The holiday season is here, so it’s time to light up the night with cheer! We’ve made a list of some of the brightest displays of holiday lights around the Main Line, and beyond. So if you feel like taking a drive, these festive displays are worth the trip.

And for even more holiday glow, check out www.christmaslightfinder.com to find especially festive, residential holiday lights in your area.

A Longwood Christmas

November 22, 2024 through January 12, 2025
Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square

This holiday season, Longwood Gardens welcomes you to their biggest and most magical Christmas landscape yet. Experience the magic of A Longwood Christmas as you never have before—made even more spectacular with the opening of Longwood Reimagined. Brand new spaces, from their sprawling new West Conservatory to imaginative new outdoor landscape, are decked out for the holidays and give you wondrous new ways to experience the season. Revel in hundreds of thousands of lights, marvel at astonishing feats of horticulture, ingenuity, and creativity, explore enchanting treehouses, and delight in beauty at every turn. Reserve your timed admission tickets early, as dates around the holidays sell out quickly.

A Very Furry Christmas Celebration

November 16 through January 5, 2025
100 Sesame Road, Langhorne

A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends. The park is transformed into a one-of-a-kind Christmas wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, whirling rides, and festive decorations all around. Sing and dance along at special Christmas shows and a spectacular music and light show at our 30-foot 1-2-3 Christmas Tree. And don’t miss the fantastic Sesame Street Christmas Parade with festive floats decorated for the celebration and a show-stopping performance that will have everyone getting merry and having lots of holiday fun.

Herr’s Holiday Lights Display

November 28, 2024 through January 2, 2025, from dusk til dawn
Herr’s Factory, 20 Herr Drive, Nottingham PA

Take a drive to Nottingham, PA (lower Chester County) to enjoy Herr’s FREE, holiday lights display from dusk til dawn (5 pm–7 am), daily through January 2nd. Drive through the Herr’s corporate campus bedecked in more than 600,000 dazzling lights. Herr’s asks that all visitors stay in their cars for everyone’s safety.

Holiday Garden Railway

Daily November 23 through December 30, 2024, from 10 am–4 pm
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 100 E Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia

Make your holiday even more magical with a visit to the Holiday Garden Railway, as it is transformed for the season with thousands of twinkling lights! See the enchanting rail cars in a festive wonderland of lights and sounds, a marvelous experience for visitors of all ages. Free with general admission. For an even more spectacular experience, visit the railway on select nights. With laser lights in the trees and sparkling lights along the railway, Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express is a must-see. 

Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester

November 29, 2024 through January 1, 2025
Downtown West Chester

The streets of Downtown West Chester will be bathed in the glow of thousands of holiday lights every evening from November 26 to January 1, and each weekend will sparkle with holiday festivities. Highlights of some of the weekend festivities include the borough’s beloved tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 pm on Friday, December 6th at the Historic Courthouse, followed by the Hometown Christmas Parade at 7 pm. On Saturdays, from November 30th until December 21, the “Making Spirits Bright Holiday Music Series” will feature local choirs singing favorite holidays songs at the Historic Courthouse from 2–3 pm. Children can also wave to Santa as he tours the borough on a fire truck starting at 3 pm on 11/30, 12/7, and 12/21. Visit the West Chester Chamber of Commerce website for the full schedule of events!

LumiNature

Select dates November 21, 2024 through January 6, 2025, from 5–9 pm
The Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia

LumiNature is back for another season of sights, sounds, and surprises at the zoo through January 6! See more than a million twinkling lights across 16 illuminated zones at their biggest and brightest holiday light show yet. 

Manayunk Gets Lit!

Daily from November 14 through December 31, 2024
Main Street in Manayunk

Get in the holiday spirit and stroll Manayunk — or hop on the free Jolly Trolly on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays — for their annual holiday decorating event where 30+ merchants deck out their storefronts with the MOST holiday spirit! Manayunk businesses are decking the street, and you won’t want to miss it. So, grab a cup of cocoa, and get ready to adore the lights around town! Visit the Manayunk website for the holiday schedule of events.

Night of Winter Lights at Colonial Gardens

Weekends from November 29 through December 28, 2024, from 5–8 pm
745 Schuylkill Road, Phoenixville

Get into the holiday spirit with Christmas at Colonial! Stroll through acres of dazzling holiday lights, your favorite Christmas scenes, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. This all-inclusive ticket includes admission to the light show, hot chocolate, candy canes, and character meet and greets on select nights. Christmas at Colonial is open select nights between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Timed-tickets will be available for purchase online beginning November 1st. Colonial Gardens strongly recommends using their online system to guarantee your ticket for your desired night.

Rose Tree Park’s Festival of Lights

December 5, 2024 through January 5, 2025 from 5–10 pm daily
1671 N. Providence Road, Media

During the daylight-deprived month of December, Rose Tree Park sparkles at night with its annual Festival of Lights display. This free, walk-through display features dozens of illuminated trees and lit displays, which draw visitors back every year to walk in the winter wonderland and linger in the festive atmosphere. A treasured Delco tradition for more than four decades, The Festival of Lights provides a perfect opportunity to get in the holiday spirit with friends and family, or take a sweetheart stroll after dinner. The popular annual tradition begins with a Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 5, 2024 at 5 pm. hosted by Delaware County Council, featuring seasonal choral music, local vendors, and a visit from Santa.

Shady Brook Farm’s Holiday Light Show

November 23, 2024 through January 5, 2025
931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley

Shady Brook Farm’s spectacular Holiday Light Show features more than three million lights illuminating acres of farmland. Encounter familiar characters and whimsical displays in the comfort of your own car or on an open-air wagon ride. While you’re there you can also experience the Candy Cane Lane walk-through light show, visit with Santa, shop for the perfect tree and holiday goodies, and cook up s’mores by a toasty bonfire. Delightful for kids of all ages! Tune your radio to 90.7 FM to listen to holiday faves as you drive through.

West Chester Griswolds

Daily November 28, 2024 through January 1, 2025 from 4:45 pm until 9:45 on weekdays and 10:15 on weekends
304 Dutton Mill Rd., West Chester

Welcome to West Chester Griswolds, an extraordinary, drive-by and walkable residential, holiday light display. Hosted by the Plummer family, this annual display features over 135,000 LED lights, and it gets bigger and better every year. Each year, their holiday spectacle runs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. The family suggests that if you visit, tune your car radio to 87.9 for Christmas songs and information about the display. Visit their website for details and recommendations for visiting.

Wild Lights at Elmwood Park Zoo

Open select nights, November 22 through December 30, 2024, from 5–9 pm
1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown

Elmwood Park Zoo’s favorite family tradition, Wild Lights, returns in November, with more lights and decorative attractions than ever before! During this walk-through experience, guests will be surrounded by dazzling light displays, illuminated animals, and live entertainment.

Yuletide at Liberty Hill

November 22, 2024 through January 5, 2025
800 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill

The “Yuletide” experience has a new location this holiday season! Join them at their Union League Liberty Hill, to relive all that’s merry and bright. Enjoy rides, photos with Santa, hundreds of lit Christmas trees, and ice skating — all included in the price of admission. Plus more than 30 high-end market vendors to shop

If you’re looking for more seasonal fun, check out the Main Line Parent Winter Family Fun Guide.

Lead photograph courtesy of Shady Brook Farm.