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Over a million lights illuminate the Philadelphia Zoo as it transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland, LumiNature. Photo by Georgi Anastov Photography
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11/24/23 - By Victoria Fox

Get ready for our list of the best Christmas lights displays and holiday lights drive-thrus that have the Philly area all aglow.

Who doesn't love lights? So many amazing light displays can be found all over the Philadelphia area. You'll find everything from amusement parks with walk-thru decorations to drive-thru displays at farms where you can grab hot cocoa and enjoy the atmosphere. Kids and adults can enjoy these festive displays without breaking their budgets, as free outdoor light displays are available at many popular attractions. For an extra helping of holiday cheer, many venues offer kid-friendly entertainment as well, like ice skating, s'more making, and visits with Santa.

Add these festive activities, attractions, and experiences to your holiday itinerary. For more ways to feel merry and bright all season long, browse our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Philly, featuring our list of 30 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events in Philadelphia for Kids.

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express is a festive must-see for visitors of all ages. Photo courtesy of the Morris Arboretum
Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express is a festive must-see for visitors of all ages. Photo courtesy of the Morris Arboretum

Holiday and Christmas Lights in Philadelphia

Morris Arboretum Holiday Garden Railway

Through December 30, 2023
Philadelphia
Morris Arboretum’s popular Garden Railway returns. Visitors can enjoy a quarter-mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 rail lines, two cable cars, nine bridges, and bustling model trains, all set in a lovely winter garden. READ MORE

American Heritage's Grand Illumination

Through January 1, 2024
Philadelphia
American Heritage Credit Union welcomes visitors to its annual Grand Illumination celebration featuring the lighting of two 40-foot Christmas trees, hundreds of wreaths, and over 400,000 lights. This month-long display always gets families into the spirit of the season. READ MORE

LumiNature at The Philadelphia Zoo

Through January 6, 2024
Philadelphia
Over a million lights illuminate the Philadelphia Zoo as it transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland. LumiNature takes guests on a magical journey featuring 200+ illuminated penguins, a 100 ft-long aquarium tunnel, and special surprises each night. Kids can also ride a new Wilderness Express Train, watch strolling performers, and sip hot chocolate. READ MORE

Electrical Spectacle Light Show in Franklin Square

Through February 25, 2024
Philadelphia
Inspired by Benjamin Franklin's experiments with electricity, the Electrical Spectacle makes Franklin Square sparkle with its musical light show, recurring every 30 minutes. Enjoy 200,000 lights dancing to five festive songs that fill the square. READ MORE

Macy's Center City Holiday Traditions

November 25, 2022 - December 31, 2023
Philadelphia
A Philadelphia tradition, the Macy's Christmas Light Show is back. The department store's lineup of holiday events also includes Dickens Village–a 6,000 square-foot walk-thru experience, pictures with Santa, and its iconic holiday window displays.  READ MORE

Wintergarden

Through March 17, 2024
Philadelphia
Get outside and enjoy the chill with a visit to Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn, which returns to Dilworth Park. Guests to the garden will find whimsically crafted reindeer topiaries, seasonal plantings, twinkling lights, and outdoor seating.  READ MORE

Manayunk Gets Lit

Through December 31, 2023
Manayunk
The 4th Annual Manayunk Gets LIT Decorating Competition is back, and you get to help decide who will win. Get ready to take in more than eighty thousand dazzling lights as Manayunk businesses decorate their storefronts, windows, roofs, and really anything that can be lit. READ MORE

Holidays on the Hill

Through December 25, 2023
Chestnut Hill
Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, listen to a brass quartet, admire twinkling lights, festive window displays, and possibly catch Santa handing out candy canes–all while checking off holiday shopping lists at Chestnut Hill's 200+ businesses. READ MORE
Experience the nationally renowned Winter Wonderland at Koziar's Christmas Village. Photo courtesy of Koziar's
Experience the nationally renowned Winter Wonderland at Koziar's Christmas Village. Photo courtesy of Koziar's

Holiday and Christmas Lights in the Philly Suburbs

Holidays at Johnson's Corner Farm

Through December 23, 2023
Medford, NJ
Johnson’s Corner Farm has it all for the holidays–take a hayride to view thousands of lights, watch a light show on the lake, visit Santa, decorate Christmas cookies, roast marshmallows, and visit the Discovery Barn and Animal Farm. READ MORE

Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo

Through December 30, 2023
Norristown
Elmwood Park Zoo's Wild Lights is back with dazzling new displays covering the zoo's 16 acres. Santa will be in attendance for photos, and kids can make cards and crafts outside of his workshop. Enjoy holiday music while sipping hot chocolate and munching on seasonal treats as your family takes in live performances and animal encounters. READ MORE

Christmas Spirit Light Show

Through December 31, 2023
Lancaster
This one-of-a-kind light show at Clipper Magazine Stadium can be enjoyed from the comfort of your very own car. Guests can expect a mile-long track of thousands of color-changing lights that dance along with Christmas music. READ MORE

