This North Carolina Christmas Show Is Bringing 300 Flying Drones To The Sky This Saturday
Ember is about to get a very unusual stage this Saturday.
The tiny cardinal’s holiday story will unfold above a North Carolina park using 300 glowing drones, and I already know I would spend half the show staring straight up.
Before the sky takes over, a 20-minute animated film sets up the story on a 30-foot outdoor screen.
Then the drones carry it into the night for another 14 minutes.
I’m into the contrast here.
This brand-new spectacle is joining a holiday tradition that has already been glowing for 35 seasons.
More than one million LED lights still surround the park, but Ember gets the newest spotlight.
Only 375 vehicles can attend each performance, and tickets are sold online.
With space that limited, I would not treat Saturday like a last-minute plan.
A Tiny Cardinal Is About To Steal The Whole Night Sky
Ember is a young cardinal with one big job: bringing back holiday spirit. Her story is the heart of the Tanglewood Drone Skytale, a brand-new show at Tanglewood Park for the 2026 season.
The whole experience runs about 35 minutes from start to finish. It opens with a 20-minute animated film on a 30-foot outdoor screen, so the story gets rolling before anything leaves the ground.
After the film, 300 illuminated drones lift off for a 14-minute live performance. That means Ember’s adventure moves from the screen straight into the sky above you.
I love that the show tells an actual story instead of just flashing random shapes. Kids get a character to cheer for, and grown-ups get a clever twist on a holiday light show.
A cardinal also feels like a smart pick for this part of the country. It’s North Carolina’s state bird, so the hero basically comes with home-field advantage.
Keep your eyes up and your phone ready, but don’t spend the whole show filming. Some moments are better watched live, especially when 300 tiny lights are working together to tell one sweet little tale.
Your Ticket Quietly Comes With A Bonus Light Show
Here’s a perk that feels like finding extra fries at the bottom of the bag. Every Tanglewood Drone Skytale ticket includes a complimentary pass to the Tanglewood Festival of Lights drive-through.
Even better, the pass isn’t locked to show night. You can use it that same evening or on any future night of the 2026 season.
Tickets are priced per vehicle, not per person. That makes the show a friendly option for families who usually wince when counting heads at the ticket window.
The catch is that tickets must be bought online in advance. No tickets will be sold at the gate, so showing up and hoping for the best won’t work here.
Each show also has a maximum capacity of 375 vehicles. Do the math on a popular Saturday in December, and you’ll see why waiting until the last minute is a risky plan.
So think of it as a two-part holiday outing. Watch the drones one night, then return another evening for the lights, or do both together if the kids have the energy and the snack supply holds out.
Tanglewood Park sits at 200 Northtrail Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012, about 10 to 15 minutes west of Winston-Salem.
Mark Your Calendar Now Because There Are Only Ten Shows
Saturday, November 14, kicks things off, and it’s only the start of a short run. The Tanglewood Drone Skytale is scheduled for just ten nights during the 2026 holiday season.
After opening weekend, shows continue on November 15, 19, and 24. December brings six more chances on the 4th, 5th, 9th, 12th, 18th, and 19th.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. on show nights. The show itself begins at 7:00 p.m., which gives you a comfortable window to park, walk over, and get settled.
That early gate time is a gift for families with little ones. You can spread out your blanket, hand out snacks, and handle the last-minute bathroom question before Ember appears.
Ten nights sounds like plenty until you remember how busy December gets. Between school concerts, work parties, and holiday travel, open evenings disappear faster than cookies on a plate.
My advice is simple. Pick your date early, put it on the family calendar, and treat it like a real event, because with only ten shows, a little planning makes the difference between watching and wishing you had gone.
Bring A Lawn Chair And Use The Back Door
Folding chairs and cozy blankets are officially encouraged for this one. Unlike the drive-through lights, the drone show happens in an open-air viewing area you reach on foot.
For the drone show, though, you’ll use a different way in.
Show guests enter through the back entrance on Idols Road at Mallard Lake Trail. The address for that entrance is 7686 Idols Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012.
From there, you park in a dedicated lot and walk a short distance to the viewing area. It’s a quick stroll, but comfy shoes still beat fancy boots on a chilly November night.
Since you’ll be sitting outside, dress like you plan to stay a while. Layers, hats, and gloves make a 35-minute show far more pleasant than shivering through Ember’s big finale.
A small wagon or tote bag can help carry chairs and blankets from the car. Pack a flashlight too, because finding your vehicle afterward is easier when you’re not guessing in the dark.
One Million Lights Have Been Waiting For You Since 1992
Back in 1992, the Tanglewood Festival of Lights switched on for the first time. In 2026, it celebrates its 35th season, which makes the drone show the new kid joining a very established party.
The drive-through route stretches roughly five miles through the park. Along the way, more than one million LED lights illuminate over 100 holiday and storybook displays.
Some displays feature animated scenes, so you’re not just cruising past glowing shapes, you’re watching colorful figures move as you roll slowly by.
The festival runs nightly from Friday, November 13, 2026, through Friday, January 1, 2027. Hours are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., giving you plenty of evenings to choose from.
Staying in your car the whole time is part of the charm. Little ones can wear pajamas, grandparents stay warm, and nobody has to argue about who forgot their gloves.
Remember, your drone show ticket covers a Festival of Lights pass. That makes it easy to enjoy the outdoor drone performance first, then settle into your warm car for a glowing drive through one of North Carolina’s favorite holiday traditions.
Marshmallows Are Calling From The Red Barn
About halfway through the lights, a big red barn invites you to park and stretch your legs. It’s the Gift Shop, formerly known as the Gift Village, and it’s packed with holiday treasures.
Inside, you’ll find holiday crafts, specialty foods, ornaments, and handmade gifts from local artisans. It’s a handy stop if your shopping list still has a few blank spots.
Right outside sits S’moresville, and the name tells you exactly what’s happening. Visitors gather around a fire to roast marshmallows under the winter sky.
Roasting sticks and s’mores kits are sold on-site. Outside supplies aren’t allowed, so leave the graham crackers in the pantry and grab a kit when you arrive.
I can’t think of a better way to break up a five-mile drive. A few minutes by the fire, a gooey s’more, and suddenly everyone in the back seat is in a much better mood.
Just keep some napkins or wipes in the car. Melted chocolate has a sneaky talent for ending up on steering wheels, coat sleeves, and somehow the ceiling.
Trade The Minivan For A Horse-Drawn Carriage
Clip-clop beats a car engine any day of December. Tanglewood Stables offers horse-drawn carriage rides through the holiday lights, plus tractor-pulled hayrides for bigger groups.
Carriage rides fit up to four guests, making them a sweet pick for a couple or a small family. Hayrides work well when you’re bringing a larger crew along for the fun.
Both options are booked by reservation, and reserving early is strongly recommended. Holiday evenings fill quickly, especially on weekends near Christmas.
Keep in mind that festival admission is separate from the ride. Payment is accepted by cash or check, so plan ahead before you head out the door.
Riding through the displays changes the whole feel of the evening. Without a windshield in the way, the lights seem closer, brighter, and a lot more magical.
Bundle up for this one, since you’ll be out in the open air. A thermos of hot cocoa and a thick blanket can turn a chilly ride into the kind of North Carolina memory your family brings up for years.
More Holiday Fun Happens Before And After Dark
Daylight shoppers get their own reason to visit. The Red Barn Gift Shop hosts a daytime Holiday Market on November 28, December 5, and December 12.
Market hours run from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Over 40 vendors take part, and you don’t need Festival of Lights admission to browse.
December 5 is especially handy, since it’s also a drone show night. You could shop in the afternoon, grab dinner, and come back for Ember’s flight that evening.
Runners, this next part is for you. The Running of the Lights is a New Year’s Eve tradition that takes runners through the glowing displays at midnight, just as December 31, 2026, turns into January 1, 2027.
Earlier in November, the park hosted several special events before the regular light show opened. Those included the Miles for Meals 5K on November 7, the TOAST walk on November 8, and Paws in the Park on November 9 and 10.
New for 2026, two live traffic-camera feeds show park conditions online. Checking them before you leave home is a smart move, especially on a busy weekend night.
Come Back In Daylight And Meet The Rest Of The Park
All those lights are hiding a seriously big park. Tanglewood Park covers about 1,100 acres along the Yadkin River, and the holidays only show a small slice of it.
Golf fans get two championship courses, the Championship Course and the Reynolds Course. The Championship Course even hosted the PGA Championship in 1974.
History lovers should notice the Manor House, which dates back to 1859. Today it operates as a bed and breakfast called Excelsior at the Manor House.
Mallard Lake offers fishing and pedal boats, while horse stables add a country feel. There’s also an RV campground, tennis courts, a BMX track, and multi-use trails.
Families can explore an arboretum, a rose garden, and multiple playgrounds. The Aquatic Center opens seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so save that for summer.
I like how one North Carolina park can be a drone stage in December and a lake day in June. Catch the drones this Saturday, then make a promise to return when the trees are green and the trails are calling your name.
