The Best Christmas Light Displays in Every State

Alabama: Magic Christmas in Lights

Since 1995, Bellingrath Gardens and Home has been the place to see holiday lights in Alabama, and its display lives up to the reputation with more than 1,100 set pieces and three million lights spread throughout the 65-acre estate. The Bellingrath Gardens' Magic Christmas in Lights display runs from the day after Thanksgiving to early January (closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day), with whimsical displays like Christmas Tree Lane, Candy Land, Fire & Ice, Gumball Grove, and Christmas Corridor. Get your picture taken with Santa in the Magnolia Room or tour the historic Bellingrath Home, built in 1935, while you're there.

Alaska: Santa Claus House

In the town of North Pole, located just 20 minutes from Fairbanks, going all out on Christmas decorations is a given. Stop by Santa Claus House where "it's Christmas every day" for photos with one of the world's largest Santa statues as well as the big man himself and his whole reindeer team. A tradition since 1952, Santa can be found at his workshop all year round, though he only works select days between January and September.

Pick up some fudge, cookies, chocolates, and candies from the Sweet Shop, or to really impress friends and family back home, mail your letters, souvenirs, gifts, or holiday cards from here with a postmark from North Pole, Alaska.

Arizona: The Tumbleweed Tree

No pines or spruces in your state? Simply make do with what you have à la Arizona's Tumbleweed Tree. About a 30-minute drive from Phoenix in Downtown Chandler — and a quirky area tradition since 1957 — the community centerpiece is, quite literally, a pile of nearly 1,000 tumbleweeds formed into a tree shape, sprayed with white paint, dusted with 65 pounds of glitter, and adorned with 1,200 lights. It's truly a sight to behold. If you're in town in early December, don't miss the Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights, where you can meet Santa, hear live music, and see the downtown area in all its holiday season glory.

Arkansas: Wonderland at Garvan Woodland Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens is both an architectural and botanical masterpiece, seeing as the gardens in Hot Springs are affiliated with the University of Arkansas' School of Architecture and Design. Its annual Wonderland event takes place nightly from mid-November to New Year's Eve and features holiday-themed art installations, plenty of lights, and nine creatively themed worlds within the garden. Note that all tickets must be purchased online ahead of time, and everyone in your party must have one to enter.

California: Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights

Yacht-watching can be a fun way to spend time on the Southern California coast — especially if you hope to spot a celebrity on their day off. In the Orange County town of Dana Point, these vessels become even more spectacular at Christmastime, as locals celebrate the Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights. The tradition takes place during the first week of December when boats show off their best holiday decorations and there are Christmas-themed photo ops, visits from Santa, and a slew of impressive installations like the "Merry Kiss Me" arch and the giant whale sculpture in Dana Point. Nearby, the King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade in Redondo Beach is another family-friendly favorite.

Colorado: The Ski Tree

Every December, the Telluride, Colorado, community gathers to light its 17-foot-tall Ski Tree, a spectacle created by local artist and metalworker Anton Viditz Ward. It's completely constructed from donated skis — even the star at the top is made of ski poles. A tradition in the ski town since 2013, the tree is assembled each year as part of Noel Night, which kicks off two weeks of holiday festivities throughout Telluride and Mountain Village. Prefer a more traditional display? Check out the Denver Botanic Gardens for its annual Blossoms of Light event.

Connecticut: Winterfest Tunnel of Lights

For more than four decades, the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor has transformed itself every holiday season into a brilliant wonderland of Christmas lights. At Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights, the museum's historic vehicles are resplendent with electric Christmas decorations. But the highlight of a visit is riding in one of the locomotives while watching a Christmas-themed hologram show through the windows.

Delaware: Yuletide at Winterthur

In Delaware, the name du Pont holds some serious weight, and that goes double when it comes to Christmas decorations — in fact, many of the best Christmas light displays in the state can be found in the du Pont mansions. A particularly striking example is Yuletide at Winterthur, which features a Christmas tree decorated with more than 60 varieties of dried flowers. The displays typically correspond with exhibitions related to the du Pont family. For instance, in 2023, an exhibit entitled, "Ann Lowe: American Courtier," features creations inspired by the influential couture gown designer.

