Tickets go on sale Thursday, Sept. 24!

After 31 years of lighting up the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions is taking a dramatic new turn. Virginia Beach Events and the City of Virginia Beach are launching BayPort Credit Union “Holiday Trail of Lights” presented by Huffman & Huffman Brothers-In-Law, an all-new, walkable holiday lights experience designed by nationally recognized light-show creators James Bain and Ken MacMaster that will transform the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Nature Trail into an immersive nighttime wonderland.

Opening Friday, Nov. 20, and running through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027, the inaugural experience invites guests to leave the car behind and step into a trail filled with light, sound, movement and holiday magic.

The all-new holiday light show was designed by James Bain of Mega Light Show and Ken MacMaster of Wired Watts, alongside Virginia Beach Events and the City of Virginia Beach. The pair have created and built displays and interactive experiences for the Brooklyn Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo, and have designed full-scale holiday productions across the country, including the “Light of Christmas” show at Chicago White Sox stadium, Kennywood Amusement Park in Pennsylvania and holiday projects at several Six Flags parks.

BayPort Credit Union Holiday Trail of Lights will unfold across seven themed areas along the trail, each offering a distinct visual and interactive adventure, including:

Dickens Drive
Guests will step into the charm of Old England with Charles Dickens-inspired décor, lanterns and carolers creating a festive Victorian atmosphere.

Glowing Grove & Snowflake Symphony
A symphony of lights and festive music featuring a vast grove of colorfully lit pillars that lead to a stage of 20-foot trees, dancing arches, and shimmering snowflakes.

Light Fall Forest presented by BayPort Credit Union
A truly massive immersive display, featuring hundreds of strands of light suspended up to 35 feet overhead and cascading toward the ground to create a spectacular canopy of light.

Santa’s Stroll
This nostalgic walk-through is filled with whimsical scenes leading to interactive video floors and walls, suspended white trees, and a 40-foot decorated tower that offers a larger-than-life holiday photo opportunity.

Flurry Lane
A classical shimmering white wonderland. Guests will wander beneath a canopy of glowing icicle lights and frosted snowflakes while falling snow creates a perfect winter moment.

Glimmer Games & Toy Soldier Tower
Visitors can play in the lights within vast caves of fun. Nearby, Toy Soldier Tower provides a whole new bird’s-eye view of the show, sure to be a social media favorite.

Enchanted Forest
A winding woodland path set beneath magical dancing laser stars and vibrant forest scenes. In an opening near the end, bubbles drift through the laser beams for a one-of-a-kind “light in the dark” bubble party. It’s a sensory-filled adventure where children can chase and catch fog-filled bubbles in the heart of the woods.