Dashing Through the Glow 2026: Run the Great Christmas Light Show Before It Opens

Most people see The Great Christmas Light Show through a windshield, crawling along in a line of cars with the heater on and the radio playing carols. For two nights each November, the City of North Myrtle Beach offers a different way in. You lace up your sneakers, pull on a Santa hat and travel the whole glowing route on foot, before a single car has driven it.

Dashing Through the Glow returns on Friday, November 20, and Saturday, November 21, 2026. It is a relaxed, non-competitive walk or run of about two miles through the light show at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, ending at Santa’s Village with hot chocolate and a finisher medal. Nobody is timing you. The point is to soak it all in.

With a new trolley shuttle system this year and a firm rule that only registered participants may enter, a little planning goes a long way. Here is everything you need to know.

Dashing Through the Glow 2026 at a Glance

All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. The city asks participants to show their ticket, found at the bottom of the emailed receipt, at the park gate, and suggests printing it ahead of time.

What the Run Is Like

The route follows the drive-through path of The Great Christmas Light Show, a two-mile loop through the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. According to the city, the show features more than 2 million lights and more than 500 displays, some as tall as 55 feet, with new animated scenes added for 2026. On foot, you get to see them the way no driver can: slowly, up close and with time to stop for a photo.

The atmosphere is closer to a holiday parade than a road race. Families push strollers, friends walk in matching pajamas, and a few eager runners jog the course at a steady clip. Holiday outfits are encouraged, and the city awards prizes for the best-dressed individual and the best-dressed family, so this is the night to bring out the reindeer antlers, the light-up sweater and the elf ears.

The finish line is Santa’s Village, where participants are greeted with hot chocolate and festive activities. Because the regular season has not yet opened, it is a rare chance to enjoy the village without the usual crowds.

New for 2026: Parking and Trolley Shuttles

The city has changed how participants reach the start this year. You will park in the normal light show parking area, and trolleys will shuttle participants to the start line in the expansion area of the Park & Sports Complex between 5:30 and 6:50 p.m. The trolleys can carry wheelchairs, strollers and wagons. After you finish, you will walk back to your car along the lighted boardwalk.

Timing matters. The park is cleared of vehicles at 5 p.m., so do not plan to arrive during regular park hours and wait around. Gate entry runs from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., and the city warns that late arrivals may miss the start because of pedestrian traffic on the route. Arriving early in that window is the safest plan, especially if you have young children or a stroller to load onto a trolley.

The Park & Sports Complex is at 150 Citizens Circle, the same place many families visit in October for the city’s Halloween BOOnanza, which we covered in our guide to Halloween 2026 near North Myrtle Beach.

The Great Christmas Light Show Season

Dashing Through the Glow happens before the light show opens to the public. The 2026 drive-through season runs from Monday, November 23, through December 30, closing on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, with gates open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is paid at the entrance gate only, with no advance sales. The city lists $25 per standard vehicle on Santa’s Village nights and $20 on select non-village nights through December 9, with higher rates for oversized vehicles and charter buses.

Santa’s Village opens Thursday through Sunday from November 27 to December 6, then nightly from December 10 through December 30, except Christmas Day. Visits with Santa, a petting zoo, photo spots and a light-and-music show are free, and small extras such as s’mores kits, the Santa Express train and a sleigh-ride slide are available for a few dollars each. Our guide to The Great Christmas Light Show has more tips for visiting during the regular season.

Tips for a Merry, Comfortable Dash

Dress in layers. Late November evenings on the coast can feel chilly once the sun goes down, but two miles of walking or jogging will warm you up quickly. A light jacket you can tie around your waist is ideal. Comfortable shoes matter more than speed, and anything that lights up, from glow necklaces to blinking hats, adds to the fun.

Plan for the kids. Children 11 and under need a $10 youth ticket, while little ones riding in a stroller go free with a paying adult but do not receive a medal. Because spectators are not allowed, every family member who wants to see the lights needs to register. If grandparents prefer to skip the walk, the regular drive-through season starts just a few days later.

Register early. Space is first come, first served while it lasts, so it pays to sign up as soon as your dates are set. Last year’s edition, which we covered in our 2025 Dashing Through the Glow guide, ran with the same format and pricing. For questions, the city lists its special events and programs supervisors, Brandy Cloos at (843) 280-5673 and Kaitlyn Nimmons at (843) 281-3733.

Turn It Into a Thanksgiving Week Getaway

The timing could hardly be better for a holiday trip. Run on Friday, November 20, or Saturday, November 21, stay through Thanksgiving week and you will be in town when the drive-through season opens on November 23 and Santa’s Village welcomes its first visitors on November 27. Barefoot Landing’s Lighting of the Landing is also scheduled for the evening of November 21, so families running on Friday can enjoy both.

Many families now spend Thanksgiving at the beach, and our guide to renting a Thanksgiving beach house in North Myrtle Beach explains how to plan the meal and the week. If you are already looking further ahead, our article on Christmas and New Year’s beach rentals covers the rest of the season. For more events, see our Myrtle Beach events calendar and our pillar guide to things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Where to Stay for Dashing Through the Glow

The Park & Sports Complex sits inland from the beach, a short drive from every section of town. Cherry Grove and Ocean Drive offer easy access from the north end of town, while Crescent Beach and Windy Hill keep you close to Barefoot Landing for dinner after the run.

Families and groups who want to celebrate together often choose oceanfront homes with a big kitchen for holiday cooking and plenty of room for the whole crew. Couples and smaller families may prefer oceanfront condos, where you can come back from the lights, make a cup of cocoa and watch the moon over the ocean from the balcony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start the Holidays on Foot

Two million lights seen at walking pace, with a cup of cocoa waiting at the finish, make a joyful start to the season. Make Dashing Through the Glow the first night of your holiday season, then spend the rest of the week by the ocean.

Sources: City of North Myrtle Beach, Dashing Through the Glow and The Great Christmas Light Show pages (2026); Destination North Myrtle Beach. Times, prices and shuttle arrangements can change, so confirm with the city before you go.