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Christmas with kids in Wheeling
In Wheeling, Christmas is a drive through the lights. Oglebay Park's Winter Festival of Lights started as a two-mile route and grew into a major holiday light show, drawing about 300,000 people a year.
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Festival of Lights
When: Nightly, Nov 5 to Jan 3, dusk to midnight
Where: Oglebay Park Resort, Wheeling
Cost: Ticketed drive-through, Santa's Village priced separately
The story of Christmas in Wheeling
How Wheeling celebrates
Wheeling's signature tradition is the Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay Park. Former park president J. Randolph Worls created it to bring visitors and hotel guests to the park during the holidays, when sales had slumped. It began as a two-mile route, modeled on families driving through neighborhoods to see lights, and by its second year it drew thousands of visitors, many by tour bus. It was the 41st consecutive year in 2025, so it began in the mid-1980s. In 1986 the park hosted more than 600 tour buses, and it was later named to the American Bus Association's Top 100 Events in North America.
Christmas last year in Wheeling
Oglebay switched on its 41st Festival of Lights on Thursday, November 6, 2025, with a Light-Up Night ceremony at Wilson Lodge, and the lights ran nightly through January 4. About 300,000 people now attend. New in 2025 were Santa's Village near the Levenson Shelter, a redesigned train called the Gingerbread Express, an open-air Christmas store, selfie stations, fire pits, s'mores and ice skating. Families could tune in to synchronized holiday music on WPHP-FM 91.9 or 1700 AM, and the park's leader advised avoiding peak Friday and Saturday evenings.
Fun facts about Christmas in Wheeling
A 2018 guide described a six-mile driving tour through more than 300 acres, with 90 displays. Visitors got four pairs of 3-D glasses to use at the show. The Oglebay Institute Mansion Museum decorates 13 rooms and hallways for the holidays, and Bissonnette Gardens shows off 150 hanging baskets. There were holiday train rides at the Levenson Shelter winter carnival, light displays at the Good Zoo and trolley tours from Wilson Lodge. The 2018 guide also said donations cover more than half the show's expenses.
Trains and Christmas near Wheeling
Oglebay's own holiday train, the Gingerbread Express, was redesigned in 2025 and runs near Santa's Village, and earlier guides mention train rides at the Levenson Shelter. For railroad history, the nearest museums on our list are in Elkins, a long drive south. The West Virginia Railroad Museum there covers the state's railroads and coal industry, and the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad runs steam and diesel excursions from spring into December. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park offers geared steam locomotives on a real 1901 logging line.
- West Virginia Railroad Museum: A downtown Elkins museum covering West Virginia's railroads and coal industry.
- Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad: Steam and diesel excursions leave Elkins, Durbin and Cass from spring into December.
- Cass Scenic Railroad State Park: A real 1901 logging railroad where geared Shay steam locomotives climb the mountain.
Traditions today
- Winter Festival of Lights: A drive-through light show at Oglebay Park that has run for 41 years and draws about 300,000 people.
- Light-Up Night: A ceremony at Wilson Lodge switches on the lights in early November.
- Santa's Village and Gingerbread Express: Santa's Village near the Levenson Shelter and a redesigned holiday train were new in 2025.
- Synchronized holiday music: Families can tune the car radio to WPHP-FM 91.9 or 1700 AM to hear music matched to the lights.
- Mansion Museum holiday rooms: The Oglebay Institute Mansion Museum decorates 13 rooms and hallways for Christmas.
- Fire pits, s'mores and ice skating: Warm-up and play spots added around the park for families.
A fact for kids
Wheeling's Festival of Lights started as a two-mile drive past Christmas lights. Now it is a six-mile tour, with a Gingerbread Express train and about 300,000 visitors each year.
Questions about Christmas in Wheeling
What is the biggest Christmas tradition in Wheeling?
Oglebay Park's Winter Festival of Lights is Wheeling's biggest. The 2025 season was the 41st consecutive year, and about 300,000 people now attend. The show began as a simple driving route and grew into a major holiday light display. Families often make it a yearly outing, driving through together after dark to see the displays.
When did the Wheeling Festival of Lights start?
It began in the mid-1980s. The 2025 show was the 41st consecutive year at the park, which points to about 1985. A park report notes that in 1986 more than 600 tour buses visited, so the festival was already popular within its first few years.
Who started the Oglebay Festival of Lights?
J. Randolph Worls, the former president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission, created the festival to draw visitors and hotel guests during the holiday season, when sales had slumped. The idea grew from a short driving route into a major event.
How did the Festival of Lights begin?
It began as a two-mile driving route, modeled on families driving through neighborhoods to see holiday lights. By its second year it drew thousands of visitors, many arriving by tour bus. Over time it became a six-mile tour with dozens of displays.
