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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 !

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Richmond Holiday Light Tours

Text or Call (804) 266-2800

Why Choose Us?

The Best Houses

The best chauffeurs, the best vehicles.

We have been doing these tours for years and we continue to find the best houses year after year.  Count on the Experienced Professionals at Richmond Limousine.

We have the Newest & Nicest Fleet located right here in Richmond, Virginia.  We offer everything from Sedans to Buses ranging from 2-50 passengers.

Our Chauffeurs are all fully screened & background checked.  They undergo rigorous training to make sure you have a safe & memorable experience.

About the Tour

The tacky light tour is a richmond tradition that is fun for all ages..

It's a great way for you and your family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors to get into the holiday spirit.  We have mapped out a tour that includes the most decorated homes from the official list.  We can make stops along the way and even finish out the tour Downtown at the James Center for their outdoor light display.  Our holiday light tours start at just 2 hours in length and may be customized to include time for dinner and/or drinks.  With a complete range of vehicle options, from our 2 passenger sedans to our Stretch Limousines, Party Buses, and Mini Coaches up to 50 passengers, we can handle any size group.  With at least a 3 hour tour we can pick you up from a home, office, or any other location, even a shopping center or restaurant.  During our light tour, you'll be put into the mood with holiday music inside the vehicle.  Our limousines are stocked with bottled water, ice, and glasses.  Guests may bring food and any other beverages.

There's still time left

Mins Minutes

Secs Seconds

3 Hour Holiday Light Tour Rates

Sedans & suvs.

Here is our ALL INCLUSIVE PRICING

Sedans (Sun-Thurs)

2-3 passengers

Full Size SUV (Sun-Thurs)

5-6 passengers

Sedans (Fri & Sat)

Full size suv (fri & sat), limousine style seating, stretch limo (sun-thurs).

6-8 passengers

7-9 passengers

8-10 passengers

SUV Stretch Limo (Sun-Thurs)

12-14 passengers

Sprinter Limo Party Bus (Sun-Thurs)

11-13 passengers

Limo Party Bus (Sun-Thurs)

14-16 passengers

17-19 passengers

18-20 passengers

20-22 passengers

24-26 passengers

26-28 passengers

34-36 passengers

Stretch Limo (Fri & Sat)

Suv stretch limo (fri & sat), sprinter limo party bus (fri & sat), limo party bus (fri & sat), shuttle style seating, luxury shuttle (sun-thurs).

13-14 passengers

 23 passengers 

 31-32 passengers 

 37-38 passengers 

MotorCoach (Sun-Thurs)

48-50 passengers 

Luxury Shuttle (Fri & Sat)

 13-14 passengers 

23 passengers

MotorCoach (Fri & Sat)

Our ALL INCLUSIVE RATES may seem higher than others at first glance, but ours already include gratuity for your chauffeur and all service fees. These are items that other sites leave out until booking. The Tour is located in Henrico and Richmond so depending on how far out your pickup is you may need to add some additional time in order to see the entire tour. There will be a $100 Holiday fee added for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Call today to setup your Reservation!

Tacky christmas light tours - limos & buses.

10101 West Broad Street, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060, United States

Tours from Thanksgiving to New Years

Save 25% with our 2 hour tours.  

2 hour tours depart from the GRTC Commuter Parking Lot at Gaskins & Mayland (Just off 64).

3 hour tours depart from your (local) location.

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RVA Tacky Light Tours 2023

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Exclusive RVA Shirt

Tour More Than 7.5 Million Christmas Lights

Find christmas lights near you:, 6 edison court.

2 Fredericksburg,VA 22407 US 40,000 lights with 30 years of experience lit from November 22-January 2 5:00pm-11:30pm. Save to Favorites View

Walnut Lights

1400 Walnut Dr, Chester, VA 23836, United States 15,000 lights with 6 years of experience lit from November 1-January 4 5:00pm-9:30pm. Supporting American Cancer Society . Save to Favorites View

Spurlin's Christmas Extravaganza

750 Creekview Dr, Galax, VA 24333, USA 35,000 lights with 14 years of experience lit from November 23-January 1 6:00pm-12:00am. Save to Favorites View

Stern Family Holiday Light Show

4 108 Sheffield Way, Newport News, VA 23602, United States 50,000 lights with 22 years of experience lit from December 1-December 25 5:30pm-9:30pm. Supporting Thrive Peninsula Foodbank . Save to Favorites View

A Very Lamby Christmas!

