A few things to know before you glow.
Ride details and booking terms for Christmas by Carriage.
Can I reserve a carriage now?
Yes. View FairGlow reservations to choose an available departure for your private party. Review the full price and terms before payment. Your booking is confirmed after payment is verified. Lincoln Park Lights reservations are not available yet.
Which FairGlow nights are confirmed?
November 28; December 17–20, 24–27 and 31, 2026. Additional early-December evenings may be announced. Departures are every 30 minutes, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Central. Arrive 15 minutes before your reserved departure.
Which display offers carriage rides first?
FairGlow in Mendon, Illinois is the first location. Lincoln Park Lights in Galesburg is a future location with its own provider, schedule, seating rules and fare.
Who provides the FairGlow carriage rides?
Rose Carriage Service provides the FairGlow rides. The FairGlow seating rules below apply to Rose’s carriage; a future location will have its own arrangements.
Is the carriage private?
Yes. One booking reserves the whole carriage for your party. Seats are not shared with another booking.
How long is the ride?
Approximately 15–20 minutes and one mile in total, including the full half-mile light display and the connections to and from parking. Display traffic may affect the finish time.
When should we arrive?
Have your whole party ready at boarding 15 minutes before departure. Scheduled departures run every half hour from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Central, with no scheduled break. Late arrivals do not delay later rides.
Is display admission included?
Yes. The price includes admission during your carriage ride and priority entry that bypasses the regular vehicle line. It does not include a separate second visit in your own vehicle. Allow time for boarding and traffic within the lights.
Where do we board at FairGlow?
Use the same south parking area as FairGlow’s Glow Walk. Follow event signs and staff to carriage boarding. The carriage takes the west approach to the display entrance, travels the full display and returns along the south side to the same lot. Follow event signs and staff for vehicle access and boarding. The map shows approximate positions rather than a precise driveway or boarding pin.
How many adults, children or lap children can ride?
Count each seated rider age 12 or older in the first column, and each seated child under 12 in the second. At least one responsible adult age 18 or older must ride.
| Riders age 12+ | Seated children under 12 | Additional lap children |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | Up to 2 |
| 3 | 1 | Up to 2 |
| 2 | 3 | Up to 1 |
| 1 | 3 | Up to 1 |
Lap children must be age 2 or under. Each must stay on the lap of a different accompanying adult age 18 or older for the entire ride. There may be no more than one lap child per adult, two lap children overall and six people in the carriage in total. The only five-seat combination is two riders age 12+ with three seated children under 12.
A child age 2 or under who uses a seat counts as a seated child. Ages apply on your ride date. Enter accurate party counts and review the seating declaration before booking.
Is the carriage accessible?
Contact support before booking if anyone needs special boarding assistance or has a mobility-device requirement. Boarding assistance, steps and device accommodation must be confirmed for your party; accessible boarding or a weight capacity is not guaranteed here. If the provider cannot safely board a party that meets the published limits, the operator replacement/refund terms apply.
Are blankets, refreshments, food or drinks included?
Blankets and refreshments are not confirmed inclusions. Dress for an outdoor carriage ride. Leave food, drinks and other items in your vehicle unless the provider approves bringing them.
What does the carriage ride cost?
FairGlow is $69.00 per private carriage: $65.00 for the ride + $4.00 booking fee once per carriage, with no tax. Display admission and priority entry are included. All required charges appear before payment.
Optional protection is 8% of the base carriage fare, rounded to the nearest cent: $5.20 with this fare, for $74.20 total. It covers defined circumstances rather than cancellation for any reason. Read the coverage, exclusions and request process before choosing Yes or No.
What does optional refund protection cover?
For $5.20, protection covers a whole unused booking for defined emergencies, such as unexpected illness/injury, bereavement, a serious home emergency or qualifying journey disruption. An approved claim returns the $65 fare and $4 fee; the $5.20 protection charge is retained. It is not cancel-for-any-reason protection. Read the full terms, exclusions and 60-day request process before choosing Yes or No.
What if weather or the provider prevents the ride?
If the organizer or carriage provider cannot operate or finish the reserved ride because of weather, an operational issue or inability to board a party that meets the published limits, we will offer an available replacement or a full refund of the booking, including its booking fee and any protection charge. You do not need protection for this remedy. No replacement date or space is guaranteed. Rides may operate in light rain when Rose determines it is safe. Ice or storms may prevent safe operation. A completed ride is not refundable merely because of the weather or a weather preference.
Can I cancel or move my reservation?
Customer cancellations are nonrefundable unless the defined optional protection benefit, an organizer/provider failure or an independently applicable right provides a refund. A change of plans, ordinary scheduling conflict, late arrival or no-show is not itself a covered emergency. Ask support for a change at least 48 hours before the reserved departure. Changes depend on available space and written confirmation from the team, including any price difference before acceptance. A request alone does not move a booking, reserve another slot or guarantee a free transfer.
What if we arrive late or miss the ride?
Be ready with the whole party 15 minutes before departure. Late arrivals and no-shows do not delay later rides. A missed departure does not carry an automatic refund or replacement; a qualifying protected emergency may be reviewed separately.
What if our party exceeds the seating rules?
Book an eligible party and keep the party counts accurate. If the party presented for boarding exceeds the published seating, lap-child or total limits and cannot board, the reservation is forfeited without a refund. A separate genuine covered emergency may still be reviewed under protection. A party that meets the published limits but cannot be boarded safely by the provider is eligible for the operator remedy below. An unpublished weight or boarding restriction is not a customer-forfeiture ground.
How do I contact support?
Email support@carriagerides.christmas with your booking reference. Do not send card details, passwords or sensitive medical documents. The initial response target for protection requests is five business days.
Contact the team, see the FairGlow arrival map or read the complete booking terms.
Contact our team · Plan your visit · Read the guest policies