it a mile later with no signs as to where to go.
But after finding it was really cool. I was expecting something half-a*!ed but was quite surprised.
Very nice displays.
Well worth the «donation».