As the holiday season approaches, towns and cities light up with dazzling holiday light displays. From twinkling historic oak trees to sprawling drive-thru wonderlands, these awe-inspiring light shows transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Whether you’re traveling with family or trying to get into the festive spirit, these breathtaking light displays promise to fill your holidays with joy. Keep reading for our top awe-inspiring light displays to check out this holiday season.
New York State
New York is so much more than the Big Apple. From calm lakes to winter slopes, New York State offers unforgettable experiences. During the winter months, New York comes alive with magical winter lights, holiday festivals, and plenty of good cheer. Below are some of the top New York State light displays to check out this holiday season.
Glimmer Nights at Fenimore Farm and Country Village
Where can you find a six-week holiday light show extravaganza?
Fenimore Farm and Country Village!
Beginning in late November, Glimmer Nights at Fenimore Farm begins a season of wonder and magic. This year promises even more glimmer and glamour with a larger selection of light displays! Don’t forget to check out the waterfall tunnel, complete with a flowing animated light river.
Glimmer Nights is fun for the whole family! Visitors can enjoy free carousel rides, pictures with Santa, and yummy hot chocolate. Additionally, select nights include themed evenings like Dickens Nights where staff can be spotted in period dress performing themed readings.
Fenimore Farm and Country Village is located in charming Cooperstown. Request your free print and downloadable Cooperstown & Otsego County Travel Guide today!
Wild Lights at the Wild Center
Are you a wild thing?
Do light displays make your heart sing?
Then make your way over to the Wild Lights at the Wild Center!
Wild Lights is an enchanting and illuminated winter wonderland! Located on a 115-acre campus where people and nature coexist, Wild Lights offers a plethora of outdoor experiences.
During the holiday season, the Wild Center campus is transformed with thousands of lights. Families are welcome to experience Wild Walk, Stickwork, immersive sound experiences in Forest Music, and lit archways in the parking lot. If you want to be cozy and warm, settle down in the Adirondack chairs on the patio or enjoy hot cocoa and s’mores by the fire.
Wild Lights at the Wild Center is located in the Adirondacks. For more travel ideas, request your free print and downloadable Adirondack Coast Travel Guide today!
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland
You don’t always have to go walking in a winter wonderland.
At Westchester’s Winter Wonderland you can drive in a winter wonderland!
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland is a dazzling 1.2-mile drive-thru holiday light extravaganza! This means that you can enjoy all of the colors and lights of the holiday season from the comfort of your car.
We recommend streaming your favorite holiday playlist and sipping on hot chocolate while you marvel at the impressive light displays. If you want an enhanced experience, try the free Otocast app which offers holiday-themed music and stories for an immersive experience.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland features classic displays, glittering angels of peace, candy cane lane, dancing trees, and a 175-foot Transporter Tunnel. It is also home to the largest Christmas tree in Westchester and a 30-foot glistening star.
Westchester County is the place to be this winter! Now is the time to request your free print and downloadable Westchester County Official Travel Guide.
Chicago Southland
Chicago Southland is brimming with holiday cheer. The winter months are an ideal time to stroll its historic downtown shopping districts and sample its vast array of restaurants, breweries, and distilleries. It is also a great time to experience some holiday magic.
Holiday Magic at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago
For nearly a century, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a beloved destination. While the zoo is best known for its animal care and exhibits, it is also a popular destination for its spectacular holiday light display.
Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a celebrated holiday tradition for over 40 years. The awe-inspiring display features more than 3.5 million lights, themed areas, giant holiday displays, a maze, tunnels, and more!
Are you ready to make Holiday Magic a holiday tradition? Request your free print and downloadable Chicago Southland Visitors Guide today!
Tri-Cities, Washington
Located along the beautiful Columbia River, the Tri-Cities region shines bright all winter long. With holiday parades, riverfront light displays, and family-friendly festivities, it’s a spectacular destination to celebrate the season.
Winterfest in Richland
Richland’s Winterfest is the perfect way to kick off the holidays. The event features a brilliant community tree lighting, carolers, live performances, and a spectacular fireworks show lighting up the Columbia River. Stroll through Howard Amon Park and enjoy thousands of twinkling lights reflected on the water—it’s a picture-perfect Pacific Northwest holiday moment!
