Looking for holiday light displays? A list of the brightest spots in the Triangle
We may have to press pause on caroling, ice skating and sitting on Santa’s lap in 2020, but the holidays can still be merry and bright.
We’ve put together a list — still growing — of festive Christmas light displays you can enjoy safely from inside your car throughout the month of December.
The major addition to the Triangle light show scene this year is Nights of Lights, sponsored by WRAL, the City of Raleigh and Artsplosure. The ticketed, drive-through display opened Dec. 15, causing some big traffic delays along Western Boulevard. On Dec. 17, WRAL canceled all 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m. shows and will refund those tickets.
Our list is divided into shows that require the purchase of a ticket, and shows that are free neighborhood displays. (Please always be mindful of neighbors when visiting neighborhood light shows).
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few classic displays (such as Meadow Lights, near Benson) are taking the year off. And nearly all of the options we found confirmed to be open this year are drive-by experiences, which require you to stay inside your car. If you visit a site that lets you get out and walk around, wear a mask. It’s what Santa wants.
Ticketed displays
▪ Nights of Lights — WRAL teamed with the City of Raleigh and Artsplosure/First Night Raleigh for this 1.3-mile light show at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh. The COVID-safe display runs Dec. 16 through Dec. 31 and you must purchase a ticket in advance. Tickets are sold according to specific 30-minute time slots and cost $15 per car or truck and $30 for SUVs and vans. Located at 75 Hunt Drive, Raleigh. Get more details at wral.com
▪ Fieldstream Farm Christmas Lights — Formerly known as Ten-Ten Lights, this Raleigh/Garner attraction boasts more than a million LED lights and ... some pretty infamous traffic jams. Because of traffic issues, you can now only access this show with tickets purchased in advance. The tickets are sold according to specific time slots. The show is already open and runs through Dec. 31 at 8008 Old Stage Road, Raleigh. The cost is $20 per car, more for vans and buses. For tickets and more details visit fieldstreamfarm.com/tickets.
▪ Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms — This mile-long light show, featuring more than a million lights, is drive-through only this year (no hayride) and runs through Dec. 27. The admission price is $20 per vehicle and tickets are not sold in advance. (If you go on weekend nights, you may experience delays). Located at 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville. Get more details at hillridgefarms.com/festival.php.
▪ Lights on the Neuse —This Clayton light show, run by Boyette Family Farms, is up and running through Christmas Eve. Because of COVID-safety issues, not all attractions previously offered are on the table this year, but there is still a hayride (with a 25-person limit) and a socially distanced photo op with Santa. (The website doesn’t mention a mask requirement, but please wear one.) The cost is $10 per person, but kids age 2 and under get in free. The tickets are sold according to specified time slots. Located at 1620 Loop Road, Clayton. Tickets and more details at lightsontheneuse.com.
Free neighborhood light displays
▪ Piper Lights — The Piper family, previous winners of ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight,” has been lighting up Wake Forest for 30 years now. For safety reasons, the 7-acre display will be drive-through only this year (the candy store and train are on hiatus). This one is hugely popular, so expect heavy traffic, especially if you go on busy nights. The lights are going every night (weather permitting) through Jan. 1. It’s located at 5725 Fixit Shop Road, Wake Forest. There is no charge, but the family does accept donations, which go to light repairs and the electricity bill. Get more info at their Facebook page: facebook.com/piperlights.
▪ Happyland Christmas Lights — Another “Great Christmas Light Fight” winner, the Moore family displays their lights at 5504 Huntingwood Drive in Raleigh. The lights are already up and the family posts on their Facebook page that they are adding “more and more each day.”
▪ Lake Myra Lights — This popular 30-minute light show in Wendell can be viewed from your vehicle by tuning your car radio to FM 103.3. It’s open Sunday through Thursday, weather permitting, through Dec. 31. Located at 10 S. Cypress St., Wendell. Check the Facebook page for details: facebook.com/LakeMyraChristmasLights.
▪ Rogers Family Christmas Lights — This synchronized light show is put on by the Rogers Family of Apex, in memory of their son Caden, who passed away from spinal muscular atrophy. When you arrive, tune your car radio to 93.5 FM to hear the music. The show runs every night through Dec. 31. Located at 700 Bay Bouquet Lane, Apex. The show is free but the family appreciates donations to help find a cure for SMA, at curesma.com. Learn more at their Facebook page: facebook.com/rogersfamilylights.
