You know the holidays are here when the Christmas lights go up. Colorful decorations, starry lights, Christmas trees… passing through neighborhoods and admiring the twinkling lights is one of the best things about the holiday season. What better way to spend a winter’s evening than checking out Christmas light displays with your loved ones? To get you in the festive mood, we’ve compiled a list of the five best Christmas light displays in the US.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Brooklyn Tour
Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights may not have the most famous Christmas tree in New York City, but its light display is world famous nonetheless.
Fueled by plenty of friendly competition, the neighbors here go all out with their displays each year, determined to outdo each other. The neighborhood turns into a sparkling winter wonderland complete with life-size reindeer, enormous inflatable snowmen, and hundreds of Santas. In fact, there’s so much to see and do here that you might want to think about joining the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Brooklyn Tour.
Led by a knowledgeable local, you’ll discover the story behind this famous display, visit historic houses, see the largest Santa in NYC, and learn all about the culture of this close-knit community. This is a unique and entertaining activity that’s perfect to enjoy with kids – and is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit!
St Augustine Night of Lights GRINCHmas Ride
Or, if you live in Florida, what about checking out the award-winning St. Augustine Night of Lights Festival? From mid November through the end of January, downtown businesses here stay open later, so you can take a Nights of Lights tour, browse shops in the twinkling buildings, and enjoy festive treats under sparkling lights.
There are lots of different tours you can do, but if you have kids, you can’t beat the awesome Nights of Lights GRINCH-Mas Ride, where you’ll be driven around town by the mean ol’ Grinch himself. Hop aboard The Roadster and settle down for a night of fun: you’ll take plenty of photos, visit the city’s most beautiful light displays, and listen to plenty of cheery holiday music as you go. A wildly entertaining experience for all the family.
Los Angeles Mission Inn Festival of Lights
You won’t be surprised to hear that Los Angeles isn’t short of exciting seasonal light displays – the only challenge is deciding which one you want to visit. Our suggestion is to head outside the city limits to explore the famous light display at the historic Mission Inn. The castle-like hotel is the perfect backdrop for a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride under the mistletoe, and there are over five million lights here – so if you’re looking for some serious glitz, you’ll certainly find it!
There’s also a firework display to light up the sky, hundreds of animated figures, and mouthwatering festive treats to sample. There might not be (real) snow in sunny Southern California, but there’s plenty of the fake stuff!
Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas Lights
In Alabama, no light display is as legendary as Theodore’s Magic Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens. Head to this stunning 65-acre estate home and garden to enjoy a light display featuring over three million lights, 1,100 set pieces, and 15 different Christmas scenes you can wander through. This is a great event for the whole family, and you can spend hours here browsing the different food stalls, admiring the garden, sipping hot chocolate, nibbling hors d'oeuvres, and enjoying the musical entertainment as you stroll. Now in its 27th year, this December the organizers will be doubling down on holiday cheer... so if you need to get into the festive spirit, checking out this display will probably do the trick!
Washington DC Holiday Lights Sightseeing Bus Tour
Step into a winter wonderland with this enchanting Holiday Lights Tour! This mesmerizing journey takes you through Washington DC and Annapolis, Maryland, where the holiday spirit comes alive in a dazzling display of lights and iconic landmarks. Glide through the illuminated Capitol and National Mall aboard a luxurious bus, guided by experts sharing insights and history while ensuring those picture-perfect moments. Explore Annapolis's beauty, from the Governor's Mansion to the historic harbor, before culminating at the stunning Sandy Point State Park holiday lights. It's the perfect gift for holiday enthusiasts or even the Grinch in your life craving a touch of festive magic!
Silver Dollar City Theme Park Christmas Lights
Branson, Missouri, has been the home of the iconic Silver Dollar City since 1960, and this 1880s themed park is the perfect place to see those bright lights sparkle, old-time style. There are over 6.5 million lights here, as well as more than 1,000 glittering Christmas trees, two different musical productions, and an exciting parade every night. There’s also a towering five-story special effects Christmas tree that’s adorned with 350,000 LED lights, and can make a staggering 100 light changes every second. If you’re looking to be shocked and awed by modern technology while walking around what appears to be a historic town, you’ve come to the right place. A truly unique experience that’ll keep you entertained for hours.
Best Christmas Experiences - New for 2023!
If you're passionate about history and want to learn about the origins of Christmas and how it's celebrated, why not go for the Colonial Christmas Tour of Williamsburg? You can expect to learn about the first American Christmas tree, how colonists celebrated, and you can light a candle of your own!
Craving a wholesome and family-friendly outing to get you into the Christmas mood? Check out the New York Holiday Markets and Christmas Lights Tour, packed with all kinds of festive delights sure to make great stocking fillers for all the family!
For an afternoon full of Christmas cheer and festive baked goods, the Christmas Lights and Bakery Trolley Tour of St Petersburg surely won't disappoint. Look around in awe at the glistening Christmas lights as the trolley takes you through town, with plenty of chances to stop off at local bakeries for a tasty treat!
And if you want an alternative way to spend the big day, why not opt for the Key West Christmas Day Brunch Sail? Indulge in a luxurious brunch cruise as a gift for all the family and enjoy sipping champagne, grazing on a delicious brunch spread, and taking in fantastic views from the Schooner America 2.0!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading our guide to the best Christmas lights and experiences in the US, updated for 2022!
We hope we've got you in the festive spirit with our little round-up, but if you think we missed anything, don't forget to leave a comment below; we'd love to hear from you.
If you're getting a jump-start on your Christmas shopping, don't forget to check out our full range of experience gifts for Christmas.
Happy holidays from all of us at Experience Gifts!
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