UPDATED for 2020!
The holiday attractions at Lanier Islands are a mix of old favorites and fresh options in 2020.
The drive-through light show, Magical Nights of Lights, is gone this year.
It has been replaced with a brand new walk-through light display known as Lakeside Lights Spectacular.
Want to play in the snow? License to Chill Snow Island is back in its familiar format, with a few small changes.
Want to find out where to see Christmas lights at private homes, neighborhoods, parks, local attractions, and more?
Check out our huge list of Christmas light displays!
Quick facts about the Lanier Islands winter attractions (complete details below):
♦ Lakeside Lights Spectacular will be on view daily from November 20, 2020 to January 5, 2021 — and then will shift to weekend-only hours through February 21, 2020. The lights come on at 5 p.m., and closing time varies by day.
♦ License to Chill Snow Island will be offering folks a way to play in the snow, go snow tubing, ice skate, and more. It is open daily from November 20, 2020 through January 5, 2021 — and then shifts to weekend-only hours through February 21, 2021. (It is also open on Monday holidays MLK Day and Presidents Day.)
Neither of these attractions is exactly cheap, but we have a few tips for getting the best value for your entertainment dollar.
Read on for the scoop on each — prices, hours, package deals, and discounts.
You may also be interested in:
Lakeside Lights Spectacular
This newly re-imagined holiday light show is an immersive three-quarter-mile walk along the shores of the Margaritaville resort at Lanier Islands.
Instead of driving in your car, you’ll be able to walk through the display at your own pace, stopping for photos or seasonal treats like hot cocoa along the way.
You’ll find illuminated tunnels, a three-story wall of lights, and other high-tech displays. Everything is set to music.
It’s also a much longer run than in past years, staying open until Feb. 21, 2021, rather than closing down right after the New Year.
The website contains no info at all about mask requirements, safety precautions, capacity limits, or social distancing. Please proceed with caution.
Hours
For some reason, there is a complicated structure of daily hours.
The lights always come on at 5 p.m. — but go off at either 9, 10, or 11 p.m., depending on the date you visit.
Thanksgiving week, Christmas week, New Years week, and Saturday nights are the late nights.
Starting January 9, 2021, the light shows ends at 8 p.m. This is in effect through February 21st.
You can see a color-coded calendar that shows daily hours online.
Admission prices
This is a whole new pricing system, since tickets are now per person rather than per car, as in the past. Oddly enough, this is not a timed ticket system. We were not asked to choose a date and time before putting tickets in our cart.
NOTE that tickets and daily passes do NOT include the Lanier Islands gate fee of $20 (which is waived if you buy a winter season pass).
The best way to save money is to go on a Value Day, rather than on a Peak Day — this amounts to a $5 discount per person.
Value Days are listed below, for your convenience.
Regular ticket — anyone over age 7
♦ $19.99 on Value Days
♦ $24.99 on Peak Days
Children age 3 to 7
♦ $14.99 on Value Days
♦ $19.99 on Peak Days
♦ Children age two and younger get in FREE
Family 4-pack (any ages)
♦ $69.99 on Value Days
♦ $89.99 on Peak Days
Military (active and retired)
♦ $14.99 on Value Days
♦ $19.99 on Peak Days
Senior (age 62 and older)
♦ $14.99 on Value Days
♦ $19.99 on Peak Days
Groups of 15 people or more
♦ $14.99 per person on Value Days
♦ $19.99 per person on Peak Days
View complete pricing info online
Buy tickets to Lakeside Lights Spectacular online.
(You’ll have to scroll past all of the ticket options for Snow Island)
We don’t have any info yet on special discounts or coupons — but will update if we find new deals. The best way to stay in the know is to subscribe to our newsletter.
Consider an all-access one-day pass
This option gives you unlimited access (for one day) to the snow tubing and snow play areas, ice rink, amusement rides, and Lakeside Lights Spectacular display.
Regular
♦ $54.99 on Value Days
♦ $59.99 on Peak Days
Family 4-pack
♦ $199.99 on Value Days
♦ $219.99 on Peak Days
Complete list of Value Days
You can see this info in a color-coded calendar format online as well.
