The twinkling Christmas lights add an extra touch of joy and happiness to the holiday season, whether they are hanging around a tree or suspended from the ceiling. And you don’t even have to worry about hanging them yourself to enjoy their sparkling beauty! Fortunately, there are many wonderful holiday light displays across the country waiting to be discovered.
Discover the Best Holiday Light Displays Near You
Visiting one of these light displays is one of the best Christmas activities to share with friends and family as they never fail to put you in the holiday spirit – and best of all, they are often free! Start a new Christmas tradition this year by visiting one of the best holiday light displays near you. We’ve compiled the most beautiful displays across the United States, so you may not need to travel far to enjoy at least one. (Plus, with all your favorite Christmas songs playing, the road trip will be almost as enjoyable as the destination!)
Holiday Light Displays Across the United States
Our list includes all kinds of holiday displays, from light displays in botanical gardens, entire neighborhoods in big cities and small towns adorned with colorful Christmas lights, to exhibitions at racetracks and amusement parks. While some close right after the holidays, others remain open throughout the winter! So keep reading to learn more about the best holiday light displays in the United States and get ready to feel the holiday spirit even more this year.
Bernville, Pennsylvania
Generations of families have visited Koziar’s Christmas Village since its stunning debut in 1948. This family-friendly attraction features over a million Christmas lights adorning buildings, barns, and landscapes.
Riverside, California
The Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in California is one of the largest holiday light displays in the country. It has even been named Best Public Holiday Light Display by USA Today. Join over 500,000 people who visit each year, and you will definitely not be disappointed!
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
TWITZY Christmas offers a unique opportunity for a tour of over a million Christmas lights on a illuminated train ride at this tourist attraction. Visitors can also enjoy a diverse live Christmas show, children-friendly amusement rides, and meet Santa!
Brooklyn, New York
The Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn is a beloved Christmas landmark for both locals and tourists. Each year, residents light up their homes with colorful lights and festive displays. The best displays are usually found between 11th and 13th avenues, from 83rd to 86th Street.
Pine Mountain, Georgia
Named one of the top 10 light displays in the world by National Geographic, Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain features ten million twinkling lights and is nothing short of spectacular. You can drive or walk through a forest of flowing lights and giant Christmas scenes that include towering toy soldiers, giant snowmen, and more.
Asheville, North Carolina
Every Christmas, the magnificent Biltmore Estate in Asheville transforms into a stunning display fit for American royalty. During the day, stroll through the house and grounds to admire over 100 handmade Christmas trees, 25,000 ornaments, and 100,000 Christmas lights. When night falls, experience the property by candlelight and firelight, just as the Vanderbilt family did on Christmas Eve in 1895 when Biltmore welcomed its first guests.
Leavenworth,Washington
Get ready to shine with 500,000 Christmas lights as the charming Bavarian village of Leavenworth transforms into its annual Christmas festival. The town also hosts lighting ceremonies, sleigh rides, Christmas carolers, and visits from Santa Claus.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The annual celebration in New Orleans is an incredible light show featuring over a million lights throughout the expansive 25-acre City Park. In addition to the light displays, you can also enjoy a driving tour, amusement rides, and the botanical garden.
Branson, Missouri
Branson has long been considered one of the best Christmas light displays in the country, with Silver Dollar City being adorned with over 6.5 million lights for this season’s An Old-Time Christmas festival. Branson also boasts over 1,500 Christmas trees, including a new community tree guaranteed to shine with real cut crystals and over 20,000 lights.
Denver, Colorado
Enjoy the double holiday fun when in the Mile High City by visiting two displays at the Denver Botanic Gardens: Blossoms of Light at the York Street location and Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms in Littleton. The former focuses on delightfully illuminated light creations, including large glowing light balls that fill the water features. The latter takes visitors on a one-mile journey through light tunnels, singing Christmas trees, and much more.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
The River of Lights at the BioPark was established in 1997 as a fundraiser for ABQ BioPark projects (which includes a coalition of four separate facilities, including the zoo and the city’s botanical garden). It has now grown to be the largest holiday light display in New Mexico, still raising funds for ABQ BioPark projects.
