WHEELING, W.Va. — November 8, 2026 — The holiday season is officially underway in the Ohio Valley as Oglebay’s Festival of Lights returns for its 42nd year, bringing millions of colorful lights and festive attractions to Wheeling.
The annual celebration opened Thursday, November 5, and will continue nightly through January 3, 2027, giving families nearly two months to experience one of the region’s most popular holiday traditions.
This year’s festival features several new attractions, including a 30-foot Frosty the Snowman display, illuminated singing faces and walk-through light tunnels.
Visitors can enjoy more than 100 light displays along a six-mile driving route through Oglebay Park. The festival covers approximately 300 acres and features a variety of holiday scenes and illuminated decorations.
The drive-through experience operates nightly from dusk until midnight, including holidays.
Beyond the lights, visitors can explore additional seasonal activities, including Santa’s Village, holiday shopping, ice skating and Christmas at the Zoo. Heated trolley tours are also available for those who prefer to experience the displays without driving.
First introduced in 1985, the Festival of Lights has become a major holiday attraction, drawing more than 300,000 visitors to the Wheeling area during a typical season.
The event also provides an economic boost to local restaurants, hotels and other businesses as visitors travel to the Ohio Valley throughout November and December.
The festival is presented by WesBanco and takes place at Oglebay Park Resort, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, West Virginia.
Families planning a visit can find additional information about attractions, accommodations and trolley reservations at Oglebay.com.
