mechanicsville tacky light tour map

Questions? Call or text us at (804) 213-2330

Best Tacky Lights Tours & Driving Route In Richmond, VA

A guide by discover richmond tours.

The Best Tacky Lights Tours & Driving Route in Richmond, VA

Click here to book your Tacky Lights Tour on our decked out holiday bus!

We all know Richmond, VA has a world-class food and beer scene. But did you also know Richmond boasts some of the country’s brightest and tackiest lights displays during the holiday season? Don’t just take our word for it – two local displays have taken home the grand prize on ABC’s reality show “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”

Below, we’ll share the optimal driving route to see the best tacky lights tour in the Richmond region. The route makes a roughly 2-hour, clockwise loop, starting and ending in the West End.

Don’t feel like driving? Grab your friends, your family, or your co-workers, and book a Discover Richmond Tacky Lights Tour ! You and your group will ride in our comfortable, climate-controlled bus to see all the best holiday light displays in Richmond and the surrounding area!

*Updated for 2023

2302 Wistar Court, Richmond, VA 23294

Get your Tacky Lights Tour started at 2302 Wistar Court, neighbor to Richmond’s very own Mr. Christmas! Even though 2022 was Mr. Christmas’s last year lighting up his own house at 2304 Wistar Court, the cul-de-sac will still be lit up, beckoning to those excited to see gorgeous holiday lights displays. With more than 250,000 lights, it’s the perfect first stop to get excited for all the rest to come! 

9716 Wendhurst Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23060

Christmas on Wendhurst is a must-see on your Richmond Tacky Lights Tour. The house boasts more than 180,000 lights, nearly 1,800 homemade decorations, and has been featured on countless TV shows, including winning an episode of “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2016! It takes Al and Esther Thompson months to set up the house, often starting in early September. Trust us when we tell you that you don’t want to miss Christmas on Wendhurst!

7396 Kelshire Trace, Mechanicsville, VA 23111

This interactive display is known as Hadley’s Winterland . With more than 150,000 lights, you’ll feel immersed in the holiday spirit as you walk through the driveway and play. You can even write a letter to Santa here (maybe you’ll just get one back!). Hadley’s Winterland was also featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and raises money yearly for The Fallen Firefighter Foundation.

408 S. Laurel Street, Richmond, VA 23220

You’ll find Christmas in Richmond, right in the heart of Oregon Hill ! More than 100 hours go into making the lights display, which is old-fashioned, mismatched, and totally asymmetrical. The RTD described it as “the kind of house that you need to stand in front of and stare at for a while.” Kids can write a letter to Santa, and the homeowners say they will write back, complete with Santa’s seal (if you leave a return address)!

3209 Hanover Ave., Richmond, VA 23221

This Museum District home is the epitome of Richmond, with a giant, bright RVA sign on the roof! Also included are plenty of inflatables, Darth Vader, Elf, a Yeti, and tons more. It’s really a can’t-miss, “Where’s Waldo” of tacky lights displays!

12618 Dawnridge Court, Midlothian, VA 23114

The ENTIRE Dawnridge Court cul-de-sac in the Walton Park subdivision gets in on the Tacky Light fun! For more than 10 years, each house has set up their individual displays – some with dancing lights, some with white and multi-colored lights, and some with figurines galore. One of the most festive homes on Dawnridge Court is 12618.

9604 Asbury Court, Richmond, VA 23229

End your Tacky Lights Tour with the grand display at 9604 Asbury Court, better known as “ A Phifer Christmas .” Since 1974 (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19), The Phifers have been amazing folks with their grand display, which boasts more than 1.5 million lights. During the holiday season, crowds gather en masse to get a look at the old-school display. And typically, you can purchase hot chocolate on site (to help them pay their electric bill – phew!). The Phifers won “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2017!

Book Your Tacky Lights Tour Today!

We provided this route as the best tacky lights tour starting and ending in the West End, but you can of course start at any of the locations listed and go in order from there!

If you don’t feel like driving the 2-hour loop (plus adding in some time to stop and gawk at lights!), book a Tacky Lights Tour with Discover Richmond Tours! We’ll chauffeur you and your friends around on our climate-controlled, delightfully holiday-spirited bus! Check out our availability here !