How many people visit Oglebay's Festival of Lights?
The park's president and CEO says about 300,000 people now attend. In 1986, early in the festival's life, the park hosted more than 600 tour buses. The park's leader suggests avoiding peak Friday and Saturday evenings, so a weeknight visit may be calmer for families with young children.
When did the Festival of Lights open in 2025?
The display was switched on Thursday night, November 6, 2025, at a Light-Up Night ceremony at Wilson Lodge. The lights ran nightly through January 4, so families had about two months to visit the park. The 2025 season was the 41st, which makes the start of the festival about 1985.
What was new at the 2025 Festival of Lights?
New features included Santa's Village near the Levenson Shelter, a redesigned train called the Gingerbread Express, an open-air Christmas store and several selfie stations. Fire pits, s'mores and ice skating were also available, so there was more to do than watch the lights from the car. Our Wheeling Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's details.
Can you listen to music while driving the lights?
Yes. Synchronized holiday music can be heard on WPHP-FM 91.9 or on 1700 AM, so families can tune the car radio while they drive through the displays. The music is matched to the lights as you go. Turn the radio on before you reach the park, and let the kids listen for the songs while the displays pass by outside the car windows.
How long is the Oglebay lights drive?
A 2018 guide described the tour as six miles long, with 90 displays across more than 300 acres. The festival began as a two-mile route, so the drive has tripled since its first years. That is a long drive for little ones, so bring snacks and a favorite toy for the ride.
Do you need to buy tickets for Oglebay's lights?
A 2018 guide said driving the show was free, with a suggested donation at the gate, and that donations cover more than half the show's expenses. Prices and rules can change, so check Oglebay and our Wheeling Christmas events guide on this page before you go.
Is there a place to eat at Oglebay during the lights?
A 2018 guide mentioned a holiday buffet at Wilson Lodge, shopping throughout the park and nightly entertainment in Hickman Lounge at the lodge. Offerings change each year, so check current details before you visit, and see our Wheeling Christmas events guide on this page.
What are 3-D glasses for at Oglebay?
According to a 2018 guide, each car received four pairs of 3-D glasses to wear for the special displays, and extra pairs were sold for $1.99. Kids love putting them on as they pass the displays. Check current details before your visit.
What can kids do at Oglebay besides drive the lights?
Past and current offerings include Santa's Village, fire pits, s'mores, ice skating, light displays at the Good Zoo and a holiday train. In 2018, holiday train rides ran at the Levenson Shelter winter carnival. Our Wheeling Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's activities.
What is the Mansion Museum's Christmas decoration like?
The Oglebay Institute Mansion Museum decorates 13 rooms and hallways for the holidays, according to a 2018 guide. It is a quieter way for kids to see how a historic house is dressed for Christmas, away from the lights drive.
What are the Bissonnette Gardens hanging baskets?
A 2018 guide mentions 150 hanging baskets at Bissonnette Gardens as part of the Oglebay holiday experience. It does not describe them in more detail, so check Oglebay directly for what is on view now and which parts of the gardens are open for families this season.
Why was the Festival of Lights created?
It was created to bring visitors to Oglebay Park during the holiday season, when hotel and park sales had slumped. It worked, because by its second year thousands of people came, many by tour bus, and the festival later earned a spot on the American Bus Association's Top 100 Events list.
How can I explain the Festival of Lights to my kids?
Say that a long time ago people in Wheeling wanted a reason to visit the park in winter, so they strung up lights along a road. Families have driven it ever since. Now there is a Gingerbread Express train, Santa's Village and music on the radio.
Where can kids ride a train at Christmas in Wheeling?
At Oglebay, the Gingerbread Express train was redesigned in 2025, and a 2018 guide mentioned holiday train rides at the Levenson Shelter winter carnival. Details change from year to year, so for this season's schedule, see our Wheeling Christmas events guide on this page.
Where is a railroad museum near Wheeling?
The West Virginia Railroad Museum in downtown Elkins covers the state's railroads and coal industry, but it is a drive from Wheeling. Hours are not posted online, so call ahead before you drive. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad also leaves from Elkins.
Can kids see a steam train in West Virginia?
Yes. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park runs geared Shay steam locomotives on a real 1901 logging railroad, though trains do not run every day, so check the calendar first. The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad also runs steam and diesel excursions from spring into December.
Sources
- Oglebay powers up its 41st annual Festival of Lights, West Virginia Press Association
- Oglebay lights up for 2025 holiday season, Weirton Daily Times
- Wheeling Christmas tradition: Oglebay's Winter Festival of Lights, Weelunk
- West Virginia Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
- Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Rally Takes the Train