432 Bootons Ln, Orange, VA 22960, United States 100,000 lights with 4 years of experience lit from November 26-January 1 5:00pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

2 306 Gardenville Dr, Yorktown, VA 23693, USA 14,250 lights with 19 years of experience lit from December 1-January 6 5:00pm-11:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Flamingo Christmas

3650 Hemlock Rd, Chester, VA 23831, United States 90,000 lights with 3 years of experience lit from November 23-January 6 5:30pm-11:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Christmas On Wendhurst

6 9716 Wendhurst Drive,Glen Allen,VA 23060 US 203,271 lights with 25 years of experience lit from November 23-December 31 5:30pm-10:00pm. Supporting Tunnel to Towers . Save to Favorites View

Closed - Spring Mill Holiday House / 10806 Spring Mill Road

1 10806 Spring Mill Road,Richmond,VA 23236 US 5,000 lights with 17 years of experience lit from November 1-December 24 5:00pm-8:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Heard it through the grapevine!

2221 Grapevine Cir, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, United States 5,000 lights with 28 years of experience lit from November 26-December 27 5:00pm-12:00am. Save to Favorites View

Providence Christmas Light Show

13404 Dyson Trail Cir, Ashland, VA 23005, United States 60,000 lights with 9 years of experience lit from November 25-January 1 5:30pm-11:00pm. Supporting Worthdays . Save to Favorites View

Christmas Poochapalooza

1 Poseidon Pl, Hampton, VA 23666, United States 1,000,000,000 lights with 1 years of experience lit from December 1-January 3 5:00pm-10:30pm. Supporting Animal Aid Society . Save to Favorites View

The Home of The Rescued Misfits

619 White Oak Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22405, United States 10,000 lights with 34 years of experience lit from November 1-December 31 6:00pm-11:00pm. Supporting Stafford County Animal Shelter . Save to Favorites View

9410 Apple Blossom Drive

9410 Apple Blossom Dr, Mechanicsville, VA 23116, United States 160,000 lights with 5 years of experience lit from November 24-January 3 5:30pm-10:00pm. Supporting Crater Community Hospice . Save to Favorites View

Santa’s Helicopter Arrives

6520 Vischer Rd, Richmond, VA 23225, United States 6,500 lights with 1 years of experience lit from November 27-December 26 5:00pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Christmas on Wendhurst!

9716 Wendhurst Dr, Glen Allen, VA 23060, United States 5,000 lights with 1 years of experience lit from December 1-December 25 6:00pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Krossridge Court

2308-2398 Krossridge Ct, Richmond, VA 23236, USA 40,000 lights with 17 years of experience lit from November 1-January 1 6:00pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Joy of Eyre hall

2408 Eyre Hall Way, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, United States 5,000 lights with 6 years of experience lit from November 28-December 26 5:00pm-10:00pm. Supporting Suicide awareness and prevention . Save to Favorites View

11711 beechwood forest Dr,

11711 Beechwood Forest Dr, Chesterfield, VA 23838, United States 10,000 lights with 2 years of experience lit from November 23-December 24 5:30pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Spring Run Christmas Lights

12630 Spring Run Rd, Chesterfield, VA 23832, United States 208,300 lights with 8 years of experience lit from November 26-December 31 5:30pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Lugo's Winter Wonderland

12031 Hunters Hawk Ct., Chesterfield,VA 23838 US 22,000 lights with 10 years of experience lit from November 1-December 24 5:00pm-8:00pm. Save to Favorites View

1601 Yorkview Drive, Gloucester Point, Va 23062

1601 Yorkview Dr, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, United States 10,000 lights with 2 years of experience lit from December 7-January 2 6:00pm-12:00am. Save to Favorites View

Edgewater Is LIT

1 941 Edgewater Dr, Newport News, VA 23602, United States 20,000 lights with 2 years of experience lit from November 1-December 31 5:00pm-10:00pm. Supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital . Save to Favorites View

5494 Smithy Court

1 5494 Smithy Court,Mechanicsville,Va 23111 US 15,000 lights with 14 years of experience lit from November 29-December 30 6:30pm-9:30pm. Save to Favorites View

McCormick Christmas House

7304 Hunterbrook Dr, Mechanicsville, VA 23111, United States 10,700 lights with 2 years of experience lit from November 24-January 2 5:00pm-10:00pm. Save to Favorites View

Why You Should See Tour More Than 7.5 Million Christmas Lights

Go see 25 Christmas lights. Plan a holiday tradition to see 1,001,140,021 tacky lights as part of the Tacky Lights Tour.

