A year after Winterfest on the Wisconsin won the Heavyweight division of ABC-TV’s The Great Christmas Light Fight, Nauticus is stepping back into the ring with more than 2 million lights in an all-new design across the Battleship Wisconsin, new local vendors, and Christmas in Neverland, an immersive new holiday adventure inside Nauticus. It all opens Friday, Nov. 13, and this time, the judge is our local community. The crowd is already on its feet: last season drew a record-breaking 100,000 guests, and this year all 500 complimentary tickets for Sunday’s Military Appreciation Night were claimed in two minutes.
“We got calls from across the country after winning The Great Christmas Light Fight last season,” said Stephen Kirkland, executive director of Nauticus. “But the battleship belongs to this community, and so we’ve designed an entirely new onboard light experience for local families. Trust me, even if you’re a returning guest, you’ve never seen anything like it.”
WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON
An all-new design featuring more than 2 million lights. Work on this year’s display began in January with the goal of creating a display that’s dramatically different from the one that won over national TV audiences last season. Perhaps the most notable difference: the largest guns ever produced by the U.S. Navy have been transformed into the largest candy canes in Virginia.
Christmas in Neverland. Take flight through an immersive dreamworld where fairies dance, mermaids splash, and pirates play. Christmas in Neverland is an enchanting holiday journey and a timeless tale of imagination. You’ll be welcomed by a radiant mermaid, come face-to-face with Captain Hook, step through a magical waterfall, journey through a hidden fairy garden, and discover the Lost Boys’ hideout.
A new below-deck experience. 12 Days of Christmas is an all-new holiday experience below deck aboard the Battleship Wisconsin: a military take on the classic carol.
New and familiar vendors. Winterfest adds partners chosen to fit the experience:
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- The Fairy Hair Company
- Color Me Mine, offering paint-your-own ornaments inside of Nauticus
Returning favorites
Guests can still count on the traditions that made Winterfest a Hampton Roads favorite: live holiday shows, the snowball showdown, s’mores roasting, the magical train display, Geoffrey the Talking Tree and photos with Santa.
Opening weekend
Friday, Nov. 13 – Opening Night. Winterfest opens to the public at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14 – Member Appreciation Night. Nauticus members receive complimentary admission, with the number of free tickets based on membership level. Members can reserve tickets online. General admission tickets are also available.
Sunday, Nov. 15 – Military Appreciation Night. All 500 complimentary tickets for service members and their families were claimed in two minutes. Military families can still attend at the discounted military rate, and general admission tickets are available to the public.
Plan your visit
Where: Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin, One Waterside Drive, Norfolk
When: Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 2, 2027. Open every weekend, plus select weeknights. Closing time is 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. depending on the night; see the nightly schedule online.
Tickets: Available at www.winterfestonthewisconsin.com or at the door. Guests are encouraged to buy online in advance to secure their preferred date.