You Might Also Like:

9 Of The Best Brunch Spots In Richmond, VA

16 Things To Do In Richmond, VA This Spring (2024)

7 Of The Best Restaurants In Richmond’s Jackson Ward

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Discover the best of Richmond with us:

Contact: (804) 213-2330 | [email protected]

© 2024 · Discover Richmond Tours · Privacy Policy · Website by Brian W. Beard

• Arts District Food Tour
• Carytown Food Tour
• Church Hill Food Tour
• Scott’s Addition Booze & Bites Tour
• Pizza & Ice Cream Tour
• Private Tours
• Hiking Tours
• Scavenger Hunts
• Wedding Transportation
• Corporate Event Transportation
• Birthday and Celebration Transportation
• Brewery Tours
• Tacky Lights Tours
• Spooky Lights Tours
• Field Trips
• Corporate Events
• Science Museum of Virginia Scavenger Hunt
• Richmond: City Guide
• Become A Partner
• Community Support
• Book Tickets!

Enjoy a Great Experience with the Tacky Lights Tour

Tacky Light Tour

PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICES TO CHECK AVAILABILITY AS IT CHANGES BY THE MINUTE!

Each friday, saturday, sunday tour includes a stop at a local food partner for a short rest break and refreshments if your group is interested..

Plotting a Route for a Tacky Lights Tour in Virginia: Top Destinations

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means it’s time to book your tacky lights tour with a  Fredericksburg limo service . While many people decorate their houses with classic light displays, Virginians have a tradition for brilliantly bombastic spectacles. Find great ideas for a tacky lights tour route here.

You can’t visit Virginia during the holiday season without touring the tacky light displays created by our locals. Whether a Virginia native or just passing through,  booking a tacky lights tour with Tangier Transportation Services  for your family and friends blends luxury style with whacky seasonal traditions. Listed below are a few must-see spectacles for your route this year.

#1 “The Christmas House”

At 2300 Wistar Court in Richmond, VA, sits “The Christmas House.” Owned by Frank Hudak, or Mr. Christmas as the locals call him, this house display consists of over 100 figures and 100,000 lights. Each year, Hudak dresses as Santa Claus to include himself in the exhibition. His tradition has spanned 51 years, and 2022 will be your last chance to see it under his watch.

While the tradition will continue through a neighbor’s efforts in 2023, you can’t afford to miss Hudak’s final hurrah this Christmas. After all, he’s the one who started it! Through his display, Hudak has raised thousands of dollars for the Boys & Girls Club. Make sure you include this decades-old crown jewel of tacky Christmas lights in your tour route.

#2 Christmas on Wendhurst Drive

At 9716 Wendhurst Drive in Glen Allen, VA, one family has made a name for itself with a massive Christmas display. Esther Thompson and her husband Al spend over two months planning and building their brilliant spectacle. That means they get started as early as September!

With over 180,000 lights and 1,800 homespun decorations, the Thompson house has earned a spotlight on multiple television productions, including  The Great Christmas Light Fight . You don’t want to miss out on this cornerstone of tacky Christmas cheer. Add Wendhurst Drive to your list of tour destinations when you book our limo services.

#3 Hadley’s Winterland

At 7396 Kelshire Trace in Mechanicsville, VA, lies an interactive light show known as Hadley’s Winterland. This immersive experience will leave you breathless as you reach for your camera. Still, no photos can do the beloved Hadley’s Winterland justice. You’ll have to see it for yourself.

Featured on the television show  The Great Christmas Light Fight , this incredible light display uses its fame to raise money for the  National Fallen Firefighters Foundation . While you visit, make sure you write to Santa Claus. When you do it at this location, magic may happen. You could receive a reply! This feature makes for a fantastic midpoint on your tacky lights tour.

#4 Dawnridge Court Cul-de-Sac

To build one of the most iconic Christmas features ever, all the residents of the Dawnridge Court cul-de-sac coordinate a massive light display together. Located at 12618 Dawnridge Court in Midlothian, VA, the whole subdivision creates an eclectic Christmas experience you must see to believe.

