2026 Candlelight Companion

Welcome to a Revolutionary New Candlelight

Candlelight is going to be exciting in 2026. We’ve made updates to enhance the guest experience and… we’re still celebrating of the Semiquincentennial. This year, it’s going to be Revolutionary!

Take a look at the information below to see what’s new and exciting about Candlelight 2026.

A Quick Look at What’s New

As we said, this year will be a revolutionary year for Candlelight. We are excited to announce that all 2026 Candlelight tickets will be digital tickets. Since this process will be new, please review all the information below carefully to ensure your visit is smooth and you are able to get the most out of your Candlelight experience.

Here’s a brief overview of what to expect:

Your ticket is now digital and will grant access to multiple areas
Tour times are in fifteen-minute blocks, with three groups per block
Our new quick staging areas replace waiting in line

Let’s take a closer look!

Digital Tickets

When you make your purchase, your tickets will be sent to the cell phone number or email address you provide.

We recommend that you keep them on your phone as a text message or saved to your Google Wallet or Apple Wallet.
If you prefer a printed copy, you are able to print the digital tickets yourself to bring with you.

If you prefer not to print your own ticket, do not wish to use the digital version, or have any difficulty accessing your tickets, you may retrieve them from the Ticket Office inside the Waystation. Wait times at the Ticket Office may vary, so please give yourself ample time to speak to us before your tour.

For issues with tickets prior to the night of Candlelight please contact Tryon Palace Visitor Services at 252-639-3527.

Please bring your confirmation email and/or photo ID for lost or unretrievable tickets.
Your order number will be in your confirmation email and on your digital ticket.

Using Your Ticket

Your ticket will be scanned multiple times throughout the evening. Please keep it easily accessible on your phone or have your printed copy ready.

Your ticket will be scanned for entry into:

The Main Gate to access the Tryon Palace Grounds.
The Inner Courtyard when it is time for your scheduled Palace tour.
The Dixon House
The Stanly House
There could be other designated structures or experiences as needed.

Because your ticket may be scanned repeatedly, we highly recommend keeping it in your Google or Apple Wallet and/or carrying a printed copy.

Changes to the Palace Tours

First of all, this tour will be all about the newly declared statehood of North Carolina. Last year we bid farewell to our royal governors, and this year, we are welcoming our first state governor, Richard Caswell.

Beyond independence, we also revolutionized our line system. To cut down on wait times and enhance your Candlelight experience, we are excited to announce that tour schedules will now operate in 15‑minute increments.

Each 15‑minute block will be comprised of 3 tour groups; that means we now have one group entering every five minutes.
- Example: Tours for tickets with a 6:15 tour block will begin at 6:15, 6:20, and 6:25.

Since these changes will ensure Candlelight tours run quickly and reduce wait times, we highly recommend arriving at the Inner Courtyard Gate Staging Area no more than 30 minutes before the time indicated on your ticket.

Staging Areas

There will be clearly marked staging areas for tour groups. These staging areas indicate the current tour time and the next two ticketed time blocks.

Tryon Palace Inner Courtyard
- Area 1 will be the group currently entering the Palace.
- Area 2 will be the group entering in the next 15-minute block.
Tryon Palace Inner Courtyard Gate
- This will be the group entering in 30 minutes.
  - This is simply a designated area to gather your group before you enter the Inner Courtyard.
  - We recommend arriving no more than 30 minutes before the start of your tour.

IF YOU MISS YOUR SCHEDULED TOUR TIME, PLEASE GO TO THE WAYSTATION IMMEDIATELY FOR ASSISTANCE.

Earlier Start Time

To make Candlelight accessible for everyone, the festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. this year! This gives an extra hour of daylight activities for families with young children or who simply don’t want to stay out late.

Quick Summary for Guests

We know that was a lot of information, so we recommend bookmarking this page. We will make updates to it as needed. We highly recommend reviewing this information for any changes prior to Candlelight.

Here’s a short recap

Check in at the first staging area no more than 30 minutes before your tour time.
Introducing easy-to-use digital tickets on your phone—or bring a printed copy.
You can retrieve tickets at the Ticket Office with your confirmation email, ID, or order number, but digital tickets are strongly recommended.
Your ticket gets scanned multiple times, so keep it easy to access.
Tours run in 15-minute blocks with three tours per block.
Gates now open at 3:30pm.

Thank you for supporting Tryon Palace and Candlelight! We look forward to seeing you soon!