There’s nothing like the magic of Christmas lights illuminating the night to get you into the holiday spirit. In fact, you could probably make a weekend out of exploring some of the best holiday light shows in Ohio. We’ve mapped out a road trip that takes you to some of our all-time favorite Christmas lights displays in the state. You can add or subtract any stop you like—just make sure you have some hot chocolate and plenty of Christmas music.
Google Maps The total trip takes about 5 hours of drive time, so you can always split it up and take the trip within 2 days or so. To view a Google map of the trip in a separate tab or window, click here.
- WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio (Hebron)
wonderlightschristmas.com
WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio/Facebook WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio will light up the night from mid-November to early January at the National Trail Raceway in Hebron. With more than one-million vibrant lights and 2 miles of festive fun, Wonderlight’s Christmas in Ohio is one of the biggest and brightest displays in the state. Shows run from 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. each night. Admission is $7 for a single ticket and $30 per carload of up to 7 passengers.
- Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights (Delaware)
Alum Creek Fantasy of Lights/Facebook
Alum Creek Fantasy of Lights/Facebook Formerly known as Alum Creek Fantasy of Lights, Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights carries on the tradition with more lights than ever before lining the trails at Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds. The show features 3 miles of dazzling displays and twinkling lights that will put you in the holiday spirit. Until January 3, the display is open nightly from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and admission is $20 during the week and $30 on weekends.
- Christmas By Candlelight (Marion)
Marion County Fair Marion Ohio/Facebook
Marion County Fair Marion Ohio/Facebook Another family favorite drive-thru Christmas lights display, this event takes place at the Marion County Fairgrounds, which opens in late November and operates from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Don’t forget to check to see which nights have a live nativity!) Admission is $6 per car and more information can be found via Facebook.
- Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights (Upper Sandusky)
Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights/Facebook
Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights/Facebook Since 1997, the Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights has transformed Harrison Smith Park into a real life Christmas wonderland each holiday season. You can drive through Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights on Monday - Thursday from 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and on Friday - Sunday from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Admission is $5 per car through the week and $10 per car on the weekends.
- Wachtel Family Christmas Lights Display (Big Prairie)
Wachtel’s Christmas Lights/Facebook
Wachtel’s Christmas Lights/Facebook A family tradition for more than 60 years, the Wachtel’s Christmas Lights Display is a Holmes County favorite. Kids will especially enjoy this whimsical display, which features more than 52,000 lights, 90 spotlights and 400 figurines. The Wachtel’s Christmas Light Display runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve. (Note: Admission to the display is free, but donations are always appreciated.)
- Guernsey County Courthouse (Cambridge)
Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge/Facebook Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge is a must-see. Take a trip back in time and explore the historic downtown of Cambridge. Until early January, the town is transformed into old world England, featuring more than 80 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing typical scenes from Victorian society and Dickens’ novels. Each night, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the courthouse lights up for a spectacular show synchronized to Christmas music. The shows run every 15 minutes every night in December until 9 p.m.
What do you think? Would you take this trip? What are some of your favorite Christmas lights displays in Ohio? Share your thoughts and recommendations with us!
Google Maps
The total trip takes about 5 hours of drive time, so you can always split it up and take the trip within 2 days or so. To view a Google map of the trip in a separate tab or window, click here.
wonderlightschristmas.com
WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio/Facebook
WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio will light up the night from mid-November to early January at the National Trail Raceway in Hebron. With more than one-million vibrant lights and 2 miles of festive fun, Wonderlight’s Christmas in Ohio is one of the biggest and brightest displays in the state. Shows run from 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. each night. Admission is $7 for a single ticket and $30 per carload of up to 7 passengers.
Alum Creek Fantasy of Lights/Facebook
Formerly known as Alum Creek Fantasy of Lights, Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights carries on the tradition with more lights than ever before lining the trails at Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds. The show features 3 miles of dazzling displays and twinkling lights that will put you in the holiday spirit. Until January 3, the display is open nightly from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and admission is $20 during the week and $30 on weekends.
Marion County Fair Marion Ohio/Facebook
Another family favorite drive-thru Christmas lights display, this event takes place at the Marion County Fairgrounds, which opens in late November and operates from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Don’t forget to check to see which nights have a live nativity!) Admission is $6 per car and more information can be found via Facebook.
Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights/Facebook
Since 1997, the Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights has transformed Harrison Smith Park into a real life Christmas wonderland each holiday season. You can drive through Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights on Monday - Thursday from 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and on Friday - Sunday from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Admission is $5 per car through the week and $10 per car on the weekends.
Wachtel’s Christmas Lights/Facebook
A family tradition for more than 60 years, the Wachtel’s Christmas Lights Display is a Holmes County favorite. Kids will especially enjoy this whimsical display, which features more than 52,000 lights, 90 spotlights and 400 figurines. The Wachtel’s Christmas Light Display runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve. (Note: Admission to the display is free, but donations are always appreciated.)
Dickens Victorian Village of Cambridge/Facebook
Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge is a must-see. Take a trip back in time and explore the historic downtown of Cambridge. Until early January, the town is transformed into old world England, featuring more than 80 scenes of 180 lifelike figures representing typical scenes from Victorian society and Dickens’ novels. Each night, beginning at 5:30 p.m., the courthouse lights up for a spectacular show synchronized to Christmas music. The shows run every 15 minutes every night in December until 9 p.m.
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Address: 2650 National Rd SW, Hebron, OH 43025, USAAddress: Butch Bando’s Fantasy Of Lights, 3311 S Old State Rd, Delaware, OH 43015, USAAddress: 220 E Fairground St, Marion, OH 43302, USAAddress: Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights, 525 E Wyandot Ave, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351, USAAddress: 13079 Township Rd 503, Big Prairie, OH 44611, USAAddress: 801 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge, OH 43725, USA
