Holiday Lights Opens at Lake Compounce

“It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” as Holiday Lights makes a grand return to America’s Oldest Amusement Park, Lake Compounce in Bristol

Lake Compounce is officially ready for the holiday season. The park is gearing up for its largest Holiday Lights celebration to date in honor of its 175th birthday, transporting visitors to a glimmering holiday wonderland.

The park is back for its biggest Holiday Lights season yet as Connecticut’s Tallest Christmas fTree is relit for the first time since 2019.1 The 100-foot-tall Christmas tree is fitting for the amusement park’s 175th birthday as the tree is decorated with 175,000 lights. The huge tree stands in the area of the park’s main gate and took nine team members three weeks to build.

The entire property, including the parking lot booths, is decorated with hundreds of thousands of dazzling lights throughout the park. I encourage visitors to take a ride on the train. It may be a bit cold because the sides of the cars are open, but riders are rewarded with a lighted display just for them at the farthest point of the trip.

Visitors will also find a unique holiday menu featuring warm drinks and comfort foods, plus more activities than ever before, including Elf Boot Camp, Letters to Santa, and Cookie Decorating. A variety of rides and attractions are also open to enjoy one last ride upon. Family favorite rides make a return this winter, with attractions including Drop Zone, Drum Circus, the North Pole Railway are all open. For the first time ever, the park will open Booficer’s Haunted Holiday, a new spin on the park’s fan-favorite Ghost Hunt ride.

Guests will also have the chance to meet Santa who will be at the park all night long. Costumed characters walk through the park for hugs and photos. The Dinosaur Walk has become a coordinated light show that is sure to delight the very young, complete with holiday music. There are light-up displays with cutouts for heads which make for great photos, as well as a decorated sleigh in the theater, which is also a great place to warm up in. Hot chocolate and sweets are on sale at the rear of the large theater, as are light up toys.

A live performance of “Once Upon a Christmas” is offered inside the large Starlight Theater near the beloved carousel. Four young actors perform a 25 minute musical holiday show that is perfect for the youngest guests. The technical aspects of the performance are very good, as are the adorable costumes worn by the performers. After the performance I attended, parents were invited to allow their children to pose with the four singer/dancers for photos in front of the festively decorated stage. “Once Upon A Christmas” is performed every hour on the hour in the Starlight Theater and is definitely worth attending at least once.

There is also a tree lighting show that happens everyday at park opening.

We will also be increasing our hours of operation, opening at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays closing at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, December 5, visitors can bring their furry friends out for the park’s annual Pawliday Lights event. Dog Star Rescue will be at the park with adoptable dogs available and guests that bring pet food, bed or toy donations for the rescue will receive free parking. A second Pawliday Lights event will be held on Sunday, December 26.

Holiday Lights will end up with a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve Bash on Friday, December 31, another Lake Compounce first. Kids can look forward to a bubble dance party and other end-of-year festivities. The fun concludes with a juice box toast.

Lake Compounce will also be increasing their hours of operation, opening at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays closing at 9 p.m. Definitely dress for the weather for your visit, since there is a lot of walking involved with enjoying the entire property. The Lake Compounce team members are very friendly and helpful.

Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce will run Fridays from 5 – 9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 4 – 9 p.m. from November 26 through January 1, except Christmas Day. Visitors can expect a few days of extra holiday fun as Lake Compounce extends its calendar to include weekdays December 27 - 31 from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Single-day tickets will be available online soon, with prices starting at $19.99 for adults and $17.99 for kids. A variety of 2022 Season Passes offer guests access to Holiday Lights all season long, those that purchase a Silver, Gold or Platinum pass can kick off the fun in 2021. For more information on Holiday Lights and to purchase tickets and Season Passes, visit LakeCompounce.com.