Where to Find the Best Christmas Light Displays Near You This Winter
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We might be eager to decorate our own Christmas trees with ornaments and lights (maybe you already have yours up!), but we’re also excited for the Christmas light displays we get to see around our neighborhoods, too. We all have that one street in a town nearby that goes all-out with a dazzling display of lights. But the best Christmas light displays in the United States aren’t just in one city, state, or territory. In fact, each region of the U.S. has incredible displays of holiday lights, whether that’s on a residential street aglow with millions of dazzling Christmas lights or a botanic garden that’s synchronized with their hand-picked holiday music playlist.
Everywhere from Puerto Rico to Chicago to Boothbay, Maine celebrates the season with cheerful light displays that make us smile. So no matter where you celebrate your holidays, there’s somewhere on this list that you can go to celebrate the season illuminated in full color. (And if you can’t see them in person, you can still see their glowing images here!) To help you find the best Christmas lights near you, we categorized our top picks by region. From the northeast to the southwest, these are the top light displays across the country.
Northeast
Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Where: Boothbay, Maine
Price: $12 for children ages 3 – 7; $18 for seniors and veterans; $21 for adults; $54 for a family pass. Tickets must be purchased in advance online.
Dates: November 16 – December 31, 2024
This merry little botanical garden off the coast of Maine celebrates the season with a gorgeously lit enchanted holiday forest.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Where: Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York
Price: $35 for a tour, but children 5 and under are free.
Dates: November 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025
The Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn is famously known for their Christmas lights display. You can book a bus tour to take you through the entire neighborhood, go on a walking tour yourself, or even schedule a private tour.
Southeast
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
Price: Starts at $39.95 for adults and $36.95 for children. Must be purchased in advance online.
Dates: November 16, 2024 – January 12, 2025
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens knows how to make a show-stopping holiday display with their iconic Garden Lights, Holiday Nights event. Look forward to a curtain of lights synchronized to music, as well as lit plant sculptures from their exhibit, Alice’s Wonderland Returns.
Nights of Lights
Where: St. Augustine, Florida
Price: Free
Dates: November 23, 2024 – January 26, 2025
From the ground to the rooftops, St. Augustine is merry and bright with millions of lights to make the historic city feel like magic.
Midwest
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Price: $34 for adults and $19 for children in advance; $39 for adults and $24 for children day-of.
Dates: November 15, 2024 – January 5, 2025
The Lightscape holiday trail is filled with twinkling lights shows for all ages. On November 21 and December 5, you can also enjoy Cocktails Under the Lights, a 21+ show where you can sip handcrafted cocktails under the beautiful display.
Omaha Holiday Lights Festival
Where: Omaha, Nebraska
Price: Free
Dates: November 30, 2024 – January 1, 2025
The marvelous Holiday Lights Festival will feature four main displays this year for their 25th anniversary. Watch the town come alive with sweet nostalgic light displays, a New Year’s Eve fireworks show, and a family festival.
Southwest
Old Town Holiday Stroll
Where: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Price: Free
Dates: 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on December 6, 2024
During the Old Town Holiday Stroll, look forward to much more than just beautiful lights! There is also free admission to museums, plenty of Old Town shopping, and the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Plaza Don Luis at 6:00 p.m..
Austin Trail of Lights
Where: Austin, Texas
Price: Ranges from $0 – $8 depending on the night.
Dates: December 10 – 23, 2024
Celebrating 60 years in 2024, Austin will come alive with an amazing light show full of holiday magic and fun for kids and adults alike.
West
Blossoms of Light
Where: Denver, Colorado
Price: Ranges from $22 – $31.
Dates: November 20, 2024 – January 12, 2025
This mile-long path in the Mile High City takes you on a luminous journey of colorful lights. Come with the family to enjoy holiday treats and drinks, too.
Christmas Tree Lane
Where: Altadena, California
Price: Free
Dates: December 3 – December 25, 2024
Just outside of Pasadena, California, a small 0.7-mile street in Altadena is filled with mesmerizing lights that cover the branches of the 140-year-old deodar cedar trees, as well as the residential homes they live on. This annual tradition has happened for over 100 years!
Alaska
Zoo Lights
Where: Anchorage, Alaska
Price: $20 per person; kids age 2 and under are free.
Dates: November 29, 2024 – February 2, 2025
Alaska Zoo’s annual lights display includes plenty of whimsical custom displays that illuminate the entire zoo in the dark Alaskan winter.
Hawaii
Honolulu City Lights
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
Price: Events and prices to come.
Dates: December 7 – 30, 2024
If you’re spending the holidays on island time, then the Honolulu City Lights show will be your perfect Christmas event. It might not be snowy, but the city will definitely be filled with holiday cheer.
Puerto Rico
Encendido de Navidad
Where: Across the island.
Price: Free
Dates: Ranges based on locality.
All across the island, Puerto Rico lights up with dazzling displays of holiday lights, from neighborhood streets filled with Christmas characters to downtown scenes filled with colorful displays.
