12 Magical Christmas Light Displays To Visit In Indiana This Season
Winter in Indiana transforms the Hoosier state into a dazzling wonderland of twinkling lights and festive displays. From sprawling farm shows to urban spectacles, families bundle up each year to experience the magic of these holiday traditions.
Pack some hot cocoa, grab your warmest mittens, and join me on a tour of Indiana’s most spectacular light displays that will fill your heart with Christmas cheer!
1. Christmas At The Zoo (Indianapolis)
Where else can you watch penguins frolic while sipping hot chocolate under twinkling lights? The Indianapolis Zoo’s holiday transformation includes millions of colorful bulbs illuminating pathways throughout the 64-acre property.
My favorite part? The dolphins perform special holiday-themed shows! Don’t miss the Santa’s Village where kids can meet the big guy himself.
Many animals remain active during winter evenings, creating a magical wildlife-meets-Christmas experience you won’t find anywhere else.
2. Winterlights At Newfields
Have you ever walked through a forest where trees sing to you? At Newfields’ Winterlights, trees literally pulse with light in time to holiday music! This immersive display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art features over 1.5 million lights.
The Landscape of Light on the Lilly House lawn synchronizes thousands of lights to beloved Christmas classