The Best Places to See Christmas Lights in New York
Whether it's Rockefeller Center or your next door neighbor's lawn, here's where you can see some of the best Christmas lights in New York.
Get After-School Activities, Family Fun, & More!
Hand-Picked Family Activities
Sent Every Weekend
73rd Street
This street on the Upper East Side is lined with twinkling trees, making for a magical stroll through the neighborhood.
Christmas Lights on Long Island
Magic of Lights Jones Beach Holiday Light Show
The Jones Beach Holiday Light Show returns Nov. 13 through Jan. 2, 2021 and is open Sundays-Thursdays, 5pm-10pm, Fridays-Saturdays, 5pm-11pm. You won’t even need to leave your car to see the amazing light displays lining the roads on the West End.
Brookhaven Holiday Light Spectacular
Last year, several thousand people walked through the winter wonderland of lighted, festive displays, before stopping to take their photos with Santa in his workshop. The light show will take place at the Holtsville Ecology Site at 249 Buckley Road in Holtsville this year. A limited number of tickets will be available for pre-purchase for the indoor holiday light show this year. Stay tuned for 2020 dates.
The Riverhead Holiday Light Show begins Nov. 19 through Dec. 30. It features dozens of dazzling displays that the whole family will love! Tickets are on sale now.
The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County presents its annual drive-thru light show Dec. 1-30 in Shirley. The 1.5 mile trail at Smith Point County Park Campgrounds will be lit up with holiday light displays. Presale tickets are on sale now.
Christmas Lights in Westchester
North Kensico Christmas Light Show
For the last 13 years, the family living at 21 N. Kensico Ave. in White Plains has put on a free spectacular light show coinciding with the music broadcasting on 107.7 FM. This will be the last year of the light show, so you don’t want to miss it. Social distancing and masks are required when outside of your car and hot chocolate will be offered with COVID-19 safety precautions. Nov. 28 through Jan. 1, 5:30-11pm, daily.
Keeler Christmas Light Display
Nov. 28 at 6pm, the Keeler Christmas Light display at 16 Luigi Road in Putnam Valley will light up for the year. The display takes three months to prepare each year, including Santa on the roof, snowmen, Olaf, and a lit-up train. This year’s display is dedicated to Marvin Keeler who started the shows and passed this April.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Holiday Light Extravaganza
This year’s Westchester Winter Wonderland has been reimagined as a drive-through experience to keep families as safe as possible. It will feature 1.2 miles of lighted exhibits, costumed characters, music, and appearances by Santa. The tree lighting will be on opening night (Nov. 27) and the show will go on through Jan. 3.
Worldwide Light Celebration Car Parade
Stepping Stones Museum for Children (in Norwalk, CT) wants to bring joy to the community this holiday season with a free presentation of this year’s Worldwide Lights Celebration Car Parade. Treat your family to a spectacular holiday light display from the safe comfort of your car! Registered guests will enjoy a Luminescent Light Forest with nontraditional trees, a beautiful Evergreen display, plus hidden light treasures, sparkling presents and happy Santa sightings. A special looping light show, prepared by museum educators, will air on the museum’s indoor Light Gallery. All visitors will receive a Worldwide Light Celebration activity sheet and a special Stepping Stones at Twenty puzzle. Through Dec. 23, 5:30-7:30pm, nightly.
Due to covid, Wonderland at Roseville hsa changed their display to a front yard drive-by display only. They will broadcast their music to you in the warmth of your car synchronized to the lights as you view the display from the street. Please stay in your car, and tune your radio station to 103.3 FM to enjoy the music. On display through Dec. 26, Sundays-Thursdays, 5-9pm and Fridays-Saturdays, 5-10pm.
Christmas Lights in Rockland County
GARNER Art Center's LET THERE BE LIGHT! is a drive-through art and light show. This COVID-safe, family-friendly, holiday season-themed attraction will safely guide you through the unique GARNER complex along a bright, inspiring and elegantly decorated art path, including illuminated window art, video projection mapping, music, sight specific installations, immersive light displays and more! Advance tickets only.
Christmas Lights in Bergen County, NJ
Drive through a guided tour of 32 acres of brilliant holiday light displays. Enjoy hot cocoa in the retail farm market, take pictures with Santa, make s'mores, and more! Nov. 24 through Dec. 29.
Christmas Lights in Dutchess County
The ERDAJT Holiday Light Display (8 Patrick Drive in LaGrangeville) has been featured in the Guiness Book of World Records as well as on dozens of news broadcasts. The light display will begin on Nov. 26 this year.
Kevin McCurdy’s Holiday Spirit Festival
This year’s display will be all outdoors and masks will be required. More details regarding the walk through event will be coming soon. The event will begin Nov. 27 this year at 38 Sheafe Road, Wappingers Falls.
Christmas Lights in Orange County
Every year, the Christmas display at 420 Scotchtown Road, Goshen grows larger and people drive from further and further to see it. 2020 details to come.
The light display at 5 Madre DeCristo in Walkill boasts over 25,000 lights set to music to bring Christmas joy to all visitors. The show begins Nov. 27 through Dec. 29 this year, 5-11pm every night.
Christmas Lights in Sullivan County
Bethel Woods Peace Love & Lights
Though a bit further away, the drive-thru holiday light show in the Sullivan Catskills is worth the trip. The completely contact-free mile of illuminated lights will feature a 120-foot Twinkle Tunnel, themed areas, and so much more. The show begins on Nov. 23 and lasts through Jan 3, 2021, 5-10pm daily.
Christmas Lights in Ocean County, NJ
Six Flags Great Adventure's Holiday in the Park Drive-Thru Experience
After the success of its drive-thru safari, Six Flags Great Adventure is expanding its Holiday in the Park offerings to include a weeknight drive-thru light experience. It includes 12 immersive areas throughout the 140-acre theme park (yes, you drive through the amusement park!), full of twinkling lights, live entertainment, and festive music. Plus, guests will receive socially distanced holiday greetings from beloved holiday characters.
Main image via Hudson Yards NYC Facebook