▪ Lights on Falmouth — The Nelson family decks their yard with lots of lights, Christmas scenes and inflatables — and there’s even music. You can see the display Thursday through Sunday nights. Located at 3909 Falmouth, Raleigh.
▪ Sleepy Creek Lights — The Heindel family of Raleigh was featured on “Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2017 (it’s an honor to be nominated), and they still go all out for the holidays. It’s a dazzling display that gets better each season. Located at 8501 Sleepy Creek, Raleigh. (FYI: The nearby neighbors on Abbey Lane are skipping the lights this year, but say they will return in 2021.)
▪ Goldman Family Lights — The Goldman family of Raleigh are back at it. They have around 45,000 lights, many synchronized to music, plus inflatables (StayPuft is back) and classic 1970s blowmold figures. The family asks that you turn off your headlights as you approach the display and tune your car radio to 90.9 FM. Located at 6331 Deerview Dr., Raleigh. Get more info on their Facebook page: facebook.com/GoldmanFamilyLights.
▪ Christmas Lights on Holt Road — These lights have been sparkling in Apex since 2010, with the light show growing so much that the owners expanded their driveway so that cars get closer to the display. There is no charge for admission, but this year the family has partnered with two charities — Saving Grace NC and Western Wake Crisis Ministry — and they would love for you to support them. Located at 1012 Holt Road, Apex. The lights aren’t on every night, so check their Facebook page for more info and hours: facebook.com/christmaslightsonholtrd. It runs through Dec. 26.
▪ Houston Family Lights — The Houston family of Wake Forest puts on a synchronized light show at their home each year. They should have the operation fully lit by Dec. 4. Located at 9021 New Century Road, Wake Forest. Get more info at their Facebook page: facebook.com/HoustonFamilyLights.
▪ Lights on the Meadow — This Raleigh light display (not to be confused with Meadow Lights near Benson) runs Dec. 5-31 and has inflatables and a synchronized music show. Stay in your car, tune the radio to 88.3, and turn around at the end of the cul de sac. Located at 9301 Hay Meadow Court, Raleigh. Get more info on hours from their Facebook page: facebook.com/LightsOnTheMeadow.
▪ Gebhardt Family Lights — This Cary light show features 100% RGB pixels with more than 4,000 lights, four singing light bulbs, two LED panels and music. Located at 1033 Hortons Creek, Cary. Sunday-Thursday 5:30-10:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 5:30-11:00 p.m. Get more details at their Facebook page: facebook.com/gebhardtfamilylights.
▪ Carter Family Lights — The Carter family near North Hills in Raleigh has once again decked their yard with tons of lights and synchronized Christmas displays. The lights will run each night unless there’s rain. Located at 941 Cranbrook Road, Raleigh.
▪ Christmas Plugged — For the seventh year in a row, the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Durham is putting on a holiday light display featuring about 40,000 LED lights synchronized to music (tune your car radio to 90.1 FM). This happens nightly from dusk until midnight through the week after New Year’s. Located at 4109 Guess Road, Durham. Get more info at rosbc.org or by calling 919-477-3993.
▪ Giant Santa in Knightdale — Check out the 26-foot inflatable Santa Claus in the Boyd Family Christmas light display. In exchange for a small donation to a local charity, you can come down the driveway to take a photo with Giganta-Santa. The lights turn on at dark and this will go until Jan. 1. Location: 306 Banner Blue Court, Knightdale.
▪ Toy Story Land — The Stanley family runs their illuminated tribute to Disney’s “Toy Story” each evening starting at 5 p.m. The location is 813 Rambling Oaks, Holly Springs.
▪ Lutz Family Lights — The Lutz family of Apex put up “a ton of lights, inflatables and even tomato cage Christmas trees!” The lights are on every night from 5-10:30 p.m., unless it is raining. Located at 4908 Sugargrove Court, Apex.
Send us suggestions
We will be updating this list as we gather more info on area light displays. If you have a tip about a great display, let us know by emailing the info to bcain@newsobserver.com.
This story was originally published November 30, 2020 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Looking for holiday light displays? A list of the brightest spots in the Triangle."
