Looking to get into the holiday spirit with some festive light displays?
There are over a dozen across New York state you can take a drive or walk through this winter, with some even extending beyond New Year’s Day.
Here’s a look at 18 light shows from Brooklyn to Buffalo.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland
Take a 1.2 mile drive through Westchester’s Winter Wonderland where you’ll see elves Ned and Albert, a 40-foot Christmas tree, candy cane lane and a 100-foot light tunnel, just to name a few!
Tickets: Admission starts at $35 per vehicle.
Hours: Open most nights ranging from 5-10:45 p.m. through Dec. 31.
Go: Kensico Dam Plaza, 1 Bronx River Parkway Road in Valhalla; wwinterwonderland.com/.
Jungle Bells Holiday Lights at Animal Adventure Park
While you walk through this year’s Jungle Bells Holiday Lights at Animal Adventure Park, consisting of almost two million lights, you’ll be captivated by three tunnels with over 300 feet of lights, an “Under the Sea” themed area and a “Butterfly Garden.” You can also visit with Santa and the Grinch, see and feed the animals and grab a cup of hot chocolate along the way.
Tickets: Admission costs between $18.99 and $21.99 per person and children 3 and under are free. This attraction is primarily a walk-through experience but there is a drive-thru only experience offered on December 17.
Hours: Open Thursdays through Sundays 4-8 p.m. through Dec. 27.
Go: Animal Adventure Park, 85 Martin Hill Road in Harpursville; theanimaladventurepark.com.
Lights on the Lake
You’ll be in awe while driving through Onondaga County’s Lights on the Lake holiday light display, which consists of over 600,000 lights. The two mile long drive-thru show features a larger-than life Land of Oz, a twinkling fantasy forest, holiday traditions and a fairy tale magic grand finale. Visitors can also tune into Sunny 102.1 FM for a dedicated Lights on the Lake holiday music channel.
Tickets: Admission is $10 per carload Monday-Thursday and $20 per carload Friday-Sunday. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Hours: Open every night from 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 12, 2026.
Go: Onondaga Lake Park, 106 Lake Drive in Liverpool; lightsonthelake.com/.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Explore six different lantern trails in the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights display, which consists of millions of lights and is representative of almost 100 animal and plant species.
Tickets: Admission ranges from $26.95 to $56.95 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance and this attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open most nights between 3-8 p.m. (9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) through Jan. 4, 2026.
Go: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd. in the Bronx; bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights.
Magic of Lights
While driving through the many tunnels of Magic of Lights, you’ll be able to see themed displays featuring Barbie, monster trucks and dinosaurs. You’ll also have an opportunity to stop by Santa’s Workshop, visit the Grinch and toast some marshmallows for smores.
Tickets: Admission starts at $34.33 per vehicle.
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 3, 2026.
Go: Jones Beach State Park, 150 Bay Parkway in Wantagh; magicoflights.com/locations/jonesbeach/.
Peace, Love & Lights
The Peace, Love & Lights light show takes place over 1.7 miles through the Bethel Woods grounds and on Monday nights, you’ll be able to walk through the display, join in a sing-a-long or have dinner with Santa.
Tickets: Admission starts at $27 per carload.
Hours: Open 5-10 p.m. through Dec. 28.
Go: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Road in Bethel; bethelwoodscenter.org/peace-love-lights.
LuminoCity Festival
Experience dazzling lights, larger-than-life light sculptures and interactive exhibits at Eisenhower Park’s LuminoCity festival.
Tickets: Admission prices range from $22 to $58 per person and children 3 and under are free. There are also group bundle options for a lower price per person. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 4:30-9:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays between 4:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2026.
Go: Eisenhower Park, 1899 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow; www.luminocityfestival.com/.
Poinsettia’s After Dark
Traverse through the greenhouses of the Buffalo Botanical Gardens’ annual poinsettia exhibit after hours — aptly named Poinsettias After Dark — where you’ll be guided by thousands of twinkling lights.
Tickets: Admission prices range from $5 to $19 per person and children 2 and under are free. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open certain nights from 5-9 p.m. through Dec. 30.
Go: Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave. in Buffalo; buffalogardens.com/events/poinsettias-after-dark/.
