Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights Near DC in Maryland and Northern Virginia

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Take a stroll through the Marshall Pond Christmas Village in Burke, VA. Photo courtesy of Kristy Case, from the Marshall Pond Christmas Village Facebook page

Driving around to see neighborhood Christmas lights is a fun holiday tradition for many families. There's nothing better than loading the family into the car with hot chocolate, turning on holiday music, and taking in all the dazzling Christmas light displays. And the best part is, it's free!

Though DC itself offers gorgeous holiday lights in public places, like Light Yards and ZooLights at the National Zoo, we've found that the best neighborhoods to see Christmas light displays on houses are in the suburbs. Luckily, there are many neighborhoods in Maryland and Northern Virginia that get way into the holiday spirit. Many of them host animated light shows that are synchronized to music played through car radios, so families can stay warm and cozy inside their vehicles.

Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Maryland and Northern Virginia to see over-the-top neighborhood Christmas lights. For more holiday fun, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids.

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Atlanta

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Lights of Joy in Kennesaw uses 60 miles(!) of Christmas lights to create the ultimate holiday display.

Atlanta knows Christmas lights and how to show up, and show off, for the holidays! Neighborhood Christmas lights include intricate designs, clever themes, and surging electricity bills. Residential holiday lights include houses that offer walking tours; other houses welcome families to drive by and tune radio frequencies to their synchronized Christmas lights; and some houses are a part of an entire neighborhood that creates a collective attraction! 

In fact, enjoy Christmas lights AND do charitable work—some of the homes mentioned below are part of Cobb EMC's Christmas lights map, where you can vote for your favorite and the top three winners get $500 to donate to the charities of their choice! 

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Orlando

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Orlando isn't known for getting snow, but visitors to Cross Christmas can experience "snow" flurries every 30 minutes.

It's time for the most spectacular residential Christmas lights Orlando has to offer! We’re continually amazed by the creativity and passion homeowners pour into their holiday lights. From mesmerizing, choreographed light shows to impressive walk-through light displays perfect for photos, these Orlando Christmas homes deliver holiday magic like no other. Fun fact: Two of the houses on this list have even been featured on The Great Christmas Light Fight!

Most homeowners start up their Orlando Christmas light displays Thanksgiving weekend and let it shine bright throughout the season (unless otherwise noted). As you enjoy the festivities, please be courteous to the neighborhoods—visit during designated times, avoid blocking driveways, keep music at a reasonable volume, and respect private properties.

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Westchester

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The Keeler Christmas light display in Putnam Valley features nearly 1 million lights.

Families all over Westchester deck their houses with Christmas lights, but certain special houses merit a visit all their own.

We’ve rounded up several of our favorite local Christmas light displays for 2024, perfect for getting your crew into the holiday spirit. While most of these displays are of the homegrown variety, you can find plenty of spectacular professional displays in the tristate area, too.

If you're looking for even more holiday happenings, check out our Westchester Holiday Fun Guide to hear about all the fun as soon as we do.

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights on Long Island

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Fifth Street in Ronkonkoma is aglow with Christmas lights during the holidays.

Visiting Christmas lights near me on Long Island is an annual holiday tradition. Long Island homes sparkle bright with spectacular displays, Santa and his reindeer, nativity scenes, jolly inflatables, merry music, and an abundance of Christmas cheer. 

From Nassau County to the East End, we've rounded up a list of homes that light up in a big way to dazzle the littlest ones and delight the whole community year after year. Some homes collect money for charities so you can contribute to a good cause when you visit. 

Read ahead for all the details to plan your Christmas lights viewing adventure with the kids. For more seasonal fun, check out our Holiday Guide.

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in New Jersey

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Donations to Fanwood's Famous Christmas House support charity. Photo courtesy of the family

Christmas lights shine brightly in New Jersey, and you can enjoy amazingly decked-out houses with stunning holiday displays throughout the state. There are many different ways to see Christmas lights—from walk-through spectacles at amusement parks to over-the-top drive-thru displays and private homes. There are even entire towns that go all out with holiday light installations!

These sparkling holiday spectacles—some of which feature more than 1 million lights—are sure to impress even the grinchiest member of your family. So bundle up the kids and head out to one of these illuminating local light shows before the sun sets on the Christmas season!

Check out our roundup of New Jersey Christmas towns that go all out for the holidays, and find tons more ways to be merry in our Holiday Fun Guide.