Christmas season is in full swing and like many people around the country, we have been searching for incredible places to take our families to see wonderful Christmas lights throughout the month!
There are countless Candy Cane Lanes and different light displays in every state, but which ones are best? We’ve narrowed down a list to ten incredible Christmas light displays you can find in the South. From Georgia to Texas to Tennessee, we’ve included them all! Take a look!
1. Austin Trail Of Lights – Austin, Texas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFyGcpqZNrw
Austin Trail of Lights is the city’s second biggest event, according to the official website. It has received national attention and is held at Zilker Park, which houses a 155-foot tall tree and has more than 40 displays, two million lights, food trucks, nightly entertainment and holiday activities.
Austin Trail of Lights runs from December 9-23 from 7-10pm. General admission is $3 for attendees 12 and older with different add-ons available. You can buy tickets here.
2. Mozart’s Christmas Light Show – Austin, Texas
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters is home to some yummy goodies and delicious coffee, but that’s not all. It’s also home to one of Austin’s great Christmas light shows that takes place on their lakeside deck!
According to Austin Local, this year’s light show has a new interactive experience with more than one million LED lights that will feature many different light sculptures and an audio activated wall of lights. After you enjoy the awesome light show, you can purchase coffee or hot chocolate from the shop or their kiosks outside as well all their special holiday goodies.
The best part about this light show? It’s free! Mozart’s is located at 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703.
3. Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway – Dallas, Texas
While there are normally racecars hitting triple digit speeds on the famous Texas Motor Speedway, residents and visitors of the Dallas area can enjoy a quieter racetrack during Christmastime.
Advertised as “Texas-sized,” the Gift of Lights offers a two-mile drive-thru light park with over 500 amazing light displays. Ticket prices are as follows:
Cars & trucks: $25
RVs and trucks with trailers: $45
Buses with 20+ people: $55
You can purchase tickets here. Gift of Lights is open from November 23, 2017 – December 30, 2017. This is a can’t-miss event if you’re in the Dallas area!
4. Gaylord Opryland Hotel – Nashville, Tennessee
With over three million lights and brand-new displays for the 2017 holiday season, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is the ultimate Nashville light display. The lights turn on daily from 4pm-Midnight.
The hotel features nine acres of indoor gardens with multiple waterfalls, restaurants and an indoor river with a Delta flatboat river ride. The best thing about this experience is that it’s completely free to walk around the hotel! You can even find free parking!
5. Chad’s Winter Wonderland – Lebanon, Tennessee
Chad’s Winter Wonderland is actually one of the nation’s largest light displays with almost two million Christmas lights in many different displays.
You can find a Christmas train, a dancing snowman, live animals, and a drive-thru Nativity scene. There’s even a drive-thru Santa house, with Santa himself who gives out candy canes and accepts Christmas wish lists!
Chad’s Winter Wonderland is located at 791 Old Laguardo Road East, Lebanon, TN, which is about 30 miles East of Nashville, and is open Thanksgiving Day through December 31, 2017. It is open nightly from 6 pm – 10 pm. Prices are as follows.
Prices: $15 per carload
Limos/Passenger and Commercial vans $20 every night
No credit/debit cards accepted.
6. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden – Atlanta, Georgia
USA Today has named Garden Lights, Holiday Nights one of the top 10 holiday light shows in the country, so you know you have to check it out if you are in the Atlanta area.
For a nominal fee, you can enjoy the Walk of Flames and Tunnel of Light along with favorites such as the Orchestral Orbs, Glittering Galaxy, Radiant Rainforest, and Model Trains.
The hours are Friday and Saturday, 5-11pm and Sunday-Thursday, 5-10pm. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased here.
7. December Nights & Holiday Lights at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens – Savannah, Georgia
Savannah’s December Nights and Holiday Lights are held at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens and features over one million lights!
It is open Wednesday – Sunday from 6-9 pm until December 6th, and every night after that up until Christmas Eve. Santa also visits every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday this year.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-12, and children under 3 are free. Thursday nights are family night with ages 4 and up only $5.
8. Interlochen Lights – Arlington, Texas
2017 marks the 42nd Anniversary of the Interlochen Lights, which begins at Randol Mill Road and Westwood Drive in Arlington, Texas and runs from 7-11 pm from December 15 until Christmas Day.
Admission is completely free, but just know that traffic is usually bumper to bumper as thousands of people flock to see the incredible light displays.
9. Lights on Old Charlotte – Franklin, Tennessee
With over 65,000 lights, a 20-foot tree, three arches, 20 mini-trees, a helicopter and a life-size manger, this festive house on Old Charlotte is definitely a sight to see!
Located at 2613 Old Charlotte Pike, Franklin, TN 37064, the light show takes place from 4:30 – 10 pm when weather permits and goes on until Christmas Day!
10. Christmas on the Cumberland – Clarksville, Tennessee
Located 43 miles northwest of Nashville, Christmas on the Cumberland features over one million lights and is seven-tenths of a mile along the McGregor Park RiverWalk. It is a pet-friendly and free experience that includes Santa Claus and different food vendors!
Christmas on the Cumberland is at McGregor Park RiverWalk, or 640 N Riverside Dr, Clarksville, TN 37040. It is open Sunday – Thursday 5 – 10 pm and Friday and Saturday 5 – 11 pm until January 1, 2018!
Have you ever been to any of these incredible light shows? Or were there any we left off of our list? Let us know in the comments!