NEWSLETTER
Winter is here and the night skies are getting brighter across New York State! So put on your favorite sweater and have your hot chocolate at the ready, because you won’t want to miss these magical winter lights festivals, lantern displays, and holiday light spectaculars.
Masks are encouraged, but optional in most settings per New York State guidelines. Individual businesses or attractions may require mask wearing. Call ahead and check websites and social media to make sure attractions and amenities are open and available.
Updated 10/24/2022
LuminoCity Festival (Long Island)
Credit: @luminocityfestival on Instagram
When: November 9, 2022–January 8, 2023
LuminoCity Festival is returning to Long Island, with the 2022 event at Eisenhower Park! Celebrate the holiday season with glowing sculptures, magical winter lights, and immersive exhibits in a dazzling display of light and color. Go on a narrative journey through eight different shimmering lands as you explore this year’s theme, “Pure Magic,” which brings art, light, and color to life through remarkable displays amid 17-plus acres. Encounter exotic creatures in the Magic Kingdom, explore the Winter Wonderland, see through the looking glass inside Alice’s Enchantment, and more. East Meadow; November 9, 2022–January 8, 2023; timed ticketing; prices vary.
Peace, Love & Lights Holiday Light Show (Catskills)
Credit: @shinybreathing on Instagram
When: Partial schedule November 25-December 11; Daily December 15-January 1, 2023
Head on down to the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival for a drive-thru holiday light show powered by Healey Brothers. Located at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in the scenic Sullivan Catskills, enjoy the holiday lights from the comfort of your car along a 1.7-mile route through new and returning themed areas, from Candy Cane Lane and Groovy Way, to the Enchanted Forest and Holidays Around The World. Double up on the holiday fun by pairing your light show experience with the first-ever Gingerbread Build & Sip, shop artisan goods at the Holiday Market, or indulge in a Sweets & Treats Box for four, available as an add-on with your purchase, excluding Mondays. Bethel; November 25, 2022–January 1, 2023; tickets start at $30 per car; one ticket per carload.
Jungle Bells Holiday Lights at Animal Adventure Park (Central New York)
Credit: @storkesque9 on Instagram
When: November 10, 2022–December 31, 2022
See spectacular holiday lights and get up close with animals at the same time at Jungle Bells: Holiday Lights at Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville. Marvel at over one million lights on display throughout the park, complete with the tallest fully lit tree in the area and live reindeer! Stop in at Santa’s workshop for photos with the man in red every Friday and Saturday. See and feed hundreds of animals, including resident giraffes Oliver and Johari! Jungle Bells: Holiday Lights is primarily a walk-through experience but a drive-thru only experience is offered on November 22 and December 22, 2022. Harpursville; November 10, 2022–December 31, 2022; tickets $14 per person plus tax.
Lights on the Lake (Finger Lakes)
Credit: @fingerlakeswelcomecenter on Instagram
When: November 14, 2022 - January 13, 2023
This fantasy winter wonderland along Onondaga Lake is an awe-inspiring display of twinkling lights, colorful section arches, animated displays, and holiday cheer that goes for miles. One of the few drive-thru holiday light shows, you can enjoy two miles of beautiful holiday lights, including the Land of Oz and a twinkling fantasy forest, from the warmth and comfort of your car. Liverpool; November 14, 2022–January 13, 2023; tickets are sold by the carload and must be purchased in advance, with pricing at $10 Monday–Thursday and $20 Friday-Sunday.
