More than one million lights will blanket Life University's Marietta campus starting Thanksgiving night, as the school's Lights of Life display returns for its 37th year. Drivers can roll through glowing tunnels for $15 a carload, with the display running nightly through New Year's Eve.
According to a press release distributed by the university and reported by Cobb County Courier, the display operates November 26 through December 31 at Life University's campus at 1269 Barclay Circle. Life University's own event page, however, lists conflicting start dates for 2026 — November 26 in its main event details and November 27 in its FAQ section — according to life.edu. Both university sources agree the display runs through December 31.
Lights of Life is primarily a drive-through experience, the university's site notes, though designated areas let visitors park and walk around for photos and snacks. The lights switch on at sunset, around 5:30 p.m., and the display stays lit until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, per the Cobb County Courier report.
Admission and Extra Attractions
Getting in costs $15 per car or truck and $30 per bus, payable at the entrance by cash or major card, with no advance tickets required. That vehicle admission covers access to the full light display, while carnival rides, train rides and a petting zoo are available for an additional fee. On-site concessions round out the stop, and the event runs rain or shine unless severe weather creates a safety risk, according to life.edu.
Event proceeds benefit Life University student scholarships and campus beautification efforts, the Cobb County Courier report states. Life University president Brian Kelly said the tradition has run for more than three decades and that community support for the event benefits both students and the campus, per the same report.
A Tradition Dating Back Decades
The scale of the display has grown steadily since its early years. Life University reported in 2021 that Lights of Life drew nearly half a million spectators from the surrounding region, according to living.life.edu. The university also marked the display's 36th anniversary in 2025, the same source notes, putting this year's run at the 37th edition.
Life University was founded in 1974 and today sits on a 110-acre campus in Marietta, northwest of Atlanta, serving more than 2,400 undergraduate, graduate and professional students who represent all 50 states and more than 60 countries, per the Cobb County Courier report. The school houses a Doctor of Chiropractic program within its College of Chiropractic and offers additional degrees through its College of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies.
Beyond academics, Life University fields 21 athletic programs, and its teams have won more than 40 team national championships, with athletes claiming 130 individual national titles, according to the same report. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, while individual programs carry accreditation from the Council on Chiropractic Education and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Life University posts event updates on its social media channels, the Cobb County Courier report notes, for families planning a visit during the holiday run.