More About Tour More Than 7.5 Million Christmas Lights

Virginia is home to these 25 Christmas light displays featured on Richmond's Tacky Lights Tour. Participate in RVA's greatest Christmas tradition by visiting these 25 houses with 1,001,140,021 Christmas lights. Preview all 25 virtually or see the 1,001,140,021 Christmas lights in-person, which is best.

Richmond Virginia's Guide since 2005

Official Tour Logo Tee

Time to dispatch richmond, to the tacky lights tour.

Add a Scavenger Hunt

About tacky light tours, plan your tour.

• Luxury Sedan
• Executive SUV
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• Limousine Van (Mercedes Benz Sprinter)
• Stretch Limousine
• Limousine Coach (18 Passengers)
• Limousine Coach (26 Passengers)
• Airport Transportation
• Corporate Transportation
• Executive Transportation
• Group & Event Transportation
• Shuttle Service
• Vacation Airport Transportation
• Wedding Transportation
• Brewery/Distillery Tours
• Night Out and Special Events
• Tours and Attractions
• Prom Limo Service

Tacky Light Tours

• Covid-19 Safety and Health Precautions
• Testimonials
• Duty of Care
• FAQ & Policies
• Safety, Licensing and Insurance
• Our History
• Associations

Plan for a high-voltage holiday.

Holiday tacky light tours celebrate a richmond tradition with a safe and fun activity for family and friends.

Call 804-273-1540 Today  or Request A Tour Online

• Our vehicles are cleaned and disinfected prior to each tour, and drivers wear masks
• Our team knows the tackiest and best award-winning homes
• Tours run from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve
• It’s never too early to book a Tacky Light Tour
• Tours run 7 nights a week with a variety of vehicles to choose
• We design each tour in order to create the best memories and traditions
• Most vehicles have roaring fires (on-screen) and all rides include holiday music
• Tacky Light Tour gift certificates are always available

It’s never too early to book one of our fabulous tacky light tours! Relax with friends, family, or co-workers in one of our elegant vehicles while taking in the views of thousands of twinkling lights and stunning holiday displays. We have already done the work of compiling the most up to date list of homes, some as seen on the Discovery Channel.

Our Holiday Light Tours are 3 to 4 hours in length depending on pick up location and size of your group. Want to get the most out of your tour? Start at the phenomenal Garden Festival of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

James Limousine will pick you up at your home, hotel, or office and whisk you away for a wonderful Richmond holiday tradition. James Limousine’s Holiday Light Tours are available every night from Thanksgiving weekend (some homes may not be lighted) through New Year’s Eve, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Day.

During our Holiday Light Tour, you’ll be kept warm with a roaring fire on the video screen (not available on all vehicles) and we’ll put you in the holiday mood with Christmas music. Our limousines are stocked with water and ice. Guests may bring their favorite champagne, wine, or other beverage if desired.

Reserve a Richmond Tacky Lights Tour

Package pricing is based on the capacity and vehicle type selected for your party. Prices are inclusive of all charges and a suggested gratuity. Please call 804-273-1540 today to make your reservation or Request A Tour Online . Available tour dates fill out fast, so book now.

****  Travel time fees will be added to tour cost for pick ups and drop offs more than 20 minutes away from our facility at 2415 Anniston Street, RVA 23223

We also offer tacky lights tour gift certificates – perfect for holiday gifts..

Call 804-273-1540  or Request A Tour Online

Donna Thornburg

Amazing tacky light tour with robert brown.

I just want to drop you a note about our AMAZING experience last night with James Limousine and our driver Robert Brown.

The Ranallo Family & the McGuire Family – Fantastic Tacky Light Tour

Hannah defrank – squirrels baseball, dean porter andrews – principal, easton & porter group llc.

