Holiday light displays are fun and entertaining attractions for families traveling for the season. Here are a few of the top holiday light attractions that can be found during the holidays.
Branson Festival of Lights
Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO – Silver Dollar City Theme Park lights up every night for a magical holiday experience. At scheduled times in the evening the main square entertains visitors with a holiday light show. The performance of Dickens’s Christmas Carol is a Broadway quality show.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN – A Smoky Mountain Christmas is enjoyed by all who step though the front entrance of this park with Dolly Parton’s stamp of approval. The park recreates the holiday season with live shows scheduled throughout each day of operations.
Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, GA – A laser light show on the side of Stone Mountain attracts visitors from all over the world. The park is decorated for the holiday season and offers live entertainment as well.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, FL – Who knew that snow would fall in Florida? This fantastic light spectacle is recreated from an Arkansas family’s own personal light show.
Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney World
Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, TN – The Gaylord Opryland Resort is an indoor and outdoor magnificent light display. Families walk through a fairylike setting and feel as if they are suspended in the air on the upper story walkways.
Milwaukee Holiday Festival of Lights – Downtown Milwaukee lights up the night with this outstanding display of holiday cheer.
DPW Light Festival at Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Department of Public Works puts together a wonderful display of lights for the residents and visitors of Los Angeles. It is located in Griffith Park.
Rockefeller Center, New York City, NY – The Rockefeller Center Holiday Tree lighting is one of the most worldwide recognized holiday season displays and it something that shouldn’t be missed.
Celebration in the Oaks, City Park, New Orleans, LA – The City that Care Forgot doesn’t forget the holiday season. Celebration in the Oaks is a light display that makes residents forget for just a few moments about the hardships they’ve endured.
Festival of Lights, Moody Gardens Galveston, TX – Moody Gardens Festival of Lights is a testament that life continues on as the city of Galveston works on rebuilding their community after the recent devastation of Hurricane Ike. The lights bring the community together to celebrate life, and that is what the holiday season is all about.
Holiday lights make a great stop for family travel, romantic escapes, and for groups of friends. Be sure to pack a thermos of hot chocolate or traditional wassail and dress in reds and greens. Happy Holidays!
Photos by Shannon Hurst Lane
4 Responses
Thanks for including New Orleans. We love it there in December. Best time to visit, and we always get the best rates on hotels. Just booked our long family weekend there and got a gift certificate for Commander’s Palace…YUM! Got it at http://www.neworleansonline.com/promos/2008/christmas/.
I have to admit the Dollywood lights are quite spectacular. Getting into the park is pretty expensive, though. If you live within a few hour drive, I suggest buying a season pass–if you buy one during the 2008 Christmas lights it will last you through 2009. (2 one day passes is about the same price as a season pass…)
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Adele - Thanks for the tips on the specials in New Orleans.
Lunchbox Obsessed - Theme parks can be pricey, but you are smart to mention the season passes, which are the best value if a visitor plans on visiting Dollywood more than two times in a year.
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[...] an Arkansas man once hosted in his own neighborhood before neighbors sued to have it removed, the Spectacle Of Dancing Lights features an illumination spanning nearly three city blocks and requiring over 20,000 man hours to [...]