Drive-thru Lights in Central Ohio
Few things can warm up a winter night and raise the holiday cheer level quite like a dazzling Christmas lights display. Making it even better is enjoying the show from the warmth and safety of your own vehicle. This holiday season, buckle up because Central Ohio (and beyond) will take you to all the drive-thru experiences!
Butch Bandos Fantasy of Lights
Located at Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds, BB Fantasy of Lights is a three-mile light show featuring over 160 twinkling, sparkling AMAZING light displays! You’re in for a real treat with their amazing tunnels and well curated lights. Make sure you bring your letters for Santa from November 27-December 23, so Mrs. Claus can deliver them to the North Pole!
When: November 20, 2020 – January 3, 2021; Sunday – Thursday 5:30-9:30pm, Friday & Saturday 5:30-9:30pm
*Until further notice, in accordance with the State of Ohio’s Health Order Curfew; Any vehicle in line at 9pm will still be able to purchase tickets & enjoy the show
Where: Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds in Delaware- 3311 South Old State Road, Delaware, OH 43015
Admission: $20 per vehicle Monday-Thursday; $30 per vehicle Friday-Sunday
*Tickets can be purchased at the ticket gate and/or online.
Website: https://butchbandosfantasyoflights.com
Social: Facebook | Instagram
WonderLights Christmas in Ohio
WonderLight’s Christmas in Ohio is a family-friendly holiday event featuring approximately 2-miles of LED Christmas lights synchronized to music. They have shooting stars, floating snowflakes, dancing candy canes and lollipops, giant Christmas trees, and (a crowd favorite) enchanting drive-through tunnels of lights!
When: November 13, 2020 – January 3, 2021; Daily 5:30-10:30pm
Where: National Trail Raceway – 2650 National Road SW, Hebron, OH 43025
Admission: $7 per person; Children under 3 are free; $30 Carload Pass (up to 7 passengers)
2020 Update: Can purchase tickets in advance online
Website: https://www.wonderlightschristmas.com
Social: Facebook | Instagram
“Light Up Camp” at Flying Horse Farms
With on-site programming suspended since March, the medical specialty camp is opening its gates and offering the public a bright note to the end of the year by transforming its Mt. Gilead property into a twinkling, seasonal drive-through light display. Camp buildings will be transformed into a twinkling, musical wonderland of safe, physically distanced family fun.
When: November 26, 2020 – December 27, 2020; Fridays and Saturdays: 6pm – 10pm, with the last car admitted at 9:30pm. Sundays: 6pm to 8:30pm, with the last car admitted at 8pm.
Where: Flying Horse Farms – 5260 State Route 95, Mt. Gilead, Ohio 43338. Enter camp from Route 95 and be sure to stay to the right on the path! If the line to enter is backed up, please pull into the Consolidated Cooperative parking lot across the street and wait until the line has moved forward.
Admission: Drive-through event is free to visitors with a suggested donation opportunity.
Website: https://flyinghorsefarms.org/
Social: Facebook | Instagram
Local Neighborhood shows in Central Ohio
Dazzling Christmas Lights in Westerville
Even when the weather outside is frightful, Rick Hilyard’s light show is so delightful. When Rick and his family moved to Westerville, he was looking for a way to give back to a local charity – that’s when he came up with the idea of transforming his house into an epic winter wonderland to bring visitors out – and gather donations for W.A.R.M.
When: November 27, 2020 – January 3, 2021. Sunday – Thursday: 6pm – 10pm. Friday – Saturday: 6pm – 11pm
Where: 649 Old Coach Rd. Westerville Ohio 43081
Admission: Free, Suggested to bring a couple food items for Westerville Area Resource Ministry
Website: http://www.dazzlingchristmaslights.com
Social: Facebook | Instagram
Lucy Depp Park Light Show
This show features six different houses on seven acres that transform into a winter wonderland – a free, drive-through light show like you’ve never seen. They have a really fun story, which you can read here.
When: The show runs from Black Friday to the first week of January, dusk until 10 pm Sun-Thurs and until 11 on Friday and Saturday.
Where: 9360 Frabell Dr., Powell, OH 43065. You enter at Frabell Dr and exit on Springdale Dr. The traffic is one-way and is on a loop.
Admission: Free; however, they do ask that you consider donating to Peace for Paws when you visit their show. They are a non-profit pet rescue group that assists with the homeless pet population in Ohio.
Website: https://ldplights.com
Social: Facebook | Instagram
Lights of Glenross In Delaware
There are over 250 houses choreographed to your favorite Christmas music in Delaware. Tune into 94.1 FM while driving through them!
When: 5-9pm Sunday-Thursday 5pm – 9pm; Friday and Saturday 5pm – 11pm
Where: 1100 Ballater Dr, Delaware, OH 43015; For the best light show experience please begin at the entrances of Ballater Drive, Eagle Walk Road, Sycamore Lane, or Braumiller Crossing Drive.
Admission: Free; They suggest donating to People in Need, Inc of Delaware County Ohio. You can donate online here.
