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Illuminated swans in a Christmas light display in the Southeast US
Swans evoke southern moods at Bellingrath Gardens and Home Magic Christmas in Lights. Photo credit: Bellingrath Gardens

Southeast Christmas Lights Displays Celebrate the Warmth of the Season

//  by Cindy Richards

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When you love the joys of Christmas, but don’t love the cold and snow, Christmas lights in the Southeast USA can bring you that holly jolly feeling without the frigid weather. Moderate in temperature, these areas make it easy to wander around and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the season without Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Here’s where to see some of the best Christmas lights displays in the Southeast USA.

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While it’s never a guarantee, chances are the weather won’t be frightful when you and the family are strolling through the Christmas light displays of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and the rest of the Southeast USA. You likely won’t need more than a warm sweater to enjoy the stunning lights and merry feelings that emanate from these Christmas holiday traditions.

The Southeast lights offer a wide swath of traditional themes and surprising ones depicting regional culture and heritage. Read on for our list of favorite spots to see Christmas lights in the Southeast USA, updated with details for 2021.

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Holiday lights in the Southeast: From garden locations to speedways to mountaintops, these are the best spots to get in the holiday spirit in the Southeastern US. States include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. #holidaylights #holidays #lights #TMOM

Alabama Christmas Lights

Mobile

Magic Christmas in Lights, Bellingrath Gardens. This made-in-Alabama production features 1,100 set pieces that are designed, welded, painted and lamped by members of Bellingrath’s staff. Three employees work full-time all year on the light display that covers the 65-acre grounds. The annual event incorporates three million lights depicting 15 scenes. Choose lights and gardens only or add in tours of the estate home. 4-8:30 p.m. Nov. 26-January 5, 2022 (closed Christmas Day). Online ticket sales open in November. 

Florida Christmas Lights

National Geographic Traveler has named St. Augustine one of the World’s 20 Must See Places, and especially for the holidays as a spot to take in Holiday Lights in the Southeast.
The dazzling Lightner Museum is just one of the astonishing sights throughout this historic downtown. Photo credit: St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau.

St. Augustine

The Nights of Lights display lights up all of the historic downtown in St. Augustine from November 20, 2021, to January 31, 2022. The trains and trolleys offer special seasonal tours of the best areas, along with a variety of specialty tours, from walking to electric cart tours to tours to see the lights from the water and from the air. 

Georgia Christmas Lights

Atlanta

The Botanical Garden dubs its light display Garden Lights Holiday Nights.  Wander through the 30-acre Midtown attraction to orchestral orbs, a glittering galaxy, the radiant rainforest and massive Tunnel of Light while sipping hot drinks. The 2021 show offers extremely limited capacity and masks/social distancing are required. November 13, 2021 – January 15, 2022. Tickets, available only online. Nonmember ticket prices depend on dates and start at $39.95 for adults and $36.95 for kids 3-12. Children 2 and under are free.

Pine Mountain

Head to Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens to see eight million Christmas lights and a sound show with 15 scenes. This display was named one of the world’s top 10 by National Geographic Traveler. You can drive your own car through the display or take the Jolly Trolly (mask required). Nov. 19, 2021 – Jan. 3, 2022. Tickets range from $19.95 adults and $16.95 kids ages 3-11 to $34.95 adults and $24.95 kids ages 3-11; children 2 and under are free. Fantasy in Lights tickets is included in overnight stays at Callaway Gardens.

Waycross

What kid doesn’t like a train ride? Or adult for that matter! That’s the way to see the lights at the Okefenokee Swamp Park Light Show in Waycross. The Lady Suwanee train ride travels 1.5 miles through a Georgia pine forest in the great Okefenokee. Select dates from Nov. 26-Dec. 30, 2021. Trains run every 30 minutes. The first train leaves at 6, the last train leaves at 9 p.m. Tickets are $14 per person.

Kentucky Christmas Lights

One of the most unique holiday lights experiences in the Southeast has to be the Lights Under Louisville at the MEGA Caverns in Louisville, Kentucky.
Underground Christmas lights found only in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo credit: MEGA Caverns

Louisville

Lights Under Louisville is one of those awe-inspiring attractions. Drive through the Christmas lights at MEGA Caverns. It claims to be the world’s only fully underground drive-through Christmas lights show. Plan to spend about 30 minutes driving through the 17 miles of underground passageways to see 3 millions points of light. 6-10 p.m. Monday – Friday, 5-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Nov. 12, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2021 $32.99 per car/truck/minivan. 

Read More: What’s Great About Lights Under Louisville

Louisiana Christmas Lights

The Louisiana Holiday Trail of Lights is the way to extend your Christmas lights adventure! Driving east to west on I-20, and north to south on I-49, wind through eight of North Louisiana’s most festive cities — Minden, Shreveport-Bossier, Monroe-West Monroe, Natchitoches and Alexandria/Pineville. Each city has its own special way of lighting up the season. Thanksgiving to New Year’s, although dates may vary a bit in each location. 

North Carolina Christmas Lights

Speedway Christmas is one of the main attractions in the Southeast US for holiday lights.
Start your engines for holiday fun at the Speedway Christmas in Concord, North Carolina. Photo credit: Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Concord

Speedway Christmas at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is, of course, a drive-through display. What else would you expect from this NASCAR mainstay? This will be the 11th year and organizers are promising it will be “bigger and better than ever!” Expect to see more than 4 million lights over the 3.75-mile course that includes most of the oval as well as the infield. Tune in to 101.3 FM to listen to Christmas music while you drive. Thursday-Sunday, stay for a Christmas-themed drive-in theatre with the FOX 46 WJZY Movie Nights on the giant Speedway TV. November 19, 2021 – January 2, 2022. $40 per vehicle. You must print your ticket; mobile tickets will not be accepted.