Gardens After Dark: Magical Poinsettias (Greater Niagara)
Credit: @highpeaks_ai on Instagram
When: December 9, 2022–December 30, 2022
Surround yourself in stunning natural beauty and colorful lights in this mesmerizing after-dark experience housed within the historic Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens! This event complements the Botanical Gardens’ annual Poinsettia & Railway Exhibit. Enjoy their poinsettia collections and tropical gardens, with the aim of connecting people to the natural world in a new way, inspiring peace and calmness. Add a touch of romance to your garden experience with drinks, wine, cheese, and chocolate at the Gardens' Thurs-Date Nights!, a separate ticketed experience. Buffalo; December 9, 2022–December 30, 2022; Thurs-Date Nights, December 8, 15, and 22, 2022; ticket prices vary.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @nyc_super_mom on Instagram
When: November 25, 2022–January 1, 2023
Get ready for a 1.2-mile drive-thru holiday light extravaganza filled with thousands of lights in Valhalla! Classic displays and attractions return this year, including favorite elves Ned and Albert, glittering angels of peace, a candy cane lane, dancing trees, a 50-foot dove, and a spectacular 100-foot light tunnel. This year, explore new attractions including a North Pole and live Santa display, Kaleidoscope Alley, an expanded Peace on Earth LED display with animated trumpets and angels, and more electrifying lights surrounding the largest holiday Christmas tree in Westchester! For the grand finale, guests can make a New Year’s wish upon a new 30-foot glistening star located at the end of the interactive show–all right from your car. Valhalla; November 25, 2022–January 1, 2023; tickets start at $35 per car.
Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden (New York City)
Credit: Winter Cathedral by Mandylights. Copyright Sony Music. Courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden
When: November 16, 2022 - January 8, 2023
Wander through an enchanting illuminated trail of over one million lights at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's after-dark spectacular! Along this mile-long trail, discover light installations by local and international artists, including the monumental Winter Cathedral Tunnel, Fire Garden, and more. In the mood for hot chocolate, or perhaps some holiday snacks for your journey? The Gardens has you covered, with food concessions dotted throughout its dazzling illuminated pathway. Brooklyn; November 16, 2022–January 8, 2023; ticket prices vary.
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights (New York City)
Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
When: November 18, 2022–January 8, 2023
During the evenings, the Bronx Zoo shines bright with holiday cheer amid this walk-through experience full of immersive light displays, custom-designed animal lanterns, and animated light shows. This outdoor celebration includes festive entertainment, seasonal treats, a holiday train, and classic holiday music. A sensory friendly night is scheduled for November 29, plus special events including a “Pajama Party Weekend," “Nights of Caroling," and a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Countdown on Astor Court to welcome in 2023. After the new year, “Illuminated Playground” (January 6-8, 2023) will bring a special play area for children of all ages in Schiff Family Great Hall. The Bronx; November 18, 2022–January 8, 2023, excluding December 24 and 25, 2022 and January 1, 2023; tickets are adults, $39.95, children ages 3-12, $24.95 and seniors, $34.95.
Shimmering Solstice (Long Island)
When: November 25, 2022-January 1, 2023
Credit: @discoverlongisland on Instagram
See Old Westbury Gardens like never before as the grounds of this magnificent Gold Coast mansion shine bright with holiday lights during the Shimmering Solstice. Follow the beautiful pathways through the enchanting Walled Garden, Rose Garden, and South Lawn all lit aglow in an awe-inspiring display of magic and wonder culminating in a dramatic finale show displayed on the south face of the immaculate home. Old Westbury, November 25, 2022-January 1, 2023, Tickets are $34.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids (ages 2-13), $26.95 for Senior Sundays (65+)
Zoo New York’s Winter Wonder Lights (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
When: November 25, 2022–December 30, 2022
Explore a winter wonderland amongst animals and nature at the 3rd annual Winter Wonder Lights at Zoo New York! See the zoo come alive after-dark with its series of multicolored holiday lights, inflatable displays, and special appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus every Saturday (except for December 24, it will happen instead on Friday, December 23)! Watertown; on Fridays and Saturdays November 25, 2022–December 30, 2022; closed on Christmas Eve; admission $6; children 2 and under free.
Amaze Light Festival (New York City)
When: November 20, 2022–January 8, 2023
The home of The Amazins', aka the New York Mets, is being transformed into an immersive storybook experience with five magical worlds lit aglow with a million twinkling lights at The Amaze Light Festival in Citi Field. Let the dynamic duo of Zing and Sparky be your guide you as you head on an illuminous holiday adventure through the North Pole, Land of Sweets, and a Whimsical Forest. At an additional cost, take a zip down the icy Zing’s Thrill Hill or hop aboard the Arctic Express Train, making a stop at Sparky's Sweet Spot where you can buy yourself a special treat. Don't forget to do some shopping at the holiday market and pop by Zing's Toyporium. Queens; on select days from November 20, 2022–January 8, 2023; prices start at $44 for adults and $36 for children; add-on ticketed experiences are available.
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