Broome County Festival of Lights
The Broome County Festival of Lights is filled with winding paths of lights in the shape of holiday-themed characters like snowmen, penguins and Santa Claus, himself.
Tickets: Admission is $25 per carload or $60 for a season pass. Veterans receive free admission.
Hours: Open every night from 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 4, 2026.
Go: Otsiningo Park, 1 Otsiningo Park in Binghamton; bcfestivaloflights.com/.
Glimmer Nights
Bundle up for a walk through Glimmer Nights at the Fenimore Farm & Country Village where you’ll experience the joys of a Mega-Chicken light display, Flower and Mushroom Garden and Rainbow Road.
Tickets: Admission prices range from $5 to $15 and children 6 and under are free. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Dec. 28.
Go: Fenimore Farm & Country Village, 5775 State Highway 80 in Cooperstown; fenimorefarm.org/glimmernights/.
Wild Center Wild Lights
Wild Lights is both a visual and auditory experience as you’ll walk through the Wild Center’s light-filled winter wonderland while listening to music curated specifically for the looped trail.
Tickets: Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for youth and children 4 and under are free. Members receive discounted admission prices. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: 5-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 21, 2026 and open nightly Dec. 26-31 and Feb. 13-21.
Go: Wild Center, 45 Museum Drive in Tupper Lake; wildcenter.org/visit/wildlights/.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The trees, architecture and water features of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will be covered in color and lights during Lightscape’s takeover.
Tickets: Admission prices range from $15-37 per person. Children aged 2 and under are free. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open most nights from 4:30-8:15 p.m. through Jan. 4, 2026.
Go: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Ave. in Brooklyn; bbg.org/lightscape.
The Wonderland of Lights
Visitors of all ages will enjoy seeing the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in a new light — literally — as The Wonderland of Lights has transformed the space into a holiday spectacle with hundreds of light displays.
Tickets: Admission starts at $25 per carload.
Hours: Open most nights 5-9 p.m. with extended hours of 5-9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 28.
Go: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 US-9 in Rhinebeck; thewonderlandoflights.com/dutchess-county-fairgrounds.
Christmas at Animal Land
You can either drive or walk through the Christmas at Animal Land light display set up just in time for the holidays on the outskirts of the Adirondacks.
Tickets: Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for kids and children 2 and under are free. This attraction has a walk-through section.
Hours: Open 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 4, 2026.
Go: Adirondack Animal Land, 3554 State Highway 30 in Vail Mills; adirondackanimalland.com/.
Fairgrounds Festival of Lights
The Erie County Fairgrounds have been outfitted for the holiday season with over 70 light displays as the Fairgrounds Festival of Lights, which is thought to be the largest holiday light show in Western New York, takes over for the month.
Tickets: Admission is $22.60 per carload for a drive-thru only experience and $33.90 per carload for the full festival experience. This attraction has a walk-through section.
Hours: Open certain nights from 5-9 p.m. through Dec. 30. The buildings and walk-around portion is open from 5-10 p.m.
Go: Erie County Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Parkway in Hamburg; the-fairgrounds.com/festival-of-lights.
Winterfest
Lights and fun winter activities take over the horse racing track at Tioga Downs Casino Resort as Winterfest returns for the holiday season.
Tickets: Admission is free. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open various days through Dec. 20.
Go: Tioga Downs Casino Resort, 2384 W. River Road in Nichols, tiogadowns.com/events/special-events/.
Fatima Shrine Festival of Lights
At Our Lady of Fatima Shrine’s Festival of Lights, visitors can walk through a field of 75 lighted displays and get an “angel’s view” of its 15 light-filled acres from atop the Basilica, which also holds a life-size nativity scene.
Tickets: Admission is free. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open from 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 4, 2026.
Go: Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Road, Youngstown, fatimashrine.com.
Holiday Nights
Visit with Santa, warm up in front of the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and listen to live music and carolers during your visit to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s Holiday Nights lights display. You can also do some holiday shopping at the event’s holiday market featuring dozens of local vendors.
Tickets: Admission prices range from $15-37 per person. This attraction is a walk-through experience.
Hours: Open from 5-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 20.
Go: Rosamond Gifford Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse, rosamondgiffordzoo.org.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 18 dazzling light displays to check out in NY this holiday season. See the list
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