Website: https://lightsofglenross.wixsite.com/website
Social: Facebook
Road Trip to the Lights
Each of these light shows are less than two hours from Columbus, which wouldn’t require an overnight stay. You can load with up everything you need at home, which would prevent you from needing to get out of your car! To be as safe as possible, make sure to check details before going (distance from home, COVID rules/regulations, purchasing tickets ahead of time for contactless entry, etc.)
Journey BOREALIS
Journey Borealis is located at Pyramid Hill – a 300+ acre sculpture park with 60+ monumental outdoor sculptures displayed in a landscape of rolling hills, meadows, lakes, and hiking trails. During the holidays, they transform it into a 2.5-mile spectacular drive-through experience.21q3
When: November 20, 2020 – December 28, 2020; Monday – Thursday 6-9pm, Friday – Sunday 6-10pm
Where: Pyramid Hill- 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd., Hamilton, OH 45013
Distance from Columbus: 1 hr 40 min
Admission Cost: Monday-Thursday $20 per vehicle; Friday-Sunday $25 per vehicle
Website: https://journeyborealis.com
Social: Facebook | Instagram
Click here to read about our trip to Pyramid Park in 2017. Great place to add to your Ohio Bucket List!
Wild Winter Lights Drive Through at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is again transforming into a winter wonderland this holiday season with Wild Winter Lights. Experience this year’s all-new lighting display, with more than one million individual lights and unique twists on holiday traditions. This year’s all-new Wild Winter Lights event features hundreds of lighting displays across holiday-themed areas, including Candyland, Enchanted Forest, Conservation Trail, and Santa’s Workshop. Guests will be able to experience Wild Winter Lights in their vehicle.
When: November 17, 2020 – January 3, 2021; drive through lights are offered Monday – Wednesday evenings from 5:30 pm-9:30 pm; Saturday, January 2, 2021 & Sunday, January 3, 2021 from 5:00pm – 9:30 pm.
Where: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo – 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109
Distance from Columbus: 2 hrs
Admission Cost: $60 per vehicle; Wild Winter Lights tickets are limited and advance online reservations are strongly encouraged.
Website:https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo/programs-events/2020/special-events/wild-winter-lights-drive-through
Social: Facebook | Instagram
Land of Illusion Christmas Glow
Celebrate the season a The Christmas Glow, over 3.8 million lights at the 2-mile long Christmas Around the World drive-thru experience, visit Santa at the Christmas Village Santa Workshop or just take in the majestic glow of the 45-foot Christmas Tree as you and yours warm by the gas fire pits.
When: Nightly from November 25 – December 30, 2020 from 6pm – 10pm; Closed November 30, December 1-2 and Christmas Day
Where: Land of Illusion Adventure Park – 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown, OH 45042
Distance from Columbus: 1 hr 30 min
Admission Cost: $7.00 per person
Website: https://www.landofillusion.com/glow/
Social: Facebook | Instagram
Christmas Nights of Lights at Coney Island
Experience this amazing light show synchronized to both traditional and rocking holiday music through your car radio. Visitors of all ages will be awed by the larger-than-life trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes and fantastic tunnels of lights! With two and a half miles to drive through, your family can see displays and light shows made of over a million lights driven by more than forty thousand computer channels.
When: November 6, 2020 – January 9, 2021; Nightly from dusk through 10pm
Where: Coney Island – 6201 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230
Distance from Columbus: 1 hr 40 min
Admission Cost: $7.00 per person; Children under 3 are free
Website: https://coneyislandpark.com/event/christmas-light-show/
Social: Facebook | Instagram
LIGHT UP MIDDLETOWN
Millions of twinkling lights expand over at Smith Park, a 100-acre park in Butler County. This spectacular Ohio holiday light display features various unique and fun holiday-themed light figures like Santa’s workshop, a penguin village, and even a floating sea serpent out on the park’s fishing lake.
When: Open every night from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve from 6 to 10 p.m.
Where: Smith Park – 500 Tytus Avenue Middletown, Ohio 45042
Distance from Columbus: 1 hr 30 min
Admission: Admission is by donation. Proceeds from the event benefit Middletown parks.
Website:www.lightupmiddletown.org
Social: Facebook
Tips for a great experience
- Find out the details BEFORE you go. COVID-19 rules/regulations, admission pricing/purchasing, length of show, busier times, location, radio station to tune into, etc.
- When windows are down or you’re in contact with staff at the light shows, make sure to have your masks up!.
- If you go during a busier time, bring your kiddos favorite toys/blankets/new car game/etc. to pass the time.
- Play Christmas music and/or put in a holiday themed DVD on the way to the lights.
- Wear festive pajamas. It just makes everything more fun!
- Bring hot cocoa & holiday themed snacks. Just remember, you need to stay in your car, which means you *probably* won’t have access to a bathroom! Plan accordingly.
- Have fun!! Things are hard right now, and drive-thru experiences give us a little bit of magic this holiday season, so enjoy!
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