I just wanted to pass along that I was truly impressed with Daryl -- he was engaging and thoughtful. Wonderful conversation -- and I normally don't particularly engage! You have a true winner!

Nicole Vaughan recommends James Limousine Service

Highly recommend them - I have never had an issue in booking transports for my faculty recruitment needs. Always prompt, courteous, trustworthy, and timely. Glenda who assists me in booking is also fabulous! You cannot go wrong with this company.

Great Customer Service

James Limousine is the best. Have enjoyed working with you and the team -- great customer service!

- Private Client

Christina Childs

Denny grew up in the Richmond, Virginia area and served in the United States Air Force. He worked on fighter aircraft, and spent time in Florida, Alaska, Georgia, the middle east, and Okinawa, Japan. In his travels, he has held a 400-year-old treasure from a Spanish Galleon, flown in an F-15 Eagle, toured Viking cemeteries and Japanese feudal castles, and rode a Camel in Saudi Arabia.

He is married, and has three children and three grandchildren. He enjoys Civil War Reenacting, travelling with his wife, and easin’ on down the road in a shiny, black limousine.

Leave a review for this chauffeur:

Kimberly was born, raised and still resides in Matthews, Virginia. Before joining the James Limousine Driving team in Spring 2019, Kimberly previously worked for 20 years as a CNA in the Healthcare industry, primarily in long-term care and home health.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, particularly her grandmother.

Aaron was born and raised in Richmond, VA and graduated from Potomac Senior High School in Woodbridge in 2011. He has been a Chauffeur since 2018 shortly after returning to the Richmond area. As much as he likes to chauffeur, he also likes to go on long distance trips with family and friends. His favorite city to visit is Miami.

Born in Washington, D.C., raised in Amelia, Virinia, Michael went to Longwood University and used to be a radio DJ. He lives in Chesterfield County, has three children and enjoys playing basketball with his son and riding dirt bikes with his twin daughters. Michael started working at James Limousine in 1997.

Alan is from New York and had a 14-year US Army background serving as a heavy equipment operator. His wife, Annette, also served in the US Army for 12 years as a Nurse. Annette continues her nursing career to date as a civilian. They have 5 children and grandchildren. To relax, Alan enjoys reading novels, working out at the gym, boxing, and playing football and basketball. Alan came to James Limousine with 6 years of limousine driving experience that he gained in New York.

Ernesto has a Bachelors in Computer Science and over 25 years in the Transportation industry in Puerto Rico and Virginia. Outside of work, he is an avid car enthusiast and amateur circuit auto racer.

Vic has been a professional chauffeur for over 16 years. He began his driving career in Denver, Colorado and then worked in Nashville, Tennessee before moving to Richmond, Virginia. He has lived in the Richmond area since 2010. When not working, he loves to spend time with his wife and son.

Born and raised in Charlottesville, Sam moved to Richmond in the mid-80’s for a computer programming job. He spent 30 years in the computer business and retired from the Federal Reserve in 2016. He and his wife live in Hanover where he enjoys playing with his dog Bandit and keeping up with his 3 grand-children. Through the years, Sam has had several part-time jobs outside of his computer work including concert security, massage therapist, and paramedic. He assisted in the delivery 2 babies which was the highlight of his paramedic career.

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Pat and his wife have been Chesterfield residents for over 40 years. They have 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren, but Pat is originally from Newport News. He attended Atlantic Christina College in Wilson, NC. During his early adult career he was a tennis coach at The Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, NC and then coached tennis at Winthrop College, in Rock Hill, S.C.. When not driving he enjoys time with his family and following sports, particularly, football and baseball.

As a Richmond native, Tripp’s career includes 25 years in the moving & storage industry and as a Virginia Realtor since 1999. Tripp’s loves are his daughter, son and 3 beautiful granddaughters! He enjoys time with family and friends, church, sports, the outdoors, concerts, meeting people, and exercise. Tripp has always strived to provide a quality service to his clients, so joining the JL Team made perfect sense.

Will joined James Limousine as a driver in early 2019 and is a Richmond, Virginia native. When not driving, he produces commercial music, electronic music, and is a DJ.

Will studied Classical Bass at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and enjoys also enjoy traveling, and yard work in his spare time. He recently got married in Australia.

Andrew joined the James Limousine Driving team in early 2019. In addition to driving, Andrew is an artist, photographer and recreational runner.