District of Columbia: The National Christmas Tree and More

Not only can you find the National Christmas Tree, the Capitol Christmas Tree, and the National Menorah in Washington, D.C., the entire District of Columbia is rife with incredible Christmas light displays and holiday markets. For ice-skating rinks, head to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, The Wharf, or Washington Harbour in Georgetown. You might also enjoy The District's Holiday Boat Parade, which dazzles audiences on the scenic Potomac River, or Zoo Lights, a family-friendly event at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Otherwise, check out Enchant at Nationals Park, a winter wonderland including a Christmas Light Maze, a festive holiday village, and ice skating.

Florida: Walt Disney World's Holiday Festivities

Walt Disney World may be the "Most Magical Place On Earth" all year round, but it certainly kicks the pixie dust up a notch during the holidays. Hotels and theme parks are all decked out in holiday decor, and guests will find tasty seasonal snacks and festive entertainment that can only be enjoyed during the most wonderful time of the year. For a special treat, especially if you've got little ones in tow, don't miss Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, which features special events starring Santa, holiday-themed shows throughout the park, and fireworks on select nights from mid-November until just before Christmas.

Georgia: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

For one of the best Christmas light displays in Georgia, look no further than the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Its two-month Garden Lights, Holiday Nights exhibition illuminates the gardens at night, providing visitors with a long and winding walkway with various holiday-themed topiary sculptures and light tunnels. Popular areas include the hanging string lights in the Storza Woods and the views of the Atlanta skyline from the Skylights Lounge.

Hawaii: Honolulu City Lights

If you're on the island of Oahu, one of the best Christmas light displays in the whole state takes place during December in Honolulu. Each year, the city's downtown is aglow with dazzling lights and location-appropriate holiday displays — think Santa and Mrs. Claus chilling in the Hawaiian sun, flashing the shaka sign — as part of Honolulu City Lights, an event imbued with both the holiday spirit and the spirit of aloha.

Idaho: The Coeur d'Alene Resort

Setting itself apart from the other Christmas light displays in Idaho, The Coeur d'Alene Resort installs lights along the sparkling Lake Coeur d'Alene. For the best views, take one of the resort's "Journey to the North Pole" lake cruises. The star of the water is the massive floating Christmas tree, made up of 1.5 million lightbulbs that cast a beautiful reflection on the lake at night.

Illinois: Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo

Go wild this holiday season with a visit to Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. An annual Windy City tradition, Zoo Lights features a 40-foot tall Christmas tree, more than 30 lit animal silhouettes, a tree canopy light walk, a 60-foot light tunnel, and lots of fun, family-friendly activities like holiday train rides plus s'mores and hot cocoa stations.

Indiana: Santa Claus Christmas Celebration

As you might expect from a town named Santa Claus, this community in Indiana really goes all out for Christmas. The main event is a three-weekend-long Santa Claus Christmas Celebration, during which you'll find a festive parade, freshly roasted chestnuts, and plenty of shopping opportunities. One of the highlights is the story of Rudolph told in brilliant LED lights over a 1.2-mile drive at a place called — wait for it — Lake Rudolph, a popular RV park and campground run by Sun Outdoors.

Iowa: Jolly Holiday Lights

Iowa's Jolly Holiday Lights event, which takes place in Adventureland Park about 15 minutes from Des Moines, reigns supreme in the Hawkeye State. Here, you can take a 2.5-mile drive through more than 100 Christmas light displays. Not only will your kids enjoy the dazzling ride, but you can also feel good knowing that a trip to Jolly Holiday Lights benefits charity — 100 percent of admission fees are donated to Make-A-Wish Iowa.

Kansas: Illuminations at Botanica

The honor of the best Christmas lights in Kansas undoubtedly belongs to Illuminations at Botanica in Wichita. Each year, more than two million lights completely overhaul the gardens into a Christmas-themed show. While you're there, check out the Khicha Family Carousel and get your picture taken with Santa.

