Do you crave the time of year when the whole world seems to sparkle with light and cheer? You’ll fit right in here in Massachusetts, which transforms into a winter wonderland each and every year. In fact, you’ll absolutely adore the opportunity to check out the most festive and radiant light displays via a road trip that features the best Christmas lights in Massachusetts. There are so many worth visiting that selecting the very best displays can be a challenge, so we assembled a holiday bucket list just for you. Aim to visit the most unforgettable holiday destinations in the area – let this list be your guide to experiencing the most magical spots in the Bay State this season.

Follow this link for the road trip directions. The total drive time is about 7.5 hours, so you might want to plan to stay overnight near one of the attractions. It’s a great festive weekend trip!

Google Maps
1. Edaville Christmas Festival of Lights, South Carver
5 Pine St, Carver, MA 02330, USA
Facebook/Edaville
What do you get when you mix bright lights and classic trains? This magical railroad holiday extravaganza. You can climb aboard on of the beautiful trains in Edaville and take in the glow of thousands of holiday lights. There are also plenty of tasty treats, amusement park rides and meetings with Santa. You can even go shopping at a European-style Christmas market. Visit between mid-November and the beginning of January to take part in the cheer.
3. Lighting of the Green, Taunton
Taunton Green, Taunton, MA 02780, USA
Flickr/Arthur Perry
This town is actually nicknamed "The Christmas City," so it obviously knows how to put on a magical light festival. Taunton's Lighting of the Green and Lights On Festival has been a holiday tradition for over 100 years. If you want to include this stop on your road trip, you'll want to try to plan your visit for the first Saturday in December.
3. La Salette Festival of Lights, Attleboro
947 Park St, Attleboro, MA 02703, USA
Yelp/Annamarie T.
Over 300,000 lights decorate this 10-acre winter wonderland in Attleboro. Hosted by the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, this faith-based Christmas celebration is one of the most popular Christmas light displays in Massachusetts. Illuminations at the La Salette Festival of Lights are held in the evenings from late November to just after the New Year.
4. Night Lights at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 11 French Dr, Boylston, MA 01505, USA
Flickr/Malone545
This horticultural society of over 175 years puts on a spectacular winter light show, complete with indoor and outdoor galleries of plants festooned with twinkling lighted strands. It's a great option for people who don't necessarily want to walk around all night in the chilly air. The Night Lights at Tower Hill Botanic Garden event runs daily from late November through the end of December.
5. Bright Nights at Forest Park, Springfield
300 Sumner Ave, Springfield, MA 01108, USA
FLickr/MOTT
This is the loveliest display of lights in New England. Extending for miles through the dark, this glittering pathway of lights and sounds can be seen via the comfort of your own car. The largest event of drive thru Christmas lights in Massachusetts, Bright Nights runs from late November through the New Year. For rates and scheduled events, visit the Bright Nights at Forest Park website.
6. Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas, Stockbridge
Main Street, Main St, Stockbridge, MA, USA
Stockbridgechamber.org
Stop by Stockbridge on the first weekend in December for this celebration of the town's special holiday charm. Stockbridge's Main Street will be all aglow with lights and wreaths, while carolers and vintage automobiles line the streets. If you've never visited Stockbridge, this is a great opportunity to take in the classic Norman Rockwell atmosphere of the community.
7. City of Lights Parade and Holiday Celebration, Lowell
Lowell, MA, USA
Flickr/MOTT
The city of Lowell comes to life for the holidays, holding a special parade and Christmas celebration. In addition to the spectacular array of lights, there will be live performances by local bands and instrumental groups, visits with Santa and plenty of holiday shopping opportunities. Visit the Lowell City of Lights website for this year's parade and festivities schedule.
8. ZooLights at Stone Zoo, Stoneham
Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St, Stoneham, MA 02180, USA
Facebook/Stone Zoo
Rub elbows with reindeer at this wild light display. Hosted by Stone Zoo, visitors can wander through the glowing grounds of the zoo and meet all sorts of fascinating winter animals. There are also plenty of refreshments and crafts. It returns each year in mid to late November and lingers through the New Year.
9. Illumination Tour, Somerville
Somerville, MA, USA
Flickr/Andrew Malone
Celebate the artsy side of Christmas with this spectacular light display spanning a whole town. Each year, Somerville residents transform their neighborhoods into wonderlands of light and sound in honor of the holidays. You can take a formal tour of the best houses by heading to Porter Square Books in Somerville to pick up tickets and head out into the streets on a trolley. You can also buy a map and do the tour yourself. Watch the Somerville Arts Council website for updates on this year's Illumination Tour and related activities.
10. Winterlights, Stockbridge, Canton, & North Andover
The Bradley Estate, 2468B Washington St, Canton, MA 02021, USA
Naumkeag, 5 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262, USA
Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, 153 Chickering Rd, North Andover, MA 01845, USA
Courtesy of The Trustees
Winterlights is an immersive, all-LED light installation and event series at three historic Massachusetts homes: Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton, Naumkeag in Stockbridge, and The Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover. Each property will offer accompanying events with special guests, live music and more, enabling visitors to return throughout the season and enjoy a variety of new experiences in the illuminated gardens each weekend. Stop by during the holiday season to enjoy the festivities.

Which of these awesome events are you most looking forward to experiencing? Are there any that you believe should be added to this list?

Craving Christmastime? You’ll adore our state’s wintertime decor. Check out our list of more of the best holiday lights in Massachusetts to make your holiday season really sparkle.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

More to Explore

Christmas Lights Road Trip In Massachusetts

Nikki Rhoades | November 10, 2019

What city has the best Christmas lights in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts, otherwise known as The Pilgrim State, is an absolute delight in the colder months. This New England paradise was famously hard on early settlers, but residents today are hardy and robust enough to withstand the cold. In fact, the holiday displays in our historic region attract locals and visitors alike in droves. Springfield has one incredible three-mile display called Bright Nights, and it has been regarded as one of the very best light displays in Massachusetts since 1995. Of course, Boston is always a delight at Christmas – its streets transform in a downright magical way.

What is the one best light display in Massachusetts?

There are so many things to do at Christmas in Massachusetts that selecting the very best holiday display is a challenge. Quite frankly, it all boils down to preference – and you will find that there is something for everyone. Gardens Aglow at Heritage Museums & Gardens is absolutely magical, and Saugus has a stretch of road – Lynn Fells Parkway – that’s downright mesmerizing in the winter.

What else can I do around the holidays in Massachusetts?

Aside from enjoying the mystical snow-kissed landscape, you will find all sorts of Yuletide cheer here in The Bay State. For starters, our local towns and villages transform into winter wonderlands worthy of a Hallmark movie storyline. Some places, like Jordan’s Furniture, play up this charm with cherished displays. If you want a more quaint approach to the holidays, be sure to swing by our historic landmarks – old-school architecture is absolutely picturesque under a blanket of brilliant white snow.

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Featured Addresses
5 Pine St, Carver, MA 02330, USA
Taunton, MA, USA
947 Park St, Attleboro, MA 02703, USA
11 French Dr, Boylston, MA 01505, USA
300 Sumner Ave, Springfield, MA 01108, USA
Main Street, Main St, Stockbridge, MA, USA
Lowell, MA, USA
Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St, Stoneham, MA 02180, USA