Go Before There’s No More Glow: Last chance to see holiday lights
We may have two more months of winter ahead of us, but unfortunately many holiday lights shows have a shorter lifespan.
If you haven’t gotten your winter wonderland fix yet, now is the time to do it. Many shows end either by the end of the month or in early January.
Check out the list below to see the best places in the region for winter lights. Like a fresh snowfall, they won’t be around forever.
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Legendary Lights of Historic Clifton Mill
Scoring second place on a National list of the best public holiday lights displays, Clifton Mill’s annual display features over 4 million lights. The view even includes a 100-foot “waterfall” of twinkling lights. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the display is lit up from 6 to 9 p.m. seven nights per week through Dec. 30.
Landoll’s Mohican Castle
While the castle property functions as a hotel, event venue, and restaurant, during the month of December, the grounds become transformed with over 100,000 lights, Christmas trees, and holiday music. The outdoor walking event is open nightly and ends at 10 p.m.
Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights
Through Jan. 3 at the Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, you can enjoy this three-mile holiday light show from the comfort of your vehicle.
Over 400,000 LED lights are on display here nightly from 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 3. After you’re through, you can either grab a bite downtown or head over to see the holiday lights at the Scioto Mile, also on display through Jan. 3.
The Zoo’s annual lights display will be up through Jan. 3 and can be viewed between 5 to 9 p.m. Check out the Polar Bear Express, and say “Hi” to Santa!
This Gahanna home is decked out with 25,000 lights that are synchronized to 10 songs. Make sure to tune your radio to 88.5 FM to get the whole experience. This is the last year this display is happening, so make sure you take the time to check it out.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
From 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 10, the Conservatory is transformed into a brilliant winter spectacle. While the rainbow tunnel and ornament trees have returned, make sure to check out the new Candyland scene with a life-size gingerbread house.
Featuring over 120,000 lights, this home display in Delaware is a sight to behold. It’s on view through Jan. 2.
Over 250 houses in Delaware are choreographed to holiday music you can tune into via 94.1 FM. Shows run 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Six houses are now participating in this annual neighborhood lights show that had its start with one home in 2014. This show runs in Powell from dusk to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and dusk to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through the first week of January.
Reed Road Carnival of Lights: 4460 Reed Rd.
This Upper Arlington home is decked out with over 80,000 lights synchronized to over 25 songs on 112 computerized channels of animation. It’s truly a magnificent sight. Look for the huge sign inviting guests to pull into the driveway for the show, and be sure to tune your radio to 96.5 FM to experience it all. The show runs from Dec. 1 through New Year’s Day from 5 p.m. to midnight every evening.
This drive-thru lights show features over 1 million LED lights synchronized to traditional and contemporary holiday music. The display is from 5:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 3.
Want to see even more lights? Check out the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Select parks have lights up through the month of December.
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