Kentucky: Lights Under Louisville

Kentucky's lights shine the brightest underground. At Lights Under Louisville, the Louisville Mega Cavern (a former limestone mine) is transformed into a 30-minute Christmas-themed drive-through holiday experience lit by more than six million shimmering lights.

Louisiana: Celebration in the Oaks

It just isn't Christmas in New Orleans until the lights at Celebration in the Oaks flip their switch. Every year since the late 1980s, visitors pour into City Park to see the hundreds of thousands of lights twinkling throughout the oak groves. Choose between a 90-minute walking tour and a 30- to 45-minute driving tour, or buy a combo ticket to enjoy both. However you decide to take in the spectacle, know that the proceeds will go toward keeping City Park beautiful all year long.

Maine: Gardens Aglow

Gardens Aglow, held each year at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, is more than your typical Christmas display experience. It's a long stroll through a magical, glowing forest lit by 65 miles worth of string lights. The event runs from mid-November to December 31, giving visitors the chance to see nature illuminated throughout the 14 acres of gardens.

Maryland: Lights on the Bay

As Christmas descends on Annapolis, the SPCA of Anne Arundel County hosts Lights on the Bay each year at Sandy Point State Park. Pile the whole gang into the car and drive through the more than 70 stunning animated and stationary Christmas light displays set up along the road that follows the Chesapeake Bay.

Massachusetts: Bright Nights at Forest Park

Bright Nights at Forest Park, a collaboration between the City of Springfield and Spirit of Springfield, a private non-profit organization, has been bringing light to Forest Park in Massachusetts since it began in 1995. Throughout the season, there is a wide range of events that include a nighttime 5K race through the lights, $10 Tuesdays, and lots of appearances by the man in red.

Michigan: Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic

A real-life Polar Express, Michigan's Huckleberry Railroad takes guests on a 40-minute holiday-themed ride, passing by Christmas lights and ending at Crossroads Village, a living history museum that recreates life in the Great Lakes at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can also take in the sights from the comfort of their cars during the Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic drive-through experience, or you can purchase a combo ticket and enjoy both the train and village offerings.

Minnesota: Bentleyville Tour of Lights

Where else can you see Santa arrive by parachute? In downtown Duluth, it's the opening-day tradition at Bentleyville Tour of Lights, which takes its name from founder Nathan Bentley. The sky-diving Santa kicks off the event held in the city's Bayfront Festival Park between November and the day after Christmas. While you check out more than five million lights spread over 20 acres, you can indulge in free cookies, popcorn, and hot chocolate, and then roast your own marshmallows and take a photo with the big man himself.

Mississippi: Canton Christmas Festival

In Canton, Mississippi, located about a 30-minute drive from the capital city of Jackson, the Canton Christmas Festival lights up the holiday season year after year. Kids will have a ball with train rides, playgrounds, story time with Mrs. Claus, a peek into Santa's workshop, and an animated village for the whole family to enjoy.

Missouri: An Old Time Christmas

Branson, Missouri's Silver Dollar City is regularly hailed as one of the best Christmas destinations in the country. The title is well-deserved considering the theme park's An Old Time Christmas event, where every nook and cranny is illuminated with over 6.5 million lights. For a real treat, don't miss Rudolph's Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade, during which the red-nosed reindeer and his friends, including Bumble (the formerly abominable snow monster), make an appearance.

Montana: Bozeman Holiday Lights

During the festive season, Bozeman, Montana, is known for its highly decorated private homes in neighborhoods like Southside and downtown Bozeman's Willson Avenue. Many are decked out in all their holiday glory each year, some featuring inflatable Christmas characters and hot cocoa stations in addition to light displays. You can tune into the local radio station (XL Country 100.7), which should help you find out where to go for the city's best lights.

Nebraska: Omaha Holiday Lights Festival

The tagline for the Omaha Holiday Lights Festival is "See Downtown Dazzle," and with more than 40 blocks of bulbs, this annual family-friendly event certainly lives up to that promise. You'll find the main display at the Gene Leahy Mall, but you can also visit the Christmas light displays in North Omaha, South Omaha, and the Old Market.

