You’ll Love these 60 Xmas Light Displays
12/23/12 by
Johnny Monsarrat
Looking for something to do this Xmas holiday? Whether you celebrate or avoid the holiday, these light displays are a fantastic way to breath in the night air, and most of them are more “Frosty the Snowman” than “Serious Baby Jesus Time”.
I haven’t counted this week specifically, but I track 60 displays in New England and update you on the ones that are open (and when) every week. Here’s this week, which is also the last for most every location!
| Holiday Light Displays & Santa Events – click map above to set region | Mon 12/24 | Tue 12/25 | Wed 12/26 | Thu 12/27 | Fri 12/28 | Sat 12/29 | Sun 12/30 | Mon 12/31 |
| Holiday Landscapes – The Lights at Wolf HillStoneham, MA
It’s a private home but a really expansive lights display, with lights that flash in rhythm to music broadcast over an FM transmitter.
83 Franklin St  |
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| The Sachs Family Light DisplayBellingham, MA
Just a private home, but they play music over FM radio. Tune in to 101.7 FM to “listen!
21 Mann Street, (617) 595-7167. |
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| Edaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of LightsCarver, MA
The biggest and best “holiday lights” display in New England is quite non-religious, with Santa letting kids sit on his lap but also plenty of generic fare like Frosty the Snowman and a tip of the hat to Hannukah. They have a train ride, ferris wheel, carousel, and other rides, with 7 million lights. Tons of fun even for adults! Begins as early as November 16th! Whoa. Mon-Fri 4-9pm, Sat-Sun 2-9pm.
Pine Street, 877-EDAVILLE. |
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| Enchanted Village at Jordan’s FurnitureAvon, MA
Free! It’s a 1958 Jordan Marsh display that’s been restored to health by Jordan’s Furniture. Website is unclear for how long the display goes. Santa will be on hand every day; see the website for specific times.
Jordan’s Furniture, 100 Stockwell Dr |
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| La Salette Shrine Festival of LightsAttleboro, MA
5-9pm. Very religious: it’s a shrine. But I’ve been and it was nice anyway. Over 300,000 lights covering 10 acres. Trolley rides Fri-Sun.
947 Park Street, 508-222-5410. |
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| Leicester ChristmasLeicester, MA
Over 50,000 lights and 12 inflatables. Santa is there on Saturdays! Nightly from 4:30pm-9pm.
Waite Street |
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| Springfield’s Bright Night at Forest ParkSpringfield, MA
Sunday to Thursday- 5pm to 9pm. Friday, Saturday and Holidays- 5pm to 11pm 550,000 lights. Great! 2nd best to Edaville. Check out the Springfield Museums or zoo (open during school holidays in Dec) while you’re there.
Rt 83, 413-733-3800. |
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| Look Park’s Winter WonderlandFlorence, MA
Hayrides, night lights, zoo. 39,000 bulbs. 4-9pm.
300 North Main Street, 413.584.5457. |
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| Christmas at the Newport MansionsNewport, RI
The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House will be decorated in period detail for the holidays and open daily for tours. On Christmas Eve, the last tour begins at 3pm. Houses are closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Various locations |
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| The Picozzi Family ChristmasWarwick, RI
Another private home light display. Tune in to 97.1 FM to “listen” to the display. Donations will be accepted for the Make a Wish Foundation. They do cancel for inclement weather, so check the website before you go.
75 Gristmill Rd |
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| That Crazy Christmas HouseCoventry, RI
Over 63,000 lights and 64 computerized displaus. Tune in to 107.5. Every night until Christmas: 430pm – 11pm, Christmas Eve: 430pm-6am, and Christmas Night: 430pm-12am.
9 Blue Spruce Drive |
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| Head Family ChristmasRumford, RI
Just a private home, but a big one!
Merchant Street |
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| Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayLoudon, NH
More than a mile of LED lights to drive through in your car. Santa’s Village, costumed characters. Monday-Thursday: 4:30pm-9pm, Friday-Saturday & holidays: 4:30pm-10pm; Sunday: 4:30pm-9pm.
1122 Route 106 North, 888-926-7403. |
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| La Salette Shrine & CenterEnfield, NH
Another very religious site has 45,000 evening lights spread across 30 acres. Here’s the idea. Two kids said they saw the Virgin Mary, and the parents based an entire church on that. And I couldn’t even get away with “the dog ate my homework”! 5-9pm except opening celebration 11/26.
