‘Christmas Wonderland’ light show open at WNC Agricultural Center

The WNC Agricultural center is hosting the largest drive-through, synchronized LED Christmas light show in the world.

Created by Shadrock Productions, this is the first year the show has appeared in Asheville. The company presents similar shows in Sevierville, Tenn. New Market, Md. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Judging from a recent visit to the Asheville site, the attraction seems to be popular. On Dec. 23, traffic stretched for more than a mile down Airport Road with cars waiting in line to enter. Once inside the gates, visitors were greeted by a series of lighted features inspired by the lyrics of “Twelve Days of Christmas”: partridges in pear trees, french hens, geese laying golden rings and more. A corresponding radio frequency beamed in music that was synchronized to blinking and strobing lights in the form of Christmas trees and tunnels. At the end, there’s a “Christmas Village” featuring hot cocoa and other treats.

All in all it’s a unique experience, full of opportunities for kitschy fun.

The attraction is open from dusk until 10 p.m. every night through Jan. 1. It costs $20 per car or mini-van and some of the proceeds go to local charities. More information here.


Video by Shadrock Productions embedded here via YouTube

Photos by Jake Frankel

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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2 thoughts on “‘Christmas Wonderland’ light show open at WNC Agricultural Center

  1. Nancy Trager

    If you’re suppose to stay in your car, can we bring our mini dachshund?
    Also, how do you offer cocoa and other treats if you’re not allowed out of the car?

  2. Foto-Jennic

    Treats are offered at the end – but unless you want to pay $4+ for 4oz of instant mix swiss miss I would skip the entire ‘santa’s village’ part at the end.

    The whole thing, in my opinion, was overpriced between cost of entry & the gas to sit in line for an hour only to spend 10-15m to see some meh lights, and then the santa’s village thing at the end was a total rouse. Everything was hyped up cost, with no decor or taste to it. Things looked dirty and run-down, but they were happy to charge hand over fist. It felt like an unfortunate Gatlinburg / Myrtle Beach experience and I wasn’t sure really how much of it was being given back to charity. The impression I got was that it was partially being charitable to Toys for Tots but only because they were asking we the viewers to donate something to the box they set out in santa’s village at the end. Maybe they are giving cash to the charities they list on their website as well, but they aren’t really clear about those ‘proceeds’. Either way with the number of cars I counted going in at $20 bucks a car + the steep prices in Santa’s village for a couple underwhelming activities, Sam’s club food, and for the kids to have the privilege of sitting on a very obviously fake santa’s lap – they made out like christmas bandits.

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