Ready to look at the Christmas lights with your sleigh?
We want to help you discover some of the best displays in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to make that trip a little more special.
Use the map below to plan your route through our winter wonderland. It has everything from synchronized lights to music and rappelling Santas to reindeer and giant nutcrackers. You’ll find homes decorated especially for the holidays, as well as commercial and public exhibitions, so you won’t miss a thing.
And we’re adding more every day. You can share your home with us by completing this form.
Christmas light map of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Red lights = Houses decorated for the holidays
Christmas trees = Commercial and public displays
Homes in Cincinnati decorated for the holidays
7156 Southampton Lane, West Chester, Ohio, 45069
This display has more than 90,000 lights synchronized with music that you can listen to on your car radio. New lights and songs are added every year.
4025 Rose Hill Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229
Rose Hill Candy Cane Lane in North Avondale is full of twinkling lights on a public walkway, inflatable blow-ups and a Christmas mailbox (personal responses sent for letters submitted by December 9). Music on the weekend.
Do you have a great light display for the holidays? Here’s how to add it to Cincinnati.com’s map
11105 Allenhurst Blvd West, Sharonville, OH, 45241
The yard is divided into sections based on themes. Part of the garden is a winter forest with LED trees, snowflakes, a duck family, deer and a snowman. Another part of the garden contains 10 characters, including Olaf, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and several Star Wars figures. The rest of the garden is dotted with various animals, decked out in winter gear. In the middle of the garden there is a live countdown to Christmas Day. This countdown and the rest of the decor are from Black Friday to January 1st.
Light shows for public and commercial holidays
Christmas time (November 29 – January 4)
Enjoy light shows, animal programs, Ararat Ridge Zoo and carousel rides. Virtual reality experience and camel rides cost extra.
Details: 5pm – 8.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, Ark Encounter, 1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown. Closed on Sunday and Monday. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Free; $10 parking. Arkencounter.org.
Christmas Town (November 29 – January 4)
Enjoy the Garden of Lights, indoor dramas in Legacy Hall, live nativity, Eden Zoo, playground and Encounter the Wonder SFX show. Planetarium show costs extra.
Details: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday, Creation Museum, 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg. Closed on Sunday and Monday. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Free; $10 parking. Creationmuseum.org.
Christmas glow (November 27 – December 30)
Celebrate the season with more than 3.8 million lights during a two-mile Christmas Around drive-thru experience, plus a petting zoo, a Christmas village with Santa Claus and “Christmas Lights with Bluey & Bingo” on Thursday.
Details: Daily 6pm-10pm, Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Drive-in only from December 26 to 30. $12 Monday-Thursday, $15 Friday-Sunday. Landoillusion.com/glow.
Deck the Y’alls Lightfest (November 22 – January 1)
Step into the baseball stadium and admire the interactive light shows with more than 2.5 million lights, an ice skating rink, train rides, treats, live entertainment and, new this year, ice bumper cars.
Details: 5:30-10:00 PM Friday-Saturday, 5:30-9:00 PM Sunday, Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. $11-$18. Decktheyalls.com.
Downtown Dazzle (November 30 – December 21)
Watch Santa Claus descend from a Cincinnati sky, enjoy fireworks and more. On November 30, the stunning soundtrack will feature music from the multi-platinum Trans-Siberian Orchestra tour.
Details: Saturday, 6-8 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Free. myfonteinvierkant.com.
Farm holiday (November 22 – December 23)
This walk-through experience features more than 100,000 lights, a 23-foot Christmas tree and, new this year, an installation of Blink. You’ll also find a quaint village with local artisans and food trucks, walking carolers, carriage rides on a lighted path, visits with farm animals, live music, a synchronized dancing horse show, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will be a special family-friendly New Year’s Eve party on December 31st.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday through Dec. 8, then daily Dec. 13-23, Parky’s Farm, 10037 Daly Road, Springfield Township. greatparks.org.
Let it glow! (November 26 – January 5)
The Alice Bimel Courtyard has been transformed into an immersive, light-filled outdoor winter wonderland. Experience an interactive 9-meter snow globe that you can enter and play with themes such as light, perspective and automation. There’s also an infinity mirror and chain, fractal walk, baubles, bubbles and more.
Details: 11am-5pm Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-8pm Friday, 11am-5pm Saturday-Sunday, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. $13-$15, $9-$11 seniors, students and ages 6-17, free ages 5 and up. cincinnatiartmuseum.org.
