The excitement of the holiday season is rapidly approaching - great food, great times with the family, and great entertainment. One of the best parts of the holidays for many is the fabulous lights that emanate throughout the country. Whether you're in New York City or "Smallville" you can find some great displays to make your mouth drop. To give you a short roadmap to some of the fascinating events going on this year, I've rounded up some of the more popular holiday light shows found from coast to coast - check them out!
Chicago land Holiday Light Shows
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Chicago kicks off the list in style by presenting an assortment of holiday light shows around the large Midwest city. These exciting shows feature impressive displays of color and also showcase animated figures of a variety of Christmas stories. The lights can be found at Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue), and the Daley Plaza German Christmas Market (also known as Christkindlmarkt).
In addition to holiday light shows within the Chicago city limits, you can find an assortment of displays presented in the suburbs, including Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo, which displays lights, and is accompanied by live music, carolers, celebrity storytellers, magicians and more! Lincoln Park Zoo also takes part in the festivities by presenting huge lighted animal sculptures and fun ice carvings free of charge. Other great Chicago light shows include Clearbrook's Wonderland of Lights and Wonderland of Lights at Chicago Botanical Gardens. But if you want to involve yourself in the true essence of Chicago, I recommend visiting Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile, both wonderful attractions, even without the lights.
McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach in Virginia Beach, VA
While Virginia Beach is best known as a quaint little resort city that becomes densely populated with college students during various holiday breaks, many don't know that when the students are away, the townspeople come out to play. Whether visiting this lovely portion of the Atlantic Ocean in the summer months, or during the holiday season, it remains beautiful. And it is even more so with the addition of the holiday light shows that stretch along 31 blocks of the popular hotel-lined boardwalk.
Unlike some holiday light shows, this one requires that you stay in your car and drive along the boardwalk (it is closed to beach combers after nightfall). A beautifully-lit archway borders the entire 31-block stretch and adds flair to the gorgeous animated figures strategically placed on either side of the boardwalk. Some of the figures are centered in the sandy path to the ocean, which you can hear crashing emphatically in the background, vying for attention.
Among the over 250 animated displays include fun and festive fish, jumping dolphins, and frolicking porpoises. If you're paying attention, you can catch a glimpse of a shy mermaid trying to swim away from nearby rocking sailboats. There are also fun waving Santa's, giant gift-wrapped packages, and a 3-story Christmas tree. You eyes will fight to view all of the great surprises the beach has brought you - trust me, my eyes are still spinning from the struggle to catch it all.
Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights in Orlando, FL
No, it's not the Osborne family you're thinking of. This Osborne family is originally from Little Rock Arkansas. Their tradition of holiday light shows began with a businessman named Jennings Osborne who strung up 1000 red lights to appease his 6-year-old daughter. Each year the light display grew until it eventually grew to more than 3 million lights strong, which was too big for one home to manage. Luckily, the display caught the attention of Disney MGM Studios and was moved there. Now millions of people visit each year to catch a glimpse (a blinding one at that) of the light display that includes Mickey Mouse, Santa Clause, tons of trees and carousels, and even Florida snow. While the display is huge, believe it or not, 90 percent of the figures in the Disney display came from the original home in Little Rock - now that's worth checking out!
The Light Displays of Southern California
While Southern California never really catches on to the winter weather of the holiday season, it tries to follow suit in spirit. As a result, you can find a number of holiday light shows throughout the southern-most portion of the state offering just as much fun as you might expect in the frosty fields of Wisconsin.
Griffith Park is one place you can find a beautiful light display. At the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Griffith Park Holiday Lights Festival (that's quite the mouthful) you can enjoy walking through a beautiful display of lights for a one-mile stretch. But if you prefer to stay in your car while enjoy a light display, you might want to try the Fantasy of Lights drive-through display in Vasona Park near Los Gatos. And if, on the other hand, you don't like to walk or drive your own car, you can try the Gilroy Gardens light show that allows you to enjoy their beautiful displays from their family-friendly rides.
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights in Ontario, Canada
If you feel like venturing out even further - out of the country to be exact - then you'll want to visit the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights. The two miles of lights offers 100 displays including Enchantment of Disney displays and beautiful fireworks that light up the already gorgeously illuminated Falls.
It is always a great idea to make the most of the time you have available during the holiday season by finding ways to truly enjoy it. Visiting beautiful holiday light shows in your area is just one of the many great ways to spend quality time with friends and family. If you know of other holiday light shows in your area and around the country, be sure to spread the word. The people behind the fun displays want them to be enjoyed by the community. Don't let anyone be left out of the fun!
Holiday Light Shows Around The Country YO GABBA GABBA BIRTHDAY SUPPLIES
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