Nevada: Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Kick your Christmas up a notch by visiting Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 2.5-mile course featuring more than five million lights and 400 animated displays. Just keep in mind that the event isn't actually on the racing track, so speed limits are still enforced.

New Hampshire: Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth

Few things beat Christmas in New England, from the idyllic snow-capped homes to the surplus of hot cider. In New Hampshire, find a holiday aesthetic that harkens back to the Victorian era at the Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth. Following the city's Vintage Christmas event, the museum hosts a candlelight stroll, during which you can tour the historic houses after dark.

New Jersey: Storybook Land

For some of the best Christmas lights in New Jersey, head to Egg Harbor Township, located about 20 minutes from Atlantic City, to experience the magic of Storybook Land. During the last two weekends in November and almost every night in December, Santa lights up the park, bringing more than one million bulbs to life. Guests are also welcome to donate new and unwrapped toys to benefit Toys For Tots throughout the event.

New Mexico: Old Town Holiday Stroll

One of the best Christmas displays in New Mexico is in Old Town Albuquerque, where the historic storefronts and buildings are decked out with holiday decorations. Plan your visit in time to attend the Old Town Holiday Stroll on December 1, during which you'll feel like you're ambling through a southwestern Christmas postcard. New Mexicans also make the trek to areas just outside the city like Cabezon, a neighborhood of Rio Rancho that goes all out with Christmas light displays. In Sandia Heights, the upscale houses are lavishly decorated for the season.

New York: Dyker Heights in Brooklyn

Move over Rockefeller Center, the real highlight of New York's Christmas spirit is out in Brooklyn's Dyker Heights neighborhood, about a 45-minute drive away. Homeowners here are said to have an unspoken competition, continuing to up the ante annually with over-the-top lights, professionally created displays, and inflatable lawn ornaments, so it's definitely worth a trip.

North Carolina: Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights

The Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights is an extremely popular event where the entire park — more than 1,000 acres in size — is decorated with over a million Christmas lights. Visitors can explore the park by car, hayride, or horse-drawn carriage. And while you're in the area for the festival, stop by Winston-Salem to see the stunning 31-foot tall Moravian star on top of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

North Dakota: Holiday Lights Drive

Every December, Spring Lake Park in Williston sparkles with thousands of twinkling lights, all a part of the annual Holiday Lights Drive. Visitors to the park can enjoy themed nights and even catch one of the ice carving demos scheduled throughout the season.

Ohio: Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill

During Christmas at Ohio's 19th-century Clifton Mill, nearly four million lights illuminate the building, the gorge, the bridges, and nearby trees. However, the most unique element is a 100-foot "waterfall" of twinkling lights. After experiencing the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill, peek inside Santa's Workshop, where you might find the big guy checking his list. Stick around for the music show each night where the lights on the Old Covered Bridge flash in sync with the beat.

Oklahoma: Rhema Bible School

Three million lights decorate Rhema Bible School during the holidays, with walk-through tunnels, an illuminated Nativity scene, and a Christmas tree forest delighting the more than 500,000 visitors expected each year. Open-top and private carriage rides are also available for an extra fee at this spectacular wintertime attraction that's been an area tradition since 1982.

Oregon: Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights

The Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights is a hit among Disney-loving kids (and adults with a soft spot for "Frozen"). This epic seasonal spectacle at River Forks Park features more than 500,000 lights and 90 animated displays, most of which feature characters from the popular Disney film. Proceeds from the drive-through holiday experience go to worthy local organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley.

Pennsylvania: Koziar's Christmas Village

Koziar's Christmas Village in Bernville, about a 90-minute drive from Philadelphia, is a cozy annual tradition that comes to life in early November and continues through January 1. When the event started in 1948, it featured William and Grace Koziar's gorgeously decorated "Christmas House," but over the years, the Koziars have expanded, decorating nearby barns, walkways, and trees to create an entire Christmas Village.