Light in the Forest (December 5-29)
Enjoy a beautifully illuminated forest, new installations by regional light artists, children’s activities, live music, bonfires, food trucks and more.
Details: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM select evenings, Cincinnati Nature Center, Rowe Woods, 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford. Pre-registration required. $18, $8 ages 3 and up. Cincynature.org.
Light Up Middletown (November 28 – December 31)
Enjoy a scenic drive-thru light display of holiday and winter scenes. There will be a special Christmas balloon glow on Wednesday, December 11 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Details: Daily 6pm-10pm, Smith Park, 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown. Access by cash donation. Lightupmiddletown.org.
Light up the fair (November 15 – December 28)
Northern Kentucky’s only drive-thru light show features more than two miles of sparkling Christmas lights, festive displays and family-friendly holiday fun. Enjoy the synchronized light show to your favorite holiday songs and see brand new themed displays, glowing tunnels and perfect holiday moments for you and your family.
Details: 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington. Open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. $25 per car for up to 8 passengers, $7 per person. lightupthefair.com.
Cincinnati’s Nights of Lights (November 23 – January 5)
Coney Island’s popular drive-thru holiday light show has a new home at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Illuminated by more than two million lights, this beloved Cincinnati tradition features life-size Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes, tunnels of lights and more.
Details: Daily from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust St., Owensville. Timed ticket sales; choose your 30 minute time slot to enter. $30 vehicles of 8 passengers or less, $50 vehicles of nine or more passengers. No limousines, campers or buses longer than 6 meters. queencitylightshow.com.
PNC Light Festival (November 21 – January 5)
Come early to visit the animals, then stay for the beauty of the four million twinkling lights. See five Fiona fairies in Fairyland, a black light puppet show, a light show on Swan Lake and more. The North Polar Express Train and carousel rides open at 2:30 PM, and you can visit Santa at Santa’s Village from 4:00 PM through December 23.
Details: 10am-9pm Sunday through Thursday, 10am-10pm Friday through Saturday, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Runs from November 21 to January. 5. Cincinnatizoo.org.
Pyramid Hill Lights (November 15 – January 5)
This drive-through experience features unique art and a natural route illuminated by installations by local artists and more than a million lights.
Details: 6pm Tuesday-Sunday, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Runs from November 15 to January. 5. Closed on Mondays. $25 per car. pyramidhill.org.
Solstice glow (November 2 – January 5)
Walk through the conservatory and celebrate the quiet magic of winter and the longest night of the year with candles, lanterns and festive displays, including model trains gliding through poinsettias and winter plants. See miniature replicas of Cincinnati icons, including this year’s newest addition: the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Details: 10am – 8pm Monday to Sunday, Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. cincinnati-oh-gov.
The Christmas Ranch (November 22 – December 23)
Stroll through an old-fashioned Christmas experience for the whole family, with more than a million dancing lights synchronized to Christmas music, and enjoy train and wagon rides, seven Christmas shops, photos with Santa and a bakery café.
Details: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3205 S. Waynesville Road, Morrow. Runs from November 22 to December. 23. Closed Thanksgiving. $47 per oversized van, $37 per carload. No buses or campers. Free parking. Thechristmasranch.com.
WinterFest (November 29 – December 31)
The amusement park turns into an enchanting holiday wonderland with more than seven million lights. Each evening begins with a tree lighting ceremony where the Eiffel Tower turns into a 90-meter-high Christmas tree. Enjoy ice skating at the Royal Fountain, live shows and entertainment, the WinterFest Wonderland Parade, fun activities, holiday shopping and seasonal treats.
Details: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM select evenings, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. A $55 bundle includes admission, souvenir mug and a meal, $50 general. Discounts available with online advance purchase. Visitkingsisland.com.
Winter evenings and river illumination (November 22 – January 5)
This pedestrian bridge over the Ohio River is decorated with cheerful twinkling lights during the holidays.
Details: every evening, Purple People Bridge, Newport. Free. purplepeoplebridge.com.
Christmas Village Light Season (November 29 – December 21)
The home of the Renaissance Festival beckons with sparkling Christmas lights, festive shows and unique offerings at the Christmas market.
Details: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Friday, 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM Saturday, Renaissance Park, 10542 E. State Route 73, Harveysburg. $40 season pass, $17 general, free for ages 12 and up. Yuletidevillage.com.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: See Cincinnati’s best Christmas light displays with our map