He has lived in Virginia his whole life, and loves living in Richmond. When he’s not driving, you can find him drawing or taking photographs, running, or spending time at the rivah.

Born and raised in Petersburg, VA, Nate and has two sisters and a brother. Nate is married, with two sons and a daughter and is the grandfather of three grandsons. He retired from Phillip Morris & has been driving for over 20 years. In his younger years, he was a motorcycle tricks rider and racer, but while adventurous, he always put safety first. Currently, he now enjoys relaxing with family and friends, listening to music and at times playing games. Nate is passionate, caring and an all-around loving guy! When you’re riding with him, know you’re in good hands, because you’re in caring hands!

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This display has not been updated since 2023.

Soundview lane

When to see it, what to see, news about soundview lane, description of soundview lane, more info soundview lane, special directions.

November 1- January 8

5:00pm- 10:00pm.

Stephanie Rostocil

November 2020.

Find Your Tacky Stuff

About tacky light tours, plan your tour.

Tacky Light Tour

Tours available nightly from november 23rd, 2023 thru december 31st, 2023 (thanksgiving thru new years eve).

TOUR TIME INFORMATION

Friday, Saturday and Sunday night tours are offered in two time slots

– 5:00PM to 8:00PM

– 8:30PM to 11:30PM

Weeknights (Monday thru Thursday) prior to 12/15/23 or after 12/26/23 may choose any three hour block in the evening. All dates 12/15/23 thru 12/26/23 (excluding 12/24 & 12/25) must choose either a 5PM to 8PM or 8:30PM to 11:30PM block.

The 3 hour time blocks are based on pickup and drop in the Richmond area or more specifically within 20 mins of the Gaskins Rd Park & Ride. If you’re not local to that area, your group can either meet at the Gaskins Park & Ride or rent the limousine for a 6 hour duration instead of 3.

All Limos Have 5% Tinted Windows

Please be aware all limo style vehicles including the Sprinter Van Limo have “limo tint” which is 5% tint on the windows. The lights outside the vehicle are still completely visible however things that aren’t illuminated such as other houses and vehicles will be somewhat shadowed out. Many love this effect.

The Tacky Light Tours are Rain or Shine

Our chauffeur services for the Tacky Light Tours in Richmond go on rain or shine. Some displays may be off during torrential rainfall. You are able to reschedule your tour date with us one time per season due to weather (availability permitting) up to 72 hours before your scheduled pickup. Disclaimer: Virginia Limousine has no control over weather or the light displays. Refunds will not be offered due to weather (unless we have to cancel due to ice or snow) or if some displays are not lit on the night of your tour.

About the Tacky Light Tour

A holiday tradition that’s fun for all ages.

A Full Tour is 3 Hours

Based on a Richmond area pickup and drop off point, our standard Light Tour uses a pre-mapped route created by us and is 3 hours long from start to finish. If you do not live in the Richmond area we suggest meeting as close to I64 and Broad St in Short Pump as possible.

Focuses on the West End & Glen Allen

While there are spectacular holiday light displays all across central Virginia, our pre-planned route focuses on approximately 12 houses located in Glen Allen, Short Pump, Tuckahoe and the West End of Richmond.

Award Winning Lights

At most of the houses the group will remain inside the vehicle where your driver will pull over curbside for a few minutes while the group enjoys the lighting display. The largest displays we’ll park down the block and let the group exit the vehicle. These are the houses that have won awards over the years for their Christmas lights.

Customizable Route Options

Make a night of the occasion and double your time with the limo to factor in things like dinner, drinks, dessert or other special requests. These additions must be made in advance otherwise there will likely be another tour immediately after yours which requires us to enforce a hard drop-off time.

Richmond Light Tour FAQ’s

When does my time start.

Your pickup time is when your rental period begins. The vehicle will arrive to your pickup location at your selected pickup time and the drop off time is when your time ends. For example if you have booked a 3 hour light tour from 5pm until 8pm then the vehicle will arrive at your pickup address at 5pm and the group must have exited the vehicle with any personal belongings by 8pm.

