5 Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Displays In Indiana The Whole Family Can Enjoy
As the final leaves fall from the trees throughout Indiana, the entire state begins to come to life with holiday lights and other winter displays to charm the senses and gear everyone up for the giving season. Mother Nature has even begun decorating the state herself. As the holidays fast approach, it’s time to start planning time for those traditions you won’t want to miss. Here are five displays of drive-thru Christmas lights in Indiana that you can enjoy just about anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check ’em out:
Typically taking place in Fort Wayne, Indiana at Franke Park between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, this annual tradition of light-seeing is enjoyed by spectators from far and wide. Each year, 20,000 vehicles full of families visit this spectacular display of more than 100 larger-than-life holiday displays, which are sponsored by area businesses. Many of them move and blink to music that you can listen to from your car. More than 270,000 LED lights will light up the park for this event. Read all about why many consider this to be some of the best drive-thru Christmas lights in Indiana.
Franke Park Drive, Franke Park Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, USA
Located at Jimmy Nash City Park in Martinsville, Indiana, this free event is usually open from mid-November until the beginning of the new year. Guests can drive or walk through. Santa will be present on opening day, as well as other popular days, to visit with children. Be sure to check their Facebook page for details about the exact days and times.
A 1.2-mile drive through the Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort makes this the largest display of drive-thru Christmas lights in Indiana. The event opens Thanksgiving night and lasts through the end of December, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The attraction tells the story of Rudolph in a fun and illuminating way.
Beginning on Thanksgiving night with a traditional throwing of the switch, the town of Kokomo, Indiana will light up with over one million holiday lights. Guests can walk or drive through the displays and enjoy visits from Santa. Lights will be available through Christmas.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This attraction is no longer in operation.
One of Indiana's newer holiday drive-thru experiences takes place in the state's premier Amish town. Featuring more than two million lights, this 1.4-mile journey is a wonderful experience that will be available beginning in mid-November and running through the month of December. Be sure to check its website for complete information about hours, days, and admissions.
What other drive-thru Christmas lights are you looking forward to seeing this year? Share your favorites with us below in the comments.
Address: Franke Park Drive, Franke Park Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, USA
Address: 360 N Home Ave, Martinsville, IN 46151, USA
Address: 78 N Holiday Blvd, Santa Claus, IN 47579, USA
Address: 345 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas In Indiana
October 15, 2022
Katie Feldkamp
What are some of the best Christmas towns in Indiana?
When trying to decide which town in Indiana has the most holiday spirit, it’s hard to deny the superlative to anywhere other than Santa Claus, Indiana. This small town is a treat to visit any time of the year with its Holiday World amusement park, but in the winter months, Santa Claus is just as magical as its namesake. Of course, Santa Claus isn’t the only town filled with Christmas cheer. We have rounded up several of the best Christmas towns in Indiana that you’ll want to make the time to visit. From luminary walks to festivals and parades, light shows and decorative small-town shops, there’s a place for everyone to fill their holiday bucket list.
Where are some unique Christmas places in Indiana to visit?
Most people are familiar with the iconic holiday movie, “A Christmas Story” and know that the storyline takes place in Indiana. At the Indiana Welcome Center, they have recreated popular scenes from the movie so you can experience them yourself. One unique place to stay in Indiana is in the town of Flora at a cabin that dates back to the 1800s. This is now a popular Airbnb that decks all its halls for the Christmas season. The cozy cabin sleeps six guests and will take you back in time while you create new holiday memories. While not exactly unique, one tradition beloved by many is searching for that perfect Christmas tree on a tree farm. Putting a unique twist on the experience is a visit to Whitetail Acres Tree Farm in Brookville, Indiana. In addition to finding your tree, visitors have the chance to get up close to real live reindeer! It’s a truly magical farm for kids of all ages.
Address: Franke Park Drive, Franke Park Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, USA
Address: 360 N Home Ave, Martinsville, IN 46151, USA
Address: 78 N Holiday Blvd, Santa Claus, IN 47579, USA
Address: 345 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.