Christmas Light Festivals Guaranteed to Delight the Whole Family

The U.S. is lighting up for the holidays! Celebrate the magic of Christmastime with these festive events!

Lifestyle Travel
Featured image of a tree filled with lights and red Christmas ornaments.

You can’t go wrong with celebrating Christmas by going to a festival for the holidays. There are plenty of events in the U.S. that should be considered for your upcoming holiday vacation or family outing. With the temperatures freezing and everyone bundled up, enjoy the crisp air by walking and immersing yourself in the enchanting lights only seen during the holidays. These are places in the U.S. that outdo themselves in the Christmas spirit that the whole family will enjoy!

Old West Christmas Light Fest

A Wild West–themed building decked out in white string lights and Christmas wreaths with red bows.
IMAGE VIA OLD WEST CHRISTMAS LIGHT FEST

Journey to the Old Wild West in San Antonio, Texas, to experience a Western-style Christmas. In this small town in Boerne, you can enjoy a stroll on the land with the family through the holiday displays. With over two million lights and Christmas music lightly playing, it mesmerizes you in the old-timey environment. With many food booths to feast on and activities such as bull riding and laser tag, there’s more than enough to do to keep your little ones entertained. If you’re late on your Christmas shopping, there are vendors on site worth checking out. Tickets start from $20 depending on the number of family members and general admissions.

Blossoms of Light

Denver Botanic Gardens Christmas event with a pathway filled with lights to walk under. In the distance, there are two star decorations.
IMAGE VIA DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Denver, Colorado’s Blossoms of Light is a walk-through light experience. Set in Denver Botanic Gardens, this plant life exhibit is decorated in multi-colored lights, each with its own light show. With Christmas-themed plants, there’s even a planted archway with mistletoe for those wanting to take on a romantic tradition. To make the walking experience more enchanting as you see the sights, Blossoms of Light recommends that you brave the cold to experience light snow-covered botanical gardens. The bit of white canvas makes the colorful lights pop out even more. Tickets range from $11.50 for children to $15.75 for adults.

ZooLights

Smithsonian's National Zoo image of their Zoo Lights event with trees decorated and lit in different colors as people walk past on a bricked path.
IMAGE VIA SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL ZOO & CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE

Admire the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C. with the added flare of Christmastime. While the zoo’s animals will not be available to see (so they can sleep), the event provides enchanting lantern animal displays to make up for it. Enjoy the cold weather with a warm drink and sweets at Vintage Views, or savor the outdoors with a slice of pizza. Like any zoo, the Smithsonian offers a train ride and a fun gift shop. Tickets cost $6 per person, with children ages two and younger entering for free.

Boothbay Lights

A row of trees decorated with alternating blue, green, and yellow string lights.
IMAGE VIA BOOTHBAY HARBOR REGION CHAMBER

In the mid-coast of Maine, Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor both open their doors to guests coming in for a good time. With many sights to see and activities to take part in, this is a vacation to remember. Besides the Gardens Aglow Christmas light event in the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, your family can enter a real-life train ride to the North Pole. After meeting Santa Claus, the train will head back to Town Hall, where guests can drink hot chocolate and get creative in the arts and crafts booth. There will also be a boat parade and fireworks like you’re in Disney World’s Epcot. Ticket prices depend on the many events you sign up for around town.

Koziar’s Christmas Village

An aerial view of a suburban neighborhood at night, with each home decked out in elaborate, colorful Christmas light displays, including images of stars, snowflakes, bells, and Christmas trees displayed on the roofs.
IMAGE VIA kOZIAR’S CHRSITMAS VILLAGE

Koziar’s Village in Bernville, Pennsylvania, has been spreading its holiday magic for a long time. This year marks the village’s 77th season since 1948, and the images show why this place still stands beautifully for the holidays. With cute Christmas displays you’ll wish you could live in, the village offers 11 full-roomed displays. Complete with stores and food, it even has a photo booth to take pictures with Santa. You’ll get exercise from all the walking around, so you might need a stroller for the younger kids. Tickets range from $11–$13 depending on age.

From the Old West in Texas to Maine’s mid-coast, a lot of festive fun is happening across the country that you don’t want to miss out on. Where would you take your family for the holidays? Let us know on our socials!


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