Wayne County Lightfest Returns to Hines Park Nov. 20 With Holiday Display

The Wayne County Lightfest opens Thursday, Nov. 20. It runs through Dec. 24 at Hines Park. Drivers wind through a five-mile stretch of Hines Drive, passing nearly 50 animated displays lit by more than 100,000 bulbs.

Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Two extra nights—Monday, Dec. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 23—will give latecomers a chance to see the show.

Weekends draw crowds. Wait times stretch longer than usual because of the event's popularity, according to Patch. Plan ahead.

Vehicles enter from the Merriman Road entrance at 7651 N. Merriman Road, which sits 2.5 miles south of Interstate 96 in Westland. Road work in the area means cars can only access the entrance from the north side of the Merriman Road Bridge.

Let's talk about vehicle entrance fees. Cars cost $5. Commercial vans, RVs, or limos run $20. A mini-bus carrying 20 passengers costs $25, while a bus with 40 or more passengers pays $50. All fees are paid in cash on site.

Want to skip the line? Pre-purchased tickets are available at the Nankin Mills Interpretive Center in Westland, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center closes from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. Find it at 33175 Ann Arbor Trail in Westland.

Prepaid tickets can be purchased with cash, check, or Visa/Mastercard. Call (734) 261-1990 to buy tickets over the phone with a credit card, and they'll mail them to you.

Bus groups can pre-register their buses and pay ahead of time by check, Visa/Mastercard, or cash, but you'll need to call (734) 261-1990 at least one week before your visit.

Toy Night happens on Wednesdays, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, and Dec. 10, as per Click On Detroit Bring a new, unwrapped toy and skip the car entrance fee. Commercial vehicles won't qualify for free admission.

Hines Drive closes to traffic for set-up and operations from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., from Ann Arbor Trail to Outer Drive during the event, which lets crews prepare and run the light show each evening.

Radio alerts are available on AM 1640 within three to five miles of the entrance, providing updates on wait times, traffic flow, special events, and costs.