Rhode Island: Newport Mansions

For many, the more Christmas lights there are, the better. But a seasonal trip to Holidays at the Newport Mansions, presented by The Preservation Society of Newport County, offers up a refined and subtle approach to the holiday magic. The event features 28 themed Christmas trees, including an impressive 15-foot tree made up of 150 poinsettia plants.

South Carolina: Nights of a Thousand Candles

Candles might not burn as bright as LED lights, but that just means Brookgreen Gardens' Nights of a Thousand Candles feels even more magical. Grab a warm apple cider and stroll through the grounds, which are illuminated by more than 2,700 hand-lit candles in addition to thousands of sparkling lights.

South Dakota: Winter Wonderland at Falls Park

Since 2003, more than 25 miles of light strings, 270 decorated trees, multiple animated light features, and a whopping 355,926 LED lights put the holiday-loving city of Sioux Falls on the map. The annual free event runs from mid-November to early January, and the best spot to take it all in is from the five-story viewing tower, which gives guests a 360-degree view of the spectacle.

Tennessee: Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort

Home to the original Country Christmas, Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Resort has evolved from a simple Christmas light display to a veritable winter wonderland made of ice. At the holiday-light-laden resort, you'll experience holiday-themed activities, shows, and events — and of course, a visit with Santa.

Texas: Austin Trail of Lights

The Austin Trail of Lights is more carnival than Christmas light display. At this drive-through event, you'll be able to see more than two million lights and 70 displays in Zilker Park. There are also three stages for live music, tons of food trucks, and special events like the first tree lighting and the Fun Run, a 2.1-mile race for all ages.

Utah: Christmas in Color

While the concept of a drive-through display is nothing new, Utah's Christmas in Color is taking the idea to a whole new level with light tunnels, giant candy canes, and synchronized music-and-light sequences featuring more than one million holiday lights. The event takes place at the Bastian Agricultural Center in South Jordan and tickets are sold per vehicle.

Vermont: Wassail Weekend in Woodstock

Large-scale displays are few and far between in Vermont, but Woodstock's Wassail Weekend, a holiday celebration that borrows traditions from the 19th century, features seasonally inspired a cappella performances, luminaries, and plenty of family-friendly holiday activities.

Virginia: Richmond's Tacky Lights Tour

Sure, Virginia has plenty of pristine houses decorated with all-white strands, but Richmond's famed Tacky Lights Tour is just so much more fun. For years, the Richmond Times-Dispatch has published a list of the best tacky lights in town. Cruise by all the tacky light hot spots in your own car, or book a Tacky Lights Tour via bus or even limousine.

Washington: The Lights of Christmas

With over a million lights spread across 15 acres, The Lights of Christmas in Stanwood is a drive-through event that features dazzling displays, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and plenty of yummy snacks for the drive. Tune into the local radio station to sync to the soundtrack. Visitors are advised to purchase tickets in advance. You can stretch your legs at activity stops like Joyland, which has a light maze and a talking Christmas tree.

West Virginia: Winter Festival of Lights

Oglebay's Winter Festival of Lights is one of the country's largest displays, with more than one million LED lights stretching across 300 acres at Wheeling Park. Best of all, you can choose how you want to experience the light tunnels and 90 lighted attractions. Cruise the six-mile route from the comfort of your car or board a guided trolley tour. Tours depart from Wilson Lodge in the evenings between November 9, 2023 and January 8, 2024.

Wisconsin: Oshkosh Celebration of Lights

With half a million lights, carriage rides, and Santa's workshop, the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights is one of the hottest tickets in town. Proceeds are donated to the Salvation Army and other nonprofit organizations that support local families, and if you bring a donation of a sealed hygiene item or non-perishable food, you can get $5 off your ticket price. The Menominee Park celebration runs from the day after Thanksgiving until December 31.

Wyoming: Holiday Light Tour

Upgrade your Christmas light tour experience with a ride on the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley during the annual Holiday Light Tour. From early December to early January, grab a ticket and hop on board to see some of the best light displays in Wyoming. If you want to stick around past Christmas, there's also a ball drop on New Year's Eve.