Pierre, South Dakota
The stunning Christmas celebration at the Capitol began in 1981 with just 12 trees, but today features nearly 100 elegantly lit trees decorating the historic hall and three floors of corridors. Keep an eye out for the wooden nativity statue on the second floor, believed to be over a century old.
Rochester, Michigan
The big, bright light display is exactly what the name implies: 1.5 million sparkling Christmas lights illuminate a stretch of four blocks on Main Street in Rochester. Founded in 2006, the festival has now become the largest holiday light display in downtown Michigan and a delight for the entire family to enjoy.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Known as the home of Dolly Parton, Pigeon Forge offers a spectacular Winterfest festival each holiday season. More than five million lights line Pigeon Forge Parkway for six miles, while around 80 attractions contribute their own displays. Don’t miss the 40-foot tall tree at Pigeon Forge Island!
Washington, D.C.
There are over 500,000 LED lights twinkling at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. during the holiday season, but that’s not all that dazzles at ZooLights. Look for synchronized laser light shows set to music, live musical performances, food vendors, and much more. Last year, the National Zoo took the event on the road, with a ZooLights truck that visited all eight wards of the city.
Boise, Idaho
The gardens in winter can have a beauty of their own that is completely different from the lush summer charm, and this is certainly true for Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Started in 1997, when staff hung 2,000 strands of white lights around the property, the display now features 4,000 strands illuminating the garden’s walking path. Local food and beverage vendors and a Christmas selfie photo booth add to the fun.
Cleveland,
Mississippi
This beautiful small town in the heart of the Mississippi Delta boasts big lights at Christmas. During the 50 Nights of Lights, 100,000 bulbs brightly illuminate downtown and the local walking path, with over 350 Christmas displays adding to the festive atmosphere. Special holiday events are also held on select days and weekends throughout the celebration.
Springfield, Massachusetts
More than six million visitors have enjoyed Bright Nights at Forest Park in Springfield since the event began in 1995, and with 675,000 LED lights on display, it’s easy to see why. The display focuses on famous local characters, such as beloved Dr. Seuss creator, Theodore Geisel.
Duluth, Minnesota
Of course, it will be cold enough, but the Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth promises to warm hearts with a spectacular display, including a 128-foot tree adorned with nearly 600,000 lights. Admission is free, as are treats like hot chocolate and cookies, but visitors are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item to donate to those in need.
Boothbay, Maine
Typically, Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Gardens in Maine is a walking experience, but this year it will feature a driving tour through over 600,000 lights, including themed areas and light tunnels that dazzle crowds. Other festive events in the area usually include the illuminated boat parade and tree festival, both part of the annual Boothbay Lights celebration.
Clifton, Ohio
The historic Clifton Mill dates back to 1802 and is a beautiful sight year-round. However, during the holiday season, when over four million Christmas lights adorn the building, hillside, and grounds, it truly is breathtaking. There’s also other fun, like a live Santa working in his workshop.
Lisle, Illinois
In its eleventh year now, the Morton Arboretum Glow is truly a spectacular sight for the whole family, with interactive lighting effects and sound design that excite visitors as they stroll through a one-mile walking path. The botanical garden will also offer a chance to warm up with hot drinks and enjoy s’mores by a cozy fire.
Santa Claus, Indiana
With a name like Santa Claus, you know this Indiana town must have a spectacular Christmas lights display – and it does. Santa Claus Land of Lights tells the delightful story of Rudolph and his glowing nose through story panels and thousands of lights along a 1.2-mile drive. Highlights include three light tunnels, 300 illuminated display pieces, and 11 massive story scenes.
Las Vegas, Nevada
It’s hard to believe any light display in Las Vegas can compete with what the street puts on every night at sunset, but Glittering Lights manages to do just that. The drive-through event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is truly amazing, thanks to millions of Christmas lights adorning the track. If you don’t feel like sitting behind the wheel, you can always hop aboard the open-air Santa Tram.
Portland, Oregon
People come from far and wide for ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo – not just for the real animals but also for the mechanical ones. The zoo is illuminated by 1.5 million LED lights, typically a pedestrian experience; however, this year it will follow a hybrid model: some nights for pedestrians and some nights for driving.
Source: https://www.aol.com/most-dazzling-christmas-light-displays-224700496.html
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