South Carolina Christmas Lights

Columbia

At Lights Before Christmas at the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, the creatures and characters will be 1 million lights. Nutcrackers and candy canes are mixed in with the lighted lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Select dates Nov. 20 – Dec. 31, 2021, 5:00 -9:00 p.m. We are still waiting for 2021 pricing but previous pricing was $12 adults and $10 kids ages 2-12; under 2 free. Timed tickets are required for admission.

Myrtle Beach

Brookgreen Gardens
In Myrtle Beach, the Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens features the incomparable Live Oak tree draped in lights. Photo credit: Brookgreen Gardens.

Brookgreen Gardens’ Nights of a Thousand Candles was named “Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina” by Travel+Leisure Magazine. The 2021 dates are: November 26-28, December 2-5, 9-12, 16-19 and December 29-January 2, 2022. Expect to see more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. From 4-9 pm, walk the paths with a warm cup of cider and listen to carolers singing holiday music. Tickets MUST be purchased beforehand and space is limited. $25 adults; $15 kids. Don’t expect to see large entertainment tents or the food tent this year. Food trucks for take-away meals and snacks will be available.

Tennessee Christmas Lights

Chatanooga's Rocky City Enchanted Garden of Lights is big on colors; that may be why it's ben named one of the top holiday lights displays in the Southeast.
Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights: 30 holiday scenes plus holiday characters. Photo credit: See Rock City

Chattanooga 

A quick drive from downtown Chattanooga, Rock City Garden’s Enchanted Garden of Lights features 30 holiday scenes, live toy soldiers, animatronic polar bears, Inara the ice queen and trees that dance. Four themed paths called “Realms of Wonder” are the Arctic Kingdom, Magic Forest, Yule Town and North Pole Village. Timed tickets are required and available only online. Pricing starts at $26.95 adults and $14.95 for kids.

Nashville

Gaylord Opryland’s A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort is an annual tradition. Look for 2 million pounds of hand-carved, colored ice sculptures depicting scenes from Christmas movie favorites such as A Christmas Story, Elf and The Polar Express. Nov. 12, 2021 – January 2, 2022.

Pigeon Forge 

Smoky Mountain Winterfest has more than 5 million lights lining a self-driving tour. Download the Winterfest Driving Tour here. Nov. 13, 2021- Feb. 14, 2022.

Find more Christmas lights at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, when the park is filled with holiday music, a nightly Parade of Lights and the stage production “Christmas With The Kingdom Heirs.” Old Mill Square’s Holiday Open House features a holiday light display of a covered bridge that is made out of thousands of twinkling lights that lead to one of the most historic areas of Pigeon Forge. At Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede, see a 60-foot-tall tree, adorned with colorful lights, ribbons and sparkling ornaments. At The Island in Pigeon Forge, see three different Christmas trees with nearly 40,000 ornaments, half a million lights and more than 5,000 feet of garland.

Virginia Christmas Lights

For best holiday lights in Southeast in Virginia, check out the 100 Miles of Lights spanning eight cities.
See 100 miles of lights in eight cities in Virginia. Photo credit: Newport News Tourism Development Office

The 100 Miles of Lights display winds through seven Virginia cities — from Richmond, the Virginia capital city, through Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach — Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. Specific event times available for each city. Lighted boat parades, city illuminations, festivals, parades, living history reenactments, caroling, dining events, music and dance are among the many activities occurring throughout the region.

Vienna: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ Winter Walk of Lights was named the #1 Botanical Garden with “Wow-Factor Winter Transformations” by Fodors. It’s a half-mile walk of lights with perennial favorites such as the Lakeside Lights, the Fountain of Lights, and the Holiday Nature Walk – and new displays each year. November 11, 2021-January 2, 2022. Timed tickets required; available times range from 5:30pm-10pm through Dec. 9 and 5pm-10pm through January 3.

Centreville: Bull Run Festival of Lights & Holiday Village is a 2.5 mile drive-through display. November 11, 2021-January 2, 2022. Monday-Thursday nights from 5:30pm-9:30pm and Friday-Sunday (plus holidays) from 5:30pm-10pm. Order tickets in advance, online, to ensure minimal contact and save $5 per vehicle. Tickets are $30 in advance depending on the date and $40 at the gate. Everyone must remain in their vehicles during the drive-through. The annual Holiday Village will be open, but will have reduced amenities and activities due to Covid-19. Instead of fire pits and Santa photos, ride a camel or walk through an area full of lights and photo ops.

Washington DC Christmas Lights

Best holiday lights in the Southeast have to include the ZooLights at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
ZooLights at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC has been canceled for 2020. Photo credit: The National Zoo

Details for the fabled lighting of the national Christmas tree on The Ellipse near The White House are not yet available. ZooLights at the National Zoo is canceled for 2021 but hopes to return in 2022.

West Virginia Christmas Lights

Wheeling

Attracting more than 1 million visitors a year, the Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay Resort in West Virginia features 300 acres of twinkling lights along a six-mile drive. Then stroll through the Gardens of Light at The Hilltop. November 4, 2021-January 9, 2022. Download the map here. The suggested donation is $25 per vehicle.