10 Best Christmas Light Displays in the US That Spark Pure Holiday Joy

Wrapping the tinsel around the tree was a task my brother and I always fought to do, while my mom dreaded facing the cold and the heights to hang the lights in the front yard. Sometimes, we’d even drive around town pointing out the beautiful efforts people put into their inventive Christmas decorations.

The winter holidays aren’t complete without the glow of dazzling lights twinkling brightly in the night. While many locations decorate to bring festive cheer to their residents, some cities and attractions really go the extra mile to lift holiday spirits. Here are 10 best Christmas light displays in the USA that really go all out to impress you this holiday season. 

1. Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York

Right after Thanksgiving, a Brooklyn neighborhood called Dyker Heights puts up thousands of twinkle lights, festive figurines, and holiday roof and yard displays galore. You’ll see more Santas than you can count, as well as sleds pulled by reindeer, angels, and nativity scenes.

The best displays are located between 11th and 13th Avenues from 83rd to 86th Street. Parking is limited, so taking a shuttle or public transit is encouraged. 

2. Koziar’s Christmas Village, Bernville, Pennsylvania

Koziar’s Christmas Village in Bernville has been a holiday family tradition for 77 years. As you drive up on the village from the country road, you’ll think you’ve driven into a fairy wonderland with more than one million lights on display.

In addition to the beautifully lit grounds, a self-guided tour offers access to 11 indoor buildings, including Santa’s Post Office, an old-fashioned bakery, and a toy shop.

The village is open from the first Saturday in November until the weekend after New Year’s. 

3. Fantasy in Lights, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, includes both a walk-through and drive-through Christmas light experience. Slowly cruise through seven miles of fantastic holiday displays with more than ten million lights.

Stop in the Callaway Christmas Village to meet Santa or grab some holiday refreshments. Once you have refueled, it’s time to walk through a forest of cascading lights and larger-than-life Christmas displays with snowmen, nutcrackers, and more. 

4. Winter Garden Aglow, Boise, Idaho

Winter Garden Aglow in Boise takes over the entire Idaho Botanical Garden Complex, and it’s one of the most beautiful light displays in the USA. Walk along the winding path through the gardens to find Santa’s cottage, a gingerbread village, a candy cane forest, and a kid-sized gingerbread house.

Save the memories by stopping by the selfie station or for some sips in the Snow Globe Bar for a seasonal adult beverage. There is also a Winter Market where you can shop and live music on the Sounds of the Season Stage. 

5. Boothbay Maine, Coastal Maine

The Gardens Aglow festival in Boothbay at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a holiday light display that spans over 14 acres with more than 750,000 LED lights. Walk through tunnels of light and themed displays spread out around the garden, including two of the garden’s iconic trolls Roskva and Lilja. 

The display is open Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are necessary, and guests are encouraged to use the shuttle due to limited parking.

6. Bentleyville USA, Duluth, Minnesota

Bentleyville USA is a walk-through holiday light display in downtown Duluth at Bayfront Festival Park. More than 5,000,000 lights are on display throughout the park, and a 128-foot-tall Christmas tree.

The event is free, and so are the popcorn and hot chocolate, which just make this place feel extra special and welcoming. Santa and Mrs. Claus are also on hand to visit with anyone who might want to stop by. 

7. Old Time Christmas Silver Dollar City Branson, Missouri

Silver Dollar City, an 1800-themed amusement park, is a good time year-round, but they really bring out the Christmas charm with their Old Time Christmas. The park is decorated with 6.5 million lights and 1,500 Christmas trees.

You’ll find live entertainment like “A Dicken’s Christmas Carol” and a nightly parade featuring Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. There’s even a five-story special effects tree decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights and ornaments.

8. Natchitoches, Louisiana

People in Louisiana take Christmas and their light displays very seriously, so much so that they have established a seasonal tour called the Holiday Trail of Lights. This trail runs along I-20 and I-49, featuring eight cities that host a spectacular holiday light display for visitors to enjoy from their vehicles.

Along this trail, the town of Natchitoches hosts a Festival of Lights with more than 300,000 Christmas lights. Every Saturday through the end of December, this festival also includes a holiday fireworks show over the Cane River! 

9. Nights of Lights, St. Augustine, Florida

The Nights of Lights Festival in St. Augustine is held every year from mid-November until the end of January. Here, you will find the Spanish Colonial architecture absolutely glowing with lights to celebrate the season.

The entire historic district of approximately 20 city blocks all participate. To see the lights, you can take a trolley, boat, carriage, or walking tour.

10. Winter City Lights Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is home to Winter City Lights, the biggest light display in the Washington DC greater area. A 1.5-mile walking trail leads to a 52-foot-tall Christmas tree and then a canopy of lights that look like stars overhead.

In addition to the over million lights spread over an 18-acre area, vendors sell treats, warm up your hands at sporadic bonfires, and go snow tubing.

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