For many families, catching a holiday lights display is as much a part of Christmas as decorating cookies or hanging stockings. These silent nights give us pause. As nighttime blankets our busiest season with quiet, the warm glow of lights awakens our childhood sense of wonder.
Now in its sixth season, Greensboro Science Center’s Winter Wonderlights has earned its prominence as a favorite tradition for North Carolina families. Where else can you dance under lights, sing along to nostalgic carols from your childhood, and glimpse a red panda waking up from its evening nap to join the fun? “We do things you wouldn’t see in your neighborhood — things that celebrate science and nature and our animals,” says Beth Almy, Vice President of Creative Services. “Every year when October rolls around, I still get excited about decorating.”
Read on for a roundup of our favorite experiences you can expect at this year’s Winter Wonderlights celebration.
Walk through over a million twinkling lights at Winter Wonderlights at the Greensboro Science Center. Enjoy falling snow, glowing photo ops, and new handmade lanterns inspired by animals from Expedition Rainforest: The Greensboro Biodome. Make your holidays shine at Winter Wonderlights!
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Gauzy jellyfish lend an ethereal glow to the Science Center’s aquarium. Photography courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
Start your experience in the Science Center’s aquarium. During Winter Wonderlights, the ordinarily quiet, darkened space transforms into a celebration. Overhead, an assemblage of oversize sheer, cloth jellyfish bob up and down, dancing to the tune of steel drums and the familiar “Under the Sea” melody.
A special guest catches the attention of three children, as they make their way to the touch tank just ahead of their parents. Spotting a real-life mermaid sporting a long shimmery tail, the girls squeal and run toward the Mermaid’s Grotto. “It’s a little improv, a little science,” Sam Thompson says, a part-time educator who loves the excuse to play dress-up and interact with young Wonderlights visitors.
Visit shimmering mermaids and learn facts about marine life at the Mermaid Grotto. Photography courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
“How did you get here?” the youngest demands, equal parts skeptical and hopeful.
“My friend, the epaulette shark, taught me,” Thompson answers, not skipping a beat. “Over at our Hands-On Harbor, the epaulette shark is the only kind of shark that has learned to move on land. They taught me how to walk so I could come be with you today.”
Satisfied, the girls take off to their next adventure down the hall, where they heard they could make virtual snow angels in front of a wall of snow that moves just by dancing in front of it.
Enjoy an up-close look at the lights and displays inside the Science Center. Photography courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
When they reach the Wonder Woods room, the Snow Angel Wall isn’t even the main event — behind it, a display called Dancing Fountains sends lights up so high they almost kiss the ceiling.
See lanterns shaped like colorful creatures that will live in the Rainforest Biodome, coming in 2027. Photography courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
A magical mist — blue overhead left, yellow off to the right, red in the distance — sets the scene as visitors cross the threshold into the Science Center’s backyard. Swirling light patterns in the same jewel-toned colors are projected on walking paths to lead the way to the first outdoor experience: tall Chinese lanterns representing animals that will live in the 30,000-square-foot Rainforest Biodome once construction is complete in 2027.
“We will have hundreds of free-flying birds in the biodome,” Almy says, pointing to a colorful, six-foot-tall scarlet ibis. Constructed from fabric on metal armature, this is one of six lantern-like sculptures constructed for Wonderlights. “This is a little bigger than it would normally be,” Almy laughs, “but like the other sculptures, it lends itself so beautifully to telling the rainforest’s story.”
After passing a clouded leopard, macaw, Grand Cayman iguana, and golden lion tamarin, Almy rounds the path to face an emerald tree boa snaking its way around an iridescent, yellow-ish green bamboo stalk. “As you enter the biodome, all kinds of animals and plants that live on the ground level of the rainforest will greet you,” she says.
Visit Santa in the Science Center’s barnyard. Photography courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
Children may think they’ve reached the pinnacle — visiting Santa in the barnyard — but then they stroll by the barn’s exterior, where life-size images of bears dance to the tune of George Straight’s knee-slapping “Christmas Cookies” classic. Just as their walking turns to two-steppin’, they catch their own image barn-side with the bears. “For people who come every year, this is on their punch list,” Almy says. “It’s so fun to work somewhere where you can dream up something big, like dancing bears, and nobody tells you you’re crazy!”
With the touch of a button, visitors can control the sea of illuminated orbs. Photography courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
A field of multicolored orbs is one of the most beloved exhibits at Winter Wonderlights. It’s dedicated to Rick Betton (1951-2024), known by his grandchildren as “Jeep,” who served as the Science Center’s Director of Education, Vice President of Experiences, and finally Chief Operating Officer before retiring. “He was always sending me emails after he retired … like, ‘you know what you need?’” Almy remembers. One day, he wrote to suggest a series of orbs — the colors of which kids could change with a control panel — and a big smile spread across Almy’s face. “I had already ordered the orbs! Anything they can interact with, kids love.”
Even after revelers have explored every outdoor zone — and taken a selfie in the tunnel of lights — a dance party awaits in the Dino Disco. Revolving disco balls cast beams of light on the walls, a festive invitation for kids to dance the night away.
Families can call it a night or use their free carousel ticket to take a magical spin. “I love it when people take photos and tag us on social media because it’s so fun to see all the happy faces,” Almy says. “It’s fun to plan this throughout the year, and to put it all together. But when you see the children’s excitement, that’s the best part.”
Ready to see it for yourself? Winter Wonderlights runs through January 4, 2026. Click here to get tickets and take part in this experience that pairs magic with education.
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