Their light display has endured for the past decade and includes a rainbow of twinkling lights, inflatable figures, and more. Add this group effort to your shortlist of tour destinations this year. You won’t be disappointed.

#5 “A Phifer Christmas”

“A Phifer Christmas” holds the spot for perhaps the most over-the-top display. Located at 904 Ashbury Court in Richmond, VA, the Phifer household has kept up this tradition for nearly 50 years. Countless figures and 1.5 million lights stretch across the entire span of the yard and house.

This vast stretch of Christmas spirit won  The Great Christmas Light Fight  in 2017. You can even purchase some delicious hot chocolate to top off your visit. This helps the Phifers offset their power bill every year. It also offers the perfect way to end your tacky lights tour.

Plan Your Tacky Lights Tour With Tangier Transportation Services

Add a touch of class and style to your tacky lights tour with Tangier Transportation Services. We boast a  fleet of beautiful cars  and employ reputable drivers for every service. This year, give your friends and family the gift of a uniquely Virginian experience combining luxury and tradition.  Book a limo service  with us, and we’ll help you plan the perfect route.

Discover the  best places to visit in Virginia  year-round with Tangier Transportation Services. Call us at 703-474-2170 to learn more, and start booking today.

Recent Posts

Why A Passenger Bus Is A Luggage-Friendly Transportation Option?

Minimize Travel Time and Delays with Airport Transport Service

7 Reasons Business Travelers Should Book Airport Transfers

Call our customer service team.

When you ride with Tangier Transportation Services, you ride with the comfort and style you deserve.

Car & Limo Services

• Airport Services
• Wedding Services
• Night-Out Services
• Washington DC Limo Service

Airport Transfers

• Reagan National Airport
• Dulles International Airport
• Richmond International Airport
• Baltimore-Washington International Airport

Contact Info

• (703) 474-2170
• [email protected]
• 4309 Prestwould Ct Fredericksburg, VA 22408

US DOT  3249165 | Virginia Operating Authority  1490 | DC Limo Service

Copyright © 2024 Tangier Transportation Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Designed By Beedigital

• United States
• Connecticut
• District Of Columbia
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• West Virginia
• Canada Provinces
• British Columbia
• Plan a Free Tour
• Shop for Gifts
• • See! 10 Disney Frozen Videos
• • How? Cover Your House with Lights
• • How? Mega Christmas Lights Display
• • How? Build a Mega Tree

This display has not been updated since 2018.

Hadley's Winterland

When to See It

What to see, news about hadley's winterland, description of hadley's winterland, more info hadley's winterland.

Love the gingerbread house look. Love the arch. Get out and walk through it. Thank you for supporting the firefighters

One guy starts in September putting up 150k lights. Can get out and walk through. Favorite every year.

Great display

November 22- December 31

5:00pm- 10:00pm.

Matthew Satterwhite

November 2007.

Find Your Tacky Stuff

About tacky light tours, plan your tour.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our pages. Find out more on how we use cookies in our privacy policy .

Extra Streetwise

Price of a cup of coffee

Ranging from € 1.50 to € 4

Alcohol in supermarkets

After 23h, it is not allowed to sell alcohol in supermarkets. Fortunately, there are many great cafés, often open till late.  

Public transport

The best way to move yourself across Moscow is the metro, which operates from 5:30h till 1:00h. Download the free Yandex Metro app to plan your route in the Moscow metro, as the app provides up-to-date information about all the metro lines, detailed instructions about your route, and the most efficient way to travel.

Moscow also has a ground transportation network, including buses, trolleybuses and trams, also operating from 5:30h till 1:00h.

Tickets can be bought at ticket offices and vending machines inside metro stations, and inside buses or trams. It is more convenient and more economical to travel with a Troika card (see below).

Transport at night

After the metro stops running at 1:00h in the night, night buses take over. Night buses roughly drive the same routes as the metro lines, on an interval of about 30 minutes. For more detailed information about the routes, check out the map on the official website (Ru) of the public transport in Moscow.

For further information about public transport in Moscow, download the official app for Android or IOS .