Tinseltown Holiday Spectacular

Through January 1, 2024
Philadelphia
FDR Park is aglow in this outdoor extravaganza powered by over a million bulbs, that also includes photos with Santa, ice skating on Rudolph's rink, an ice slide, tasty treats and warm drinks in the Tinsel Lodge, and shopping in the Mistletoe Marketplace. READ MORE

Koziar's Christmas Village

Through January 1, 2024
Bernville
Experience the nationally renowned Winter Wonderland at Koziar's Christmas Village. Guests can expect to see displays including Santa's Post Office, a manger scene, an old-fashioned bakery, and the toymaker with his toys. READ MORE

Festival of Lights

December 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Media
Shortly after sunset each night, Rose Tree Park comes alive with a beautiful light display. Dozens of illuminated trees and lit displays draw visitors back every year to walk in the winter wonderland and linger in the festive atmosphere.   READ MORE

Holidig Drive-Thru Light Show at Diggerland

Through January 7, 2024
West Berlin, NJ
Diggerland shines this holiday season with a 1-mile drive-thru course covered in hundreds of twinkling lights. America’s only construction theme park is illuminated with holiday displays, and visitors can enjoy tasty treats. Stream its radio station to fill your car with holiday spirit. READ MORE

Carnival of Lights

Through January 1, 2024 - Pottstown
Holiday lights, amusement rides, and games await families at the Carnival of Lights in Pottstown. This year's carnival will be held at the Norco Fire Department. Guests can expect more food, vendors, and visits with Santa. READ MORE

Herr's Snack Factory Christmas Lights Display

Through January 2, 2024
Nottingham
Visit the Herr's Snack Factory in Nottingham and drive through their campus to view 600,000 dazzling lights making up a spectacular holiday display. Guests will see decorated trees, shrubs, and even some reindeer. READ MORE

Christmas Candylane

Through December 31, 2023
Hershey
Experience Hershey Park during the Christmas season, when 5 million lights twinkle across the park. The choreographed light show NOEL dances to classic holiday tunes. Ride roller coasters, amusement rides, and visit Santa and his nine reindeer at Santa's Reindeer Stables. READ MORE

Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular

Through January 1, 2024 - Philadelphia
For over 50 years, South Philly residents on the 2700 block of Smedley Street have been wowing spectators with an impressive community display of blow-up decorations, beautifully lit trees, and sparkling string lights.  READ MORE

A Very Furry Christmas

Through January 7, 2024
Langhorne
Sesame Place hosts A Very Furry Christmas celebration, featuring a Christmas wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, festive decorations, and whirling rides. See Santa, Rudolph, and the whole Sesame Street gang. Don't miss the 1-2-3 Christmas Tree Show featuring holiday music and lights. READ MORE

Holidays in the Village

Through January 14, 2024
Lahaska
One million lights are poised to be awfully merry and extremely bright. Take an open-air stroll through the enchanted village while taking in the beauty and magic of the season. There are 65 specialty shops and boutiques to explore, spectacular gingerbread houses to view, and a 1920s carousel to ride. Special programming will be held throughout the season.     READ MORE

Shady Brook Farm Holiday Light Show

Through January 27, 2024
Yardley
Experience the magic of more than 3 million bulbs illuminating acres of farmland at Shady Brook Farm's holiday light show. Drive through in the comfort of your car or enjoy the show on an open-air wagon ride. Then, set off on foot through Candy Cane Lane, where dancing lights are set to music. Visit Santa and tell him about your wishes before or after enjoying the Holiday Light Show.  READ MORE

A Longwood Christmas

Through January 7, 2024
Kennett Square
Walk through the gardens to see the lights, flowers, and trees, and stop into the conservatory to view the seasonal poinsettias. Don't miss the fountain show set to music. READ MORE

LuminoCity Holiday Lights Festival

Through January 14, 2024
Oaks
Visit the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to enjoy the immersive light show experience at LuminoCity. LuminoCity is a world of magical light installations that come to life. READ MORE

Dutch Winter Wonderland

Through December 31, 2023
Take a ride to Dutch Wonderland and experience a Winter Wonderland complete with rides, entertainment, and the Royal Light Show. Santa can be found in Merlin's Restaurant to hear wish lists. READ MORE

West Chester Griswolds Light Display

Through January 2, 2024
West Chester
If the name sounds familiar, that's because this West Chester family takes after Clark Griswold and company from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Trust us when we say this home does not disappoint, and this year's display features over 133,000 lights, 800 smart pixels, and a newly-added Cosmic Color Ribbon Tree set to music. Kids can also drop off letters for Santa at the home's special mailbox. READ MORE

Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends

Through January 2, 2024
West Chester
The historic borough of West Chester is lighting up more downtown blocks than ever – and hosting more free holiday events than ever – to attract visitors to the 50+ retail stores and 60+ restaurants that make downtown West Chester so unforgettable during the holiday season. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

American Heritage Credit Union Campus
Smedley Street Christmas Light Spectacular
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Chester County Court House