Best Holiday Light Displays in the US by Region, With Ticket Tips

The best holiday light displays in the United States usually open in mid- to late November and run until late December or the first days of January. Every region has at least one large, long-running show: drive-through routes at speedways and parks, and walk-through trails at zoos, botanical gardens and historic towns. Most of the popular ones now sell timed tickets online, so booking ahead and choosing a weeknight is the single best way to avoid long lines and sold-out dates.

What is the difference between drive-through and walk-through light shows?

A drive-through show is priced per vehicle and viewed from your car, while a walk-through show is priced per person and viewed on foot along a set path. Each type suits different groups:

Drive-through shows work well with small children, older relatives, pets that ride along, and cold or wet nights. Many are held at racetracks, fairgrounds and large parks, and some tune your car radio to music synced with the lights. Expect slow traffic on weekends.
Walk-through shows let you see the lights up close, take better photos and stop for hot drinks or treats. Zoos, botanical gardens and arboretums host many of these. Paths can be crowded, and strollers and wheelchairs are welcome at most, though some trails have hills or gravel.
Free neighborhood and town displays include decorated streets, town squares and historic districts. They cost nothing to enter, but parking and traffic can be the real challenge on peak evenings.

Where are the best holiday light displays in the Northeast?

The Northeast has some of the country’s most famous holiday displays, centered on New York City and the gardens of Pennsylvania.

Rockefeller Center, New York City: the giant Christmas tree is lit in a ceremony around the start of the holiday season and usually stays up into early January. Viewing is free, but crowds are heavy in the evenings.
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn: a residential neighborhood known for very elaborate house decorations. It is free to walk, and residents ask visitors to stay on sidewalks and respect private property.
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania: a large garden with outdoor lights and decorated conservatories. Timed-entry tickets are required and popular dates sell out.
Zoo and garden light trails run in many Northeast cities, including Boston, Philadelphia and around New York, typically on a timed-ticket basis.

Which light shows are worth the trip in the South?

The South is known for long drive-through routes and town-wide festivals, often with milder evening weather than the North.

Natchitoches, Louisiana: the Christmas Festival of Lights along the Cane River is one of the oldest in the country, with lights on through the season and a big festival day in early December.
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia: Fantasy In Lights is a long drive-through route through the gardens, with options to ride a tram instead of driving.
Speedway shows in North Carolina and Texas: racetracks such as Charlotte Motor Speedway host drive-through light routes on and around the track.
San Antonio River Walk, Texas: lights along the river are free to view on foot, with paid boat rides available.
Austin Trail of Lights, Texas: a walk-through event in Zilker Park with themed displays and food vendors.

What are the top holiday light displays in the Midwest?

The Midwest favors zoo light trails and large outdoor festivals, so dress for freezing temperatures on most nights.

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago: ZooLights is a long-running walk-through display in a city park setting.
The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois: Illumination is a walk-through trail with lights set among trees and woodland.
Detroit Zoo, Michigan: a walk-through light event with large animal-themed displays.
Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights, Wheeling, West Virginia: often grouped with the Midwest and Appalachia, this is one of the largest drive-through light shows in the country.

Many smaller Midwest towns also decorate their squares and main streets. Our guide to the best Christmas towns in the US, with markets and festival dates covers places where lights are part of a wider holiday weekend.

Where can you see great holiday lights in the West and Mountain states?

Western displays range from desert botanical gardens to mountain towns and the Pacific Northwest, so weather varies widely.

Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah: free downtown lights that draw large evening crowds.
Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado: Blossoms of Light is a walk-through display with timed tickets.
Zoo light events in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego and Portland: most use timed entry and are popular with families.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada: Glittering Lights is a drive-through route around the speedway.
Portland International Raceway, Oregon: Winter Wonderland is a drive-through display on the track.

Mountain and ski towns across Colorado, Utah and Idaho also light their main streets, which pairs well with a winter weekend. See our list of the best small towns to visit by region and season for ideas.

How do you get the best tickets and avoid crowds?

The best way to get tickets is to buy online from the official venue website as soon as dates are released, usually in the fall. Other tips:

Choose a weeknight. Monday through Thursday nights early in the season are usually the quietest and sometimes cheaper.
Avoid the last two weeks before Christmas if you can. Weekends from mid-December to Christmas Eve are the busiest at almost every show.
Book the earliest or latest time slot. The first entry window after dark and the last one of the night tend to have shorter lines.
Buy from the official site only. Resale and look-alike ticket sites can charge extra or sell invalid tickets.
Check the weather policy. Some shows close in high wind, ice or heavy rain; read whether tickets are refundable or can be moved to another date.
Look for member and discount nights. Zoo and garden members often get early access or lower prices.
Plan parking. Some walk-through events charge separately for parking or run shuttles from remote lots.

What should you bring and know before you go?

Bring warm layers, comfortable shoes and a charged phone, because most walk-through trails take one to two hours and many are outdoors in cold weather. For drive-through shows, arrive with a full tank, since you may sit in a slow line with the engine running; the road trip gas cost calculator helps if you are combining several displays into one drive. Many drive-through routes ask you to turn off headlights and use parking lights inside the display, and some do not allow limousines, buses or trailers. Check whether pets, drones and outside food are allowed before you go.

Quick answers

When do most holiday light displays open?

Most open between mid-November and the weekend after Thanksgiving, and close between late December and the first week of January. Some are closed on Christmas Day or Thanksgiving, so check the calendar.

Are drive-through light shows cheaper for families?

Often yes, because drive-through shows usually charge per vehicle rather than per person. A walk-through show priced per ticket can cost more for a larger family.

Do I need to book holiday light tickets in advance?

For popular zoo, garden and timed-entry shows, booking ahead is strongly recommended because weekend dates commonly sell out. Free street and neighborhood displays need no tickets.

What is the best time of night to see holiday lights?

Right after dark on a weeknight is usually best: the lights are on, children are less tired and crowds are smaller than later on weekend evenings.