The Oglebay Festival of Lights is an annual event in the city of Wheeling. The decorations originally only covered about 125 acres but by 1990 it had expanded to over 300 acres of lights. The annual opening of the lights was Nov. 9. The lights remain on every night they come on at dusk which is often 5:30 pm. They then remain on until midnight to give people plenty of time to get in and through the park and will close on Jan. 8. 

The Speidel Golf pro shop is converted into a special Christmas shop selling all sorts of Christmas goods to the customers. The lodge has nightly entertainment including many nights of live music for guests and locals to enjoy. The Oglebay trolley starts its run from the Lodge entrance and provides a stress-free option for touring the lights. 

Also, there is a winter carnival that is hosted in Levingston Shelter that includes any number of activities to give the kids a chance to get out of the car and stretch their legs. The younger children can enjoy a fun little train ride as well and it is open every night as well. 

Photos with Santa are available in the gift shop of the zoo and the train becomes the Arctic Express five nights. The train offers a tour of light displays on the paths inside the zoo. Families can also enjoy a relaxing indoor laser light show in the zoo’s theater and a light show out on the back patio that consists of 40,000 lights that dance to music. 

If you enjoy light shows there are two other opportunities: the large tree on the Frosted hilltop in the gardens and the dancing lights on the mansion museum. While on the hilltop you can visit two other gift shops to work on your Christmas shopping: the 

Carriage house and the Farmhouse sweets and treats where there is a large assortment of chocolates and Kirk’s ice cream. If you are planning on attending the beautiful sights of the Oglebay lights, be sure to bundle up in these chilling temperatures.