Tanglewood Festival of Lights Gift Village Resembles Craft Show!

Festival of Lights Gift Shop © Katrena

The Festival of Lights, a huge holiday light show in Tanglewood Park in North Carolina's Forsyth County, offers four miles of lights that will dazzle the kids and put a smile on the faces of adults as they enjoy the motley array of winter scenes.

Craft Show in Tanglewood Festival of Lights © Katrena

Nestled amidst the largest light show in the Southeast is a gift shop village that is definitely worth the stop for my family. The shop has something for just about everyone! We visited the Festival of Lights drive-through holiday light show and Gift Village in November 2012 and certainly were not disappointed!

Homemade Fudge & Homemade Bread at Festival of Lights Christmas Light Show © Katrena

Those who cook might check out the nice variety of aprons. Folks who enjoy grilling and trying new sauces may be drawn to some homemade barbecue sauce and marinade. The homemade fudge and breads smelled delightful!

Cider and Grape Juice in Tanglewood © Katrena

Folks could also choose from a wide variety of ciders, juices, and other drinks. Tins of Moravian cookies are available as well. Tanglewood is not far from another popular holiday destination: Old Salem, which offers a nice variety of holiday activities for the family as well.

Gifts for People Who Love Sports at Tanglewood © Katrena

We visited during one of the Throwback nights before Thanksgiving. The theme for the evening was to wear clothes in support of one's favorite sports team, but anyone visiting on those nights would receive the nice discount. Several vendors offered a variety of sports-related crafts. My five-year-old particularly liked the colorful letters in the woodworking section. Cool candles also caught our eyes.

Puppets That Dance at Festival of Lights © Katrena

Everyone seemed to be drawn to the dancing puppets! A baby was mesmerized by the display that seemed to dance on stage when we visited. The colorful puppets were set up on a stage and performed almost like the marionette scene in the Sound of Music.

Painted Winter Scenes and More Near Winston-Salem © Katrena

My oldest is taking art classes in middle school, and she especially liked the painted pictures. The artists incorporated a nice variety of bright colors in winter scenes on wood, metal, and objects. Many of these would work particularly well in homes with Southern charm.

Hand Crafted & Unique Jewelry © Katrena

You can also find lots of interesting jewelry pieces here. My second oldest is particularly drawn to "bling" and the sparkling colors and interesting textures of the jewelry drew her like a magnet. You can find quite a few different styles and sizes of jewelry.

Gift Ideas for Everyone in the Family © Katrena

Many crocheted and knitted items are available, from warm scarves to detailed trivets. My youngest was enthralled by the cute little baby dolls nestled in crocheted beds. Quite a few stuffed animals rested on shelves with eager eyes as well.

Christmas Ornaments With Southern Charm © Katrena

Those who plan to put up a Christmas tree won't be disappointed with the nice selection of ornaments. We found ornaments that were shiny, sparkly, tiny, and large. Some were rather whimsical while others offered a hint of nostalgia with Southern charm.

Unusual Christmas Gift Ideas © Katrena

Some items at the shop were rather unusual, such as the demitasse cups and saucers made into night lights. My kids and I pondered for a while trying to decide how the artist made those. Those brought back memories of the times when my mom would set up tea parties with real china!

Fun & Whimsical Christmas Gifts © Katrena

Novelty items abound in the gift shop as well, with everything from large snowmen that can be seen across the room to tiny ones made to hold small pieces of candy. Penguins seemed to want to play while reindeer were ready to fly!

Roasting Marshmallows Over an Open Fire at Tanglewood Light Show © Katrena

Those who wish to brave the weather can find a large fire for roasting marshmallows. Santa is available for pictures in a large tent as well.

Fun Christmas Gifts for Everyone © Katrena

Readers may also wish to read Tanglewood Festival of Lights Christmas Show in NC to find pictures of many of the lights and tips for saving money. See the Tanglewood Park official web site for driving directions, prices, and more.

Gift Village in Tanglewood Festival of Lights © Katrena