- November 20 to 24
- November 30 to December 3
- December 6 to 10
- December 13 to 17
- December 28 to February 21
Essentially, the Peak Day prices fall on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as all of Thanksgiving week and Christmas weekend.
License to Chill Snow Island
The attraction is open from November 20th through February 21st (although it goes to weekends only after Jan. 5th) so you’ll have plenty of time to play in the snow.
The daily admission includes access all day to all Snow Island attractions, including carnival rides and ice skating.
You’ll also find visits with Santa, a cafe and snack shop, cocktail bar, and holiday gift shop.
There is an area meant for playing in the snow, as well as Blizzard Mountain — an eight-story high, snow-covered mountain devoted to snow tubing.
Hours
The hours are extremely complicated, depending on the day you want to go.
The attraction is open every day from Nov. 20th to January 5th.
Before and after that, it has weekend hours only.
There are extended hours on weekends, and during Thanksgiving and Christmas week. The attraction is even open on the major holidays.
View the color-coded calendar of daily hours
Admission prices
Note that the daily passes do not include the gate fee of $20 or access to Lakeside Lights Spectacular.
The best way to save money is to go on a Value Day, rather than on a Peak Day — this amounts to a $5 discount per person.
Value Days are listed below, for your convenience.
Regular one-day pass — anyone over age 7
♦ $39.99 on Value Days
♦ $44.99 on Peak Days
Children age 3 to 7
♦ $34.99 on Value Days
♦ $39.99 on Peak Days
♦ Children age two and younger get in FREE
Family 4-pack (any ages)
♦ $139.99 on Value Days
♦ $159.99 on Peak Days
Military (active and retired)
♦ $34.99 on Value Days
♦ $39.99 on Peak Days
Senior (age 62 and older)
♦ $34.99 on Value Days
♦ $39.99 on Peak Days
Groups of 15 people or more
♦ $34.99 per person on Value Days
♦ $39.99 per person on Peak Days
View complete pricing and buy tickets online.
We don’t have any info yet on special discounts or coupons — but will update if we find new deals. The best way to stay in the know is to subscribe to our newsletter.
Consider an all-access one-day pass
This option includes the Snow Island attractions PLUS entrance to walk through the Lakeside Lights Spectacular display (you could also purchase those tickets separately)
Regular
♦ $54.99 on Value Days
♦ $59.99 on Peak Days
Family 4-pack
♦ $199.99 on Value Days
♦ $219.99 on Peak Days
Complete list of Value Days
You can see this info in a color-coded calendar format online as well.
- November 6 to 24
- November 30 to December 3
- December 6 to 10
- December 13 to 17
- December 28 to February 21
Essentially, the Peak Day prices fall on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as all of Thanksgiving week and Christmas weekend. You’ll pay an average of $5 more on Peak Days.
Discounts: Winter Chill Season Passes are now on sale
For a limited time, you can by Winter Chill Season Passes at a discount. We don’t know when the prices will go up again.
The Winter Chill Season Pass includes:
- All access pass for Snow Island, including Parrot Mountain snow ride, Snow Play area, ice skating, and carnival rides
- Unlimited gate access and parking
- Bring-a-Friend deal — 50% off all-access passes on select days
- 15% discount on lodging, if you want to stay overnight
- Exclusive offers
There is also an Ultimate Winter Chill Season Pass.
It includes all of the above, PLUS access to the Lakeside Lights Spectacular display and one FREE visit with Santa with photo printout.
We verified these prices on 11/16/2020 through the Lanier Islands ticketing system. These are the prices that currently apply when we added season passes to our cart.
Winter Chill Season Pass prices
♦ $69.99 single passes
♦ $64.99 each when you buy 4 or more passes
ULTIMATE Winter Chill Season Pass prices
♦ $79.99 single passes
♦ $74.99 each when you purchase 4 or more passes
Get more info or buy a season pass online.
Stay in the know! Subscribe to our newsletter.
What are the select days for bring a friend for 50 % off in Dec. we are looking to come dec 13..
also is there a charge if you don’t want to ride, but want to walk thru the lights?