America's Top Holiday Lights Celebrations

With Thanksgiving behind us, it's time to focus on local celebrations for the winter holidays. There's no better time for a road trip to see holiday lights displays and enjoy local festivals than the weekends in December and early January.

If you can get away weekdays, even better because the crowds diminish and the craftspeople have more time to show off their wares.  Start flipping the pages for a look at 52 favorite destinations for holiday lights.

Conner Prairie in Indiana is just one of the places going all out for the winter holidays. 

For example, you can take a Conner Prairie by Candlelight tour:
Dec. 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22; Start times for tours are staggered from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Set on Christmas Eve in 1836 Prairietown, take a 60-minute evening tour to see how different residents celebrate the holidays – all by candlelight. Join the Ullmans’ Hanukkah celebration, meet the German Pennsylvania Santa Claus, warm up around a bonfire shindig and sing and dance at the Campbells’ holiday party. Reservations required at (317) 776-6006.

Or you can visit this historic village during Winter Fun Days –
Dec. 26-Jan. 6 (closed Jan. 1); 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Avoid the post-holiday blues with some wintertime fun! Visit Lenape Indian Camp to learn about the science of baking, enjoy a chocolate-making demonstration and a story by the fire. Inside the Featherston Barn, guests will learn about winter survival skills like trapping and fire-starting. The Welcome Center will host puppet shows, singing and games. If you have ever wondered what our animals do during the winter, stop by the Animal Encounters Barn. And join us Dec. 26-29 when ANIMALIA will discuss and show off a variety of animals during Winter Critter Chat.

Enjoy our 52 Holiday Lights Delights e-zine and share your thoughts on favorite light shows near you.