What Can We Bring? (Includes alcohol policy)

We allow passengers to bring any beverages of their choosing. Alcohol is restricted to those over the legal drinking age of 21. Virginia ABC laws prohibit us from providing any alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages brought by group members are permitted . Alcoholic beverages must be left inside the vehicle at houses where passengers are allowed to exit the vehicle. Light snacks such as chips, cookies, crackers, etc are allowed but no hot foods, sauces or ice cream. Any group that spills food or drinks inside the vehicle will be charged a cleaning fee ranging from $50 to $250 depending on the severity of the mess.

Do I have to plan the route?

One of the most enjoyable parts of our Tacky Light Tour is that it’s already mapped out for you. The Richmond Times Dispatch publishes a list of homes that make up the official Tacky Light Tour. We cherry pick from those, add in others that aren’t on their list and create our own route for you to enjoy. It’s basically effortless on your part (aside from getting the group together).

Is the tacky light tour kid friendly?

The Tacky Light Tour is fun for all ages and is 100% kid friendly. It offers a great memory making opportunity for the little ones.

Can We Stop For Bathrooms?

Our Light Tour route is mapped out with two convenient bathroom stops factored into the 3 hour time block. Additional stops can be made upon request, however, you will want to keep in mind added bathroom stops will have to be factored into your time block so the tour we get abbreviated. Additional time will likely not be available.

Are We Allowed To Get Out?

The majority of the tour is a riding tour. We do allow the group to exit the vehicle at the key spots which will be the biggest award winning houses. Between those houses and the included bathroom/refreshment stops there will be plenty of time to stretch your legs.

Sneak-Peaks from Last Year

Tacky Light Tour Pricing

Prices are per 3 hour time block and are based on a Richmond area pickup and drop.

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Merry & Bright Alright! Tacky Season’s Greetings

This holiday season, as you drive around town experiencing the magnificent light displays throughout our fair city, you may take a moment to wonder: Why do people devote countless hours and a good chunk of change to participate in a trend now lovingly known as a tacky light tour? How did tacky lights even become a thing?

The history of using lights to celebrate Christmas goes all the way back to Thomas Edison and the history of electricity. Although Edison did not invent the light bulb, he did create the first commercially viable incandescent bulb. Edison was not just a successful inventor, though; he was also an accomplished businessman and marketer.  

One of his notable marketing successes happened during the 1880 Christmas season. To win a contract to power the borough of Manhattan, Edison created an impressive light display on the grounds of his factory, which happened to be alongside the railroad from New York to Philadelphia. His remarkable display earned him the nickname Enchanter.  

Two years later, the link between electric lights and Christmas was fortified when Edward Johnson, the vice president of the Edison Electric Company, presented the first electrically lit Christmas tree in his New York City home. One reporter put it this way: “The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors – red, white, blue, white, red, blue – all evening. I need not tell you that the scintillating evergreen was a pretty sight – one can hardly imagine anything prettier.”  

Over the next forty years or so, Christmas trees with electric lights could be found on displays in public, such as at the White House, but they were far too expensive for most people to use at home. A single strand cost roughly $300 in today’s money. Eventually, however, outdoor lights became commercially available, and companies like Edison Electric sponsored competitions for outdoor decorating. Holiday lighting, however, became less prevalent during World War II because of shortages. In GE ads from 1945, consumers were notified that Christmas lights would be produced again for the “Victory Christmas,” albeit in limited quantities.  

The 1950s brought increased prosperity and a renewed interest in creating outdoor light exhibits. Public displays grew more creative. On one coast, tourists could see the extravagantly lit tree at Rockefeller Center, while on the other, car passengers took in the giant illuminated snowman along the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles. Cities hosted decoration competitions to bring together communities and evoke the magic of small-town living. Since then, holiday light displays have continued to grow, providing opportunities for neighbors to become friends and for families to enjoy special time together.

Origin Story: Tacky Lights in Richmond

During his tenure from 2009 to 2016, Mayor Dwight C. Jones christened Richmond the “Tacky Lights Capital of the World.” But Richmond’s involvement with the tacky light craze goes even further back. It began in the mid-1980s when WVGO DJ Mad Dog – formally Barry Gottlieb – started the first tacky light tour on a Winn Transportation bus. At the time, the Tacky Xmas Decoration Contest and Grand Highly Illuminated House Tour featured ten to twelve houses on its route.  