Senske
Light Show in Kennewick
No visit to the Tri-Cities is complete without experiencing the famous Senske
Light Show. Each year, the company transforms its Kennewick headquarters into a
mesmerizing drive-thru holiday wonderland featuring more than 500,000 lights,
choreographed to holiday music. Best of all, the event raises donations for
local charities, making it a heartwarming holiday tradition that truly shines.
Celebrate the season in the Tri-Cities with lights, laughter, and lasting memories. Request your free print and downloadable Tri-Cities, WA Travel Guide today!
Carroll County, Maryland
Nestled amid rolling hills and charming historic towns, Carroll County, Maryland transforms into a winter wonderland filled with festive cheer, small-town warmth, and brilliant lights during the holiday season.
Miracle on Main Street in Westminster
This beloved annual celebration brings the entire community together with a dazzling tree lighting, holiday parade, and light displays that fill Main Street with sparkle and joy. Horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa visits, and carolers make for a picture-perfect holiday experience straight out of a Hallmark movie.
Festival
of Lights at Union Mills Homestead
Step back in time and witness the historic Union Mills Homestead aglow with
thousands of lights illuminating this 18th-century landmark. The festival
combines old-fashioned charm with timeless holiday spirit—complete with local
crafts, warm cider, and live seasonal music.
Carroll County is the perfect blend of heritage and holiday magic. Discover even more to see and do this winter—request your free print and downloadable Carroll County, MD Travel Guide today!
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
Each winter, the Smoky Mountains shimmer with millions of twinkling lights stretching across mountain towns, valleys, and parkways. The region’s breathtaking scenery becomes even more magical as communities unite to celebrate Winterfest, one of the largest and most dazzling holiday light events in the Southeast.
Pigeon Forge Winterfest
Pigeon Forge sparkles with more than 6 million lights creating glittering tunnels, animated displays, and festive scenes throughout the parkway. Stroll the Winterfest Wonders of Light walking trail for an immersive experience surrounded by radiant forest creatures, snowflakes, and mountain magic.
Gatlinburg Winter Magic & Anakeesta’s Enchanted Christmas
In nearby Gatlinburg, the streets and treetops glow with millions of LED lights during Winter Magic, while Anakeesta transforms its mountaintop village into a glowing winter wonderland complete with canopy lights, cozy fire pits, and sweeping mountain views.
Whether you’re exploring the charming towns of Sevierville, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge, the Smoky Mountains offer endless ways to make your holidays merry and bright.
Request your free print and downloadable Smoky Mountains, TN Travel Guide today!
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul shines with Midwestern charm and old-world holiday magic. The capital city’s stunning architecture, historic neighborhoods, and riverside parks become a canvas for brilliant winter light displays that make every evening feel festive.
Glow Holiday Festival at CHS Field
Saint Paul’s Glow Holiday Festival is a can’t-miss Minnesota tradition. This walk-through light experience features over a million LED lights, giant illuminated sculptures, tunnels, and themed worlds from “Candy Cane Lane” to “Santa’s Arctic Circle.” Enjoy local food trucks, hot cocoa, and photo ops at every turn.
Rice Park Winter Lights & Cathedral Hill Charm
Downtown Saint Paul’s Rice Park glows beneath towering illuminated trees and sparkling decorations, just steps away from skating at Wells Fargo WinterSkate. In the nearby Cathedral Hill district, Victorian homes twinkle with timeless elegance—perfect for a scenic winter stroll.Experience the wonder of the holidays in one of the Midwest’s most beautiful cities.
Request your free print and downloadable Saint Paul, MN Travel Guide today!
Have a Merry and Bright Holiday Season!
Enchanting light displays offer a chance to marvel in the wonder and magic of the holiday season. Every light display is unique and provides a chance to create lasting memories with precious loved ones. Holiday lights are a reminder that the brightest part of the holidays is the joy we share. For more holiday travel ideas, check out all of our free print and downloadable travel guides!