Here Are The 12 Best Christmas Light Displays In Ohio. They’re Incredible.
The holidays are a magical time in Ohio, with or without snow. (And no, Ohio usually doesn’t get a White Christmas, but that doesn’t mean Ohioans lose hope!) All throughout the state there are captivating Christmas light displays that make you feel as if you’re experiencing a real life winter wonderland. The following are what we consider to be some of the very best Christmas light displays in Ohio. They’re incredible — and guaranteed to get you in the spirit for the season!
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill are featured nightly once the holiday season starts, until early January 1st. The historic Clifton Mill is located at 75 Water St., Clifton, OH 45316. Make sure to visit their website for all up to date information about visiting these amazing lights!
This popular family fun attraction features a million dancing Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music, Christmas shops, pictures with Santa, wagon and train rides and hot food and drinks. It is open from just after Thanksgiving to early January, and is located at 3205 S Waynesville Rd., Morrow, OH 45152. For hours and operations, and to learn more about this old-fashioned Christmas experience, check out their website.
3. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wildlights (Columbus)
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wildlights is also a popular destination for families during the holiday season. From late November through early January, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a magical winter wonderland. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Wildlights’ calendar of events will keep you updated!
Board a quarter-scale train and ride through holiday lights and decorations at this family fun destination, which also features a railroad gift shop, a decorated museum and pictures with Santa. The town’s website, Visit Findlay, will let you know the dates and times of this awesome event!
Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo is fun for the whole family. The zoo features more than a million lights, making it a magical winter wonderland until early January each year. The best Christmas lights in Ohio are a wonderful treat, year after year!
Light Up Middletown is open through New Year's Eve and features a drive-thru light display. Admission is by donation. It is located at 500 Tytus Ave., Middletown, OH 45042. This is one of the best drive-thru lights displays in Ohio!
This half-mile wonderland of lights, displays and festival activities in Countryside Park is a popular holiday family fun attraction. It is open from for limited hours though the holiday season until New Year’s Eve. Admission is $8 per person. (Children 2 and under are free.) Stay up to date on their dates and hours when you visit their website.
The PNC festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden runs from late November to early January. In addition to an abundance of lights, they also debut a themed gingerbread village! Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the perfect play to spend a holiday evening.
The free light display at Cleveland's 14th and Euclid at Playhouse Square will dazzle you and your family. Take the whole Downtown Holiday Lights Tour if you’re in the area!
Open nightly until early January, this family favorite drive-through light display in the Cincinnati area features more than a mile of dazzling lights. Admission is $13 per vehicle.
Holiday In Lights is located at Sharon Woods Park (11450 Lebanon Rd., Route 42 Sharonville, OH 45241.) This drive-thru light display is guaranteed to dazzle! Buy your tickets on their website.
Every evening in December from 6. p.m. to 12 a.m., you can park your car at the Ghostly Manor Thrill Center and tune your car radio to 99.7FM to experience the center's free Christmas light show. (Shows play every 30 minutes.) It is located at 3319 Milan Rd., Sandusky, OH 44870. Visit their website where you can find more information every holiday season about this free light show.
This drive-thru holiday light show also features pictures with Santa, free hot chocolate, and cookies and gift shops. Admission is $20 per car. The Butch Bandos Fantasy of Lights is located at 2911 S Old State Rd., Delaware, OH 43015. Visit their website for up to date hours of operation, and information about this fun holiday tradition!
Do you think these are the best Christmas light displays in Ohio? Are we missing any fantastic ones? Let us know! (Spoiler alert: we share more of our favorite Ohio light displays here.)
How many of these light displays have you seen? Where is your favorite place in Ohio to view Christmas lights? Share you photos and experiences with us in the comments below!
Are there a lot of fun holiday things to do in Ohio each season?
There are so many wonderful things to do in our state, no matter where you are located. From drive-thru light displays, synced radio and light displays, and wonderful walking tours through cities, there is so much holiday cheer to be found everywhere. Make it special and start the night with some hot cocoa and festive, warm, winter clothing!
What’s the weather like in Ohio in the winter time?
The weather can be cold, so dress warmly if you’re going to be outside enjoying the holiday festivities. It’s not unusual for the temperatures to drop into the teens and twenties, and wind can definitely be a factor. Pack plenty of layers, and warm boots, gloves, and hats. You’ll want to be comfortable and cozy while exploring everything there is to do outside during an Ohio winter! Although it’s quite cold in winter time, “White Christmases” are usually out of the question — but that doesn’t mean Ohioans don’t hold out hope!
What are some under-the-radar holiday events in Ohio?
Forget single events — Ohio has some entire towns that go all out during the holiday season! And Cleveland might just be the most festive. Cleveland is home to the iconic “A Christmas Story” House — you can tour or even spend the night for a double dose of nostalgia. For even more family fun, check out the festive blooms and Christmas activities at the Cleveland Botanical Garden during their holiday light display, and don’t forget to explore the holiday lights placed all throughout Downtown Cleveland for Winterfest.
Address: Delaware, OH 43015, USA
Address: Sandusky, OH 44870, USA
Address: Sharonville, OH, USA
Address: Cleveland, OH, USA
Address: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Address: Dayton, OH, USA
Address: Middletown, OH, USA
Address: Toledo, OH, USA
Address: Lancaster, OH 43130, USA
Address: Findlay, OH 45840, USA
Address: Columbus, OH, USA
Address: Clifton, OH, USA
Address: Morrow, OH 45152, USA
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April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
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