Back then, there were houses with a lot of lights in the area, but they weren’t well known. “A couple of friends and I would go check out some houses we knew or found out about that had lots of lights, and we loved it,” Gottlieb says. He was determined to find more decorated houses – and the official light tour was born.

About twenty years ago, Mad Dog (Gottlieb) was quoted in an article by Bill McKelway in the Richmond Times-Dispatch predicting that someday, someone would try to figure out how the tacky light tradition started in Richmond: “I have this image of twenty years from now, Richmond being the biggest place in the world for Christmas lights and people will all be asking, ‘How did this thing ever get started?’ It’s like I’ve seen the ghost of Christmas future. But I’m not going to be anywhere around. When they come looking for me, I’ll be in Bangkok or Havana sitting at a bar sipping some Jose Cuervo.” I managed to track Gottlieb down, and although he has traveled to both Bangkok and Havana, he currently resides in Oakland, California.

Tacky Lights on Tour

Despite – or perhaps because of – its break from traditional Christmas décor and lighting in the area, the Tacky Lights Tour became a huge hit. In 1989, the Richmond Times-Dispatch took advantage of momentum and began compiling lists of houses. People had to submit their houses to the newspaper for consideration, and there were two conditions: Houses needed to have at least 10,000 lights, and they needed to be located in Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, or Henrico. Over the past nearly twenty years, the number of lights required for official inclusion on the tour has increased to 40,000, and many more houses have been added to the list.  

Not only has the list of homes grown, but Richmond has received substantial recognition for its tacky lights. The city’s lit-up houses were featured in a 2006 episode of Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC, and Richmond has appeared on several national lists of cities with the best tacky lights, including those published by USA Today and Travel and Leisure . And according to Travel and Leisure, “Richmond has private homes with more lights than anywhere else in the country.”  

Several individual tacky light engineers from Richmond have won national prizes for their amazing displays. Hunter Bottoms’ house in Brandermill, for instance, won the USA Today contest for Best Holiday Lights in 2014. While the win was exciting, he ended up having to shut down his display for a while because the traffic from visitors became too disruptive.

Two years in a row, Henrico homeowners have won $50,000 on the ABC reality show, The Great Christmas Light Fight . Al and Esther Thompson of Wendhurst Drive in Glen Allen won in 2016. In addition to winning, they have garnered national attention, appearing on shows like NBC Nightly News and CBS Sunday Morning . Last year, their display included more than 170,000 lights, and they have over a thousand handmade decorations.  

In 2017, the Phifer family from Asbury Court in the West End claimed top honors in The Great Christmas Light Fight. Bobby Phifer has always decorated his own house as well as his parents’ house next door. His mother passed away last spring, but Phifer had promised to continue decorating it in her memory. The Phifers have nearly 1.5 million lights between the two houses.

Another well-known, longtime figure in the tacky lights world is Frank “Mr. Christmas” Hudak, so named because he wears a Santa suit decorated with LED lights. Hudak has been lighting up his house on Wistar Court for more than forty years and has raised over $100,000 for the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls. He has also been featured in New York Times Magazine and on NPR.  

Over the years, the cast list of light lovers has grown as more homes have entered the official tour, and still more decorate unofficially. Many families choose not to participate in the tour, either because they don’t want to count the number of lights to verify eligibility or they don’t want to disrupt the neighborhood. Whether or not they are official, these brilliantly illuminated and decorated homes offer endless entertainment for holiday revelers who want to get into the spirit of the season.  

Living in Christmas Land

In the early years of the Tacky Lights Tour, there were only two houses included from Chesterfield County. Last year, there were twenty. Chesterfield has stepped up its game, and possibly the best place to see the tacky lights is in Walton Park, a neighborhood that is home to Christmas Court and, notably, hosts the CarMax Tacky Light Run every year.  

The sixth annual Sports Backers-sponsored event features roughly 5,000 participants, including little ones in strollers. Runners and walkers dress up in lights and holiday attire and enjoy marveling at the homes as the course winds its way through Walton Park, where almost all the houses are decorated. Residents of the neighborhood gather on their streets and cul-de-sacs to enjoy hot chocolate and catch up with one another. “The Tacky Light Run is a great way to celebrate two of Richmond’s favorite traditions: tacky holiday lights and active living,” says Pete Woody with Sports Backers. “This is a unique way to get an up-close look at the houses in a fun, energetic setting.”

