Christmas Light Displays (2021)
Nothing brings about the Holiday Spirit than looking at Christmas light displays! Ever since I was a little girl, taking a ride to look at lights has been one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. Now, my family and I all load up in the car, the dog too, pack a thermos of hot cocoa and blankets and take a ride. We even have 3D glasses for the kiddos for more fun and giggles! (Updated for 2021)
Orlando Christmas Light Displays
If you are looking for the Orlando Christmas light displays to take the kiddos to, then check out the options below.
Asian Lantern Festival
The Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo features hundreds of Chinese Lanterns and over 30 animal sculptures made from silk. Many of the sculptures are animatronic which kids will love. If you are looking for something different from the traditional light show, this is a great option.
Location: Central Florida Zoo,
Dates: November 19, 2021 to January 16, 2022
Hours: 6PM to 10PM
Cost: $18.50 to $20 per person/$60 for a family 4-pack
Christmas in Color
Christmas in Color, is a new drive-thru light show at Island H2O Water Park. See millions of dancing lights synchronized to music. Drive by snowmen, holiday light arches, candy canes and more.
Location: Island H2O Water Park, 3230 Inspiration Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34747
Dates: November 27, 2021 to January 2, 2022 (closed Christmas Day)
Hours: 6PM to 10PM
Cost: $35 to $45 per car
Cranes Roost Park Holiday Light Display
Enjoy the beautiful Holiday Fountain show and Light Display at Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs. The Plaza fountain will showcase dancing water shows and dazzling lights choreographed to classic holiday tunes. Shows will run nightly at 6:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm.
The Holiday Light Display is put together by Duke Energy and showcases over 200,000 lights on more than 100 holiday displays. The highlight is the 60 foot Christmas tree that holds over 8,000 lights, 2,600 ornaments, and over a mile worth of garland. You can choose to drive by or take a walk along the 1 mile boardwalk surrounding the lake for a more immersive experience. Lights are turned on at dusk each night.
Location: 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs, FL, 32701
Hours: 6PM to 9:30PM
These LED stars are a great way to light up your home for the holidays or year round.
Dazzling Nights
Harry P. Leu Gardens turns into a magical wonderland during its “Dazzling Nights” holiday light display. This family friendly event brings about magic and beauty during this interactive holiday light experience. You’ll love dancing along the lights on the ground that sound like bells when they’re stepped on, or taking a journey through the lights and fog. Immerse yourself in a million lights, snow, and holiday tunes at Harry P. Leu Gardens Dazzling Nights. Don’t forget to grab a family picture in front of their unique 30 foot Christmas tree.
Location: Harry P. Leu Gardens 1920 N Forest Avenue, Orlando, Florida, 32803
Dates: November 19, 2021 to January 9, 2022
Hours: 5:30PM to 9:30PM
Cost: $25 per person, $12 Parking
Eola Wonderland Christmas Tree Show
Each night during the holidays, the tree in Lake Eola Park, lights up with a synchronized light and music show
Location: Lake Eola Park 195 North Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801
Dates: December 3, 2021 to January 3, 2022
Hours: 5:45PM, 6:45PM, 7:45PM, 8:45PM, 9:45PM
Cost: FREE
Related Post: Christmas in Orlando Holiday Guide (2020)
Night of a Million Lights
Give Kids the World Village is a nonprofit organization located on 89 acres that provides critically ill children and their families with a week long magical vacation. Families stay in one of their villas on their property and are treated to tickets to theme parks and attractions in Central Florida.
Night of a Million Lights Display will change Give Kids the World Village into its very own Winter Wonderland. Guests can enjoy over 3 million lights on display including a 150-foot glimmering tunnel, 45 beautifully decorated villas, 50 larger than life holiday displays, an incandescent gingerbread arch, a space themed centerpiece to it all, and so much more!
Admission for guests include ice cream, hot cocoa, and access to the wheelchair accessible rides. Additional food and beverage, as well as holiday merchandise will be available for purchase.
Proceeds will go toward the wishes of critically ill children once the village reopens.
Location: 210 South Bass Road, Kissimmee, FL
Dates: November 13, 2021 to January 3, 2022
Hours: 5PM to 10PM
Cost: Standard Night tickets: $25/Adult $15/Kid, Peak Night tickets: $35/Adult 18/Kid, Holiday Night tickets: $40/Adult $20/Kid
Jeater Bend
Visit the town of Celebration on Jeater Bend where 11 houses join together for an amazing light and music show. Beginning November 26, 2020 you can experience a 360 view of holiday music synchronization. Shows will run nightly until December 31. Park the car and walk along Jeater Bend to see the show.
Location: 1027-1036 Jeater Bend Drive, Celebration, Florida 34747
Dates: November 26 – December 31, 2021
Hours: 6PM to 9:30PM
Cost: FREE
Lake Mary
Starting November 22, Lake Mary’s light display will be up downtown. Take a walk through the lights and enjoy the Christmas light display and a synchronized music and light show that plays every half hour. With close to one million lights dancing it’s sure to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Location: Lake Mary City Hall, 152 N. 4th St. Lake Mary, Fl. 32746
Shows: 6PM to 11PM
Cost: FREE
If you are doing holiday shopping online, you will definitely want to sign up for Rakuten. You get a $20 rebate on your first purchase and then rebates for shopping you would normally do at participating stores, such as Gap, Old Navy, Sephora, Target and more.
Related Post: Fun Events to Celebrate Christmas in Orlando
Winter on the Avenue
Join Winter Park for their Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring the city’s holiday tree in Central Park. Continue the celebration with them as they transform Park Avenue to a Winter Wonderland. The street party will consist of Popcorn Flicks in the park, Santa Claus, live music, and more.