Troika card

Instead of buying separate tickets, it is more economical to buy a Troika card . The card can be used for all means of public transport, including suburban trains. A Troika card can be bought or charged at ticket offices and Mosgortrans vending machines inside metro stations.

Exploring the beautiful metro of Moscow

Moscow is known for having some incredibly beautiful metro stations. Explore the 12 most amazing stations with our self-guided 2-hour tour of the most beautiful metro stations of Moscow .  

From the airport to Moscow

The most convenient way to travel between the major Moscow airports and the city centre is the Aeroexpress train. It is quick, not expensive and runs frequently. For more info and tickets see the official website of Aeroexpress.

Aeroexpress trains run between Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) and metro station Belorusskaya, between Domodedovo Airport (DME) and metro station Paveletskaya, and between Vnukovo Airport (VKO) and metro station Kievskaya. Note that the smaller Zhukovsky Airport (ZIA) cannot be reached with the Aeroexpress. It can be reached by train from the Kazan railway station.

Please note that the Aeroexpress trains don't operate at night. In those cases we recommend using a taxi. Taxi apps like Gett or Yandex work well in Moscow.

From Moscow to St Petersburg

The most comfortable way to get to the beautiful St Petersburg is the Sapsan high-speed train, taking you in less than 4 hours to the centre of St Petersburg. Trains leave from Leningradsky station (watch out, this railway station also goes by the name 'Oktyabrskaya', not to be confused with the metro station). There are also overnight trains, which are slower but cheaper. For tickets, use the official page of the Russian Railways .

Get a sneak preview of a ride on the Sapsan with our article High-speed from Moscow to Saint Petersburg with the Sapsan .  

Victory Day

Victory Day is celebrated in the entire country on 9 May, commemorating how the Red Army and the Soviet people defeated Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Every year, the Red Square is the place of the biggest military parade in the country.

Afisha Picnic Festival

The Afisha Picnic Festival is the largest open-air music festival in Moscow, attracting thousands of visitors every summer. It lasts for one day and takes place on the territory of the Kolomenskoye museum-reserve. Check out the official website (Ru) to learn more or to purchase your tickets.

Spasskaya Tower Festival

The Spasskaya Tower Festival is an international military music festival which takes place on the Red Square every year in the end of summer. Dozens of military orchestras from various countries take part in the event, performing in their national uniforms. In between the acts on the Red Square, musical bands perform in parks and on squares across the city. This colorful event lasts for 9 days in total, ending with a laser show and fireworks. Learn more and book your tickets on the official website .

For more than 20 years, the Moscow City Day has been celebrated on the first or second Saturday of September. The main events and concerts take place on the Red Square, in Alexandrovsky Sad, at the VDNH, in Gorky Park and in Sokolniki Park. The day is usually ended with colorful fireworks. The metro works around the clock on this day.

Circle of Light

Since 2011 Moscow has been hosting the Circle of Light Festival (Ru), which takes place every year in autumn. Thanks to light shows with 2D and 3D effects, various sites across the city brighten up into amazing colorful objects. Learn more about this year's edition on the official website .  

Local pages

Bikesharing.

Velobike is a bikesharing network in Moscow, which is usually operational from May until November. In order to register, you'll need a phone and a bank card – learn more about registration on the official website . After paying the registration fee, trips up to 30 minutes are free of charge.

For a first look in the capital of Russia, a bus tour can be a nice option. Various operators offer tours through the city, with City Sightseeing being one of the better known international companies. Check out their official website to learn more about the tours and the route.

Culture and party guide

Find an overview of cultural events and parties in Moscow at Kudago (Ru).

Check if it will rain today in Moscow at Gismeteo .

Taxi apps like Gett or Yandex work well in Moscow.

For searching and booking train tickets in Russia, we recommend to use the official page of the Russian Railways .

© 2016 - Streetwise World B.V. All rights reserved

• Plan a DIY Tour

Exclusive RVA Shirt

This display has not been updated since 2023.

Winter Wonderland

When to see it, what to see, news about winter wonderland, description of winter wonderland, more info winter wonderland.

November 23- December 28

5:00pm- 10:00pm, richard and melody steveson, november 2023.

Find Your Tacky Stuff

About tacky light tours, plan your tour.