410 NH Route 4A, 603-632-7087. |
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| Santa’s Village Christmas MagicJefferson, NH
Lights display, Santa, reindeer, rides. Days & Eves. Special New Years event 12/31.
Route 2, 603-586-4445. |
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| Mousseau and RoyHudson, NH
Just a private home, but a big one!
75 Pelham Street |
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| Quiet Corner ChristmasBrooklyn, CT
This is a private home, but features lots and lots of lights! This year’s event benefits Paws for Purple Hearts. The show runs about 30 minutes and repeats continuously from 5pm-10pm. The show runs “a little later” on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as on Christmas day.
251 Wauregan Road, Brooklyn, CT 06234 |
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| Holiday Light FantasiaHartford, CT
You drive through this one. Sun-Thu 5-9pm, Fri-Sat 5-10pm. $12 per car, $25 per limousine… Wait, what? That’s a thing that happens?!
1130 Maple Ave, 860-742-2267. |
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| Hartford Festival of LightHartford, CT
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 10th, the skating rink will be open every day until January 1st. The Bushnell Park Carousel will also be open Fridays and Saturdays from 2-8m. Sanata will be present on December 10th & 11th and then at the Carousel on December 17th. Free hot chocolate!
99 Trinity St, Hartford, CT 06106, 860-232-6710. |
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| Fantasy of LightsNew Haven, CT
Benefits the Easter Seals. Open nightly.
Light House Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, 203-777-2000. |
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| WinterFest at Connecticut Trolley MuseumEast Windsor, CT
Trolley ride through holiday lights, sing-along carols and meet Santa. 5-9pm. After December 25th: 6-pm.
58 North Road, 860-627-6540. |
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| Karl’s Light ShowManchester, CT
This one’s just a private home, but they play music over FM radio!
33 Jacqueline Drive, 860-655-1868. |
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| Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard ParkMeriden, CT
Dawn to dusk. No admission, just you drive through this decorated park anytime.
Hubbard Park, 203-630-4259. |
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| That House in MilfordMilford, CT
5:00 to 9:30 Sunday through Thursday and 5:00 to 10:00 Friday and Saturday. Also 5:00 to 10:00 on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Years Day.
75 Meadows End Road |
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| Christmas by the SeaMystic, CT
It’s nice to see a low-key, post-Christmas event! Re-enactors sing sea chanteys and tell old timey stories. Gingerbread lighthouse contest. Old-timey ships, kids activities, printing press. 19th century magic show.
Mystic Seaport, 860-572-5365. |
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| Lantern Light ToursMystic, CT
This is a walk through a re-enactment museum portraying Christmas eve 1876! Wow!! 5pm to 8pm. Tours fill up; register in advance.
Mystic Seaport, 860-572-5365. |
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| Lincoln LightsOrange, CT
The lights will be on Monday-Thursday 5:30pm-10:00pm and on Friday-Sunday 5:30pm-11:00pm. This year they’ll also be collecting donations for the Red Cross to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
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| Lights On LovleyPlantsville, CT
Drive up and tune your radio to 96.1FM. Daily 5-11pm.
14 Lovley Dr |
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| A Grand Holiday at the Mansion- From Victorian to ModernNorwalk, CT
This is one of the best Victorian mansions in America that you’ve never heard of. Check out a picture! It is mighty impressive. There are holiday displays throughout the house with period rooms decorated to show the changing traditions from the 1850s-1890s. This year they’re including a 1930s room to honor the last resident of the mansion. Tours Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-4pm.
295 West Avenue |
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| Waitsfield’s Grand IlluminationWaitsfield, VT
Begins daily at dusk. Apparently, the whole town lights up, including the oldest, still-functioning covered bridge in VT. It’s from the 1830s.
Townwide |
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| Rutland Area Christmas and Holiday Lights TourWallingford, VT
A heated bus will take you on a two-hour tour of the area to show you all the best lights. Tours leave Rutland at 4:30, 6:30, and 8:30 each evening in December and are $15 per person. Reservations are necessary.
2788 South Main Street Rt. 7 |
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| Christmas at the FarmWoodstock, VT
Various events are scattered throughout the month of December, all focusing on Vermont’s 19the century heritage. Think crafts, food, and sleigh rides.
Billings Farm, Route 12 & River Road, 802.457.2355. |
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| Limington LightsLimington, ME
30,000 lights and an 18ft “Mega Tree.” Nightly from 4:30pm-10pm.
5 Coventry Drive |
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| The Nubble LighthouseYork, ME
The famous Nubble lighthouse is lit up for Christmas throughout the season.
11 Sohier Park Road |
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