The race has helped motivate reluctant decorators in the area. Kate Ray started lighting up her house when she moved in five years ago on Hollypark Drive. That first year, she was the only one on her street to decorate outside. “Then they ended up routing the race through our street,” Ray says, “so I took that as an opportunity to go full blown.” Ray set up a 30-foot PVC ladder with a hand-painted cutout of Elsa from Frozen on top. “There was Elsa on top of a lit-up, white staircase with lights shooting out from her hands like she was lighting up my yard.” Over time, her neighbors have gotten more interested and have started to put up lights also. Ray even paints wooden cut-outs to help neighbors decorate more efficiently.  

One section of Walton Park did not have to wait for the Tacky Light Run to come through their street to go all out with their elaborate Christmas lights: Dawnridge Court (now known as Christmas Court). When Katy Mustian first spotted her house six years ago, she started asking people about the neighborhood. The first response was, “You know that’s Christmas Court, right?” She and her family hadn’t, but they decided to buy the house anyway. The first year, they made a rookie mistake and traveled for Thanksgiving week. “When we got home, the entire street was lit up except for us,” Mustian bemoans.  

Virginia Goin, president of the Walton Park Association, says that when one family moved into a house on Dawnridge last summer, they received all the home’s Christmas lights and detailed installation instructions. “The former owners basically said, ‘We’re sorry you moved to Christmas Court. We hope you love it. You don’t have to buy a thing.’” That gift of paying it forward exemplifies the community spirit of the neighborhood, Goin says.

The people who decorate spend over forty hours and substantial amounts of money creating their displays, but they receive many rewards in return. “It unites our family and brings our friends and neighbors together,” explains Tara Krohn, who decorates her Queensgate Road home with more than 40,000 lights and hand-painted cut-outs. Ray agrees: “It brings people out of their houses and gets them talking.”  

Despite the traffic challenges, the families also really enjoy having visitors drive up and down their streets. “We go out and talk to people in their cars,” Mustian says. “We love being a part of it.” The families also enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from having people tell them how much they love seeing the decorations. “It’s a privilege to be part of this big thing that’s so well known throughout the area,” says Ray.

Safely Lighting the Way!

Many of the tacky-light families in Walton Park and elsewhere have worked hard to create the right setup to display so many lights. The Mustians, for instance, use all LED lights. Those lights can be more expensive to purchase, but both the Mustians and the Rays have tried to buy them during after-holiday sales to save money.  

That makes good sense, according to Leroy Atkins, who educates the community for Dominion Energy. He strongly recommends that people replace all lights with LED lights to help conserve energy and save money. “LED bulbs uses 25 to 80 percent less energy,” explains Atkins, “and can last much longer.” LED light strings could still be in use forty holiday seasons from now.

Atkins also recommends that families use a timer for their holiday displays to save energy. That works well for Kate Ray. “I have the lights on a timer from about five to ten at night and a lot of the lights twinkle, so I haven’t seen a big jump in my electrical bill,” she says.  

Katy Mustian agrees. “We have a separate bill for our lights, and we probably spend about $100 over the course of the season,” she says. “It costs significantly less than we would have guessed.”  

Another of Atkins’ recommendations to families? Stay keenly aware of fire hazards. “We do not recommend plugging an extension cord into another extension cord,” Atkins says. Participants also need to use cords that are designed specifically for outdoor use.

The Mustians have solved many electrical challenges in part by having a detached garage on a separate electrical circuit. They have a special 12-plug outlet specifically installed just for the Christmas lights, so they don’t have to worry about overloading the circuit for their house.  

By taking the right precautions, homeowners can ensure that their displays are not only beautiful, but also safe and energy-efficient.

Catherine Brown writes about parenting, education, the arts, aging, and health and wellness. She recently published “Hope for Recovery: Stories of Healing from Eating Disorders,” and is collecting essays for a book on body image. You can find her at catherinebrownwriter.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter at @catbrown_writer.

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Tacky Light Tour - Chesterfield, VA

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Raw file: Tacky Tour.csv (649 bytes)

Includes 10 locations in the following area:

• United States: VA

The part of the Tacky Christmas Light Tour in the Richmond Metropolitan area with houses in Chesterfield County.

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