Location: Central Park, 150 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL, 32789
Date: December 3, 2021
Hours: 5PM to 9PM
Cost: FREE
Winter Wonderland of Lights
Take in the beauty of Winter Wonderland of Lights, presented by AdventHealth. Drive through the beautiful lights inside Central Winds Park in Winter Springs.
The city of Winter Springs, local businesses, groups, and organizations come together to create a holiday celebration for all. Don’t forget to wave to Santa, who will be perched and waiting half way through the display.
Location: Central Winds Park 1000 Central Winds Pkwy. Winter Springs, FL 32708
Dates: December 5, 10, 11 and 12
Hours: 7PM to 9PM
Cost: FREE
Amazon Echo Dot is a great gift this holiday season. We use them to play music, play games and as an intercom system in our house.
Residential Homes with Christmas Light Displays
Here are some residential homes with light displays.
Bivona Christmas Light Show
The Bivona family is excited to ring in the Holiday season with their annual Christmas light show. Enjoy the view from your car as you listen and watch the synchronized music and light show.
Location: 1601 N. Wind Ct. Winter Springs, Fl. 32708
Hours: Nightly 6PM to 11PM
Cost: FREE
Cross Christmas
Cross Christmas has over 125,000 lights. Enjoy nightly shows that showcase their large oak tree wrapped in 80,000 white lights synchronized to holiday music, nutcrackers, palm trees, Nativity Scene, and more, starting December 5th.
Location: 4241 N Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, Fl. 32817
Hours: Nightly 6PM to 11PM
Cost: FREE
The Fye’s Crazy Christmas House
Bringing the joy of Christmas, The Fye’s Crazy Christmas House is up and running. Enjoy nightly shows that include music, 50,000 dancing lights, blow ups, Christmas trees and more!
Location: 407 Eagle Cir. Casselberry, Fl. 32707
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 5:30PM to 9PM Friday & Saturday 5:30PM to 9:30PM
Cost: FREE
Related Post: 15 Books Like Harry Potter
Home of David Nubar and Frank Boyce
Everyone wants to bring a little more joy to the season this year, David Nubar and Frank Boyce added 100,000 new lights this year bringing the total to a 220,000 light display to memorialize the victims of Covid-19. Their lights went up early to bring smiles and joy to the community.
Location: 2811 Clemwood St. Orlando, FL 32803
Hours: Nightly 6:30PM to 9PM
Cost: FREE
Lake Nona Lights
Starting on Thanksgiving night take a ride to see Lake Nona Lights in action. This is their ninth year decorating and it gets bigger and better every year. They’ve even been Selected as one of Central Florida’s best light displays by the Orlando Sentinel. Take a ride and wonder at thousands of lights choreographed to music to bring even more holiday cheer.
Location: 9800 Patina Way, Orlando, Fl. 32832
Dates: November 26 to December 31, 2021
Hours: Friday to Monday, 6PM to 10PM
Cost: FREE
Laprada Lights
Drive by to enjoy the dancing light show at Laprada Lights. This year it’s showcasing a giant snowflake and a 16-foot tree of lights. This year also marks the largest growth to their show. Tune into the FM station they have posted and listen along as the lights dance with the music.
Location: 2121 White Feather Loop, Winter Garden, FL 34787
Dates: December 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022
Hours: 6PM to 10:30PM
Cost: FREE
Related Post: 24 Days of Christmas Activities
Christmas Light Displays Worth a Drive
These light displays are outside of Orlando, but might be worth a drive to see.
Magic of Lights Daytona International Speedway
The annual Magic of Lights display returns. Enjoy over one million lights on display as you drive under the stands and through the motorsports facility at Daytona International Speedway and you can drive through twice on Wednesdays! See displays such as the Twelve Days of Christmas, 200 foot Candy Cane Lane, and more.
Location: Daytona International Speedway 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach FL
Dates: November 19, 2021 to January 1, 2022
Hours: 6PM to 10PM
Cost: Advance ticket: $20 to $25 per car, $35 limo or party bus, $40 – $60 weekend skip the line pass
Space Coast Lightfest
Enjoy a holiday drive thru event at Space Coast Lightfest through January 3, 2021. Over 3 million lights will light your way through this 1.1 mile virtual winter wonderland at Wickham Park. Take in the twinkling lights, animated displays, and the 200-ft light tunnel. December 4th, 5th, and 6th Space Coast Lightfest is open to pedestrian traffic only for a more immersive experience.
For the 3rd year they are partnering with Toys for Kids, bring an unwrapped gift for a discount at the gate
Location: Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935
Dates: November 19, 2021 to January 2, 2022
Special Stroll Days: December 3, 4, 5 and January 1 (walking only $5 per person)
Hours: 6:30PM to 10PM
Cost: $20.00 per car 10 people max.
St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights
For 27 years, beautiful lights have adorned the historic district of St. Augustine for the holiday season. St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights has been listed among the top 10 holiday display events of the world by National Geographic. The nation’s oldest city is adorned with three million lights for this fantastic event. Enjoy a self guided walking tour, or take advantage of trolley tours, water tours, and air tours offered during this magical time in St. Augustine.
Location: St. Augustine’s Historic District Near the Bridge of Lions
Dates: November 20, 2021 to January 31, 2022
Hours: Dusk till Dawn
Cost: A self guided tour is free, other tour options such as trolley, boat, or air vary in price.
There are a lot of Christmas light displays in and around Orlando that the entire family will love. You just need to pick the one (or multiple ones) that are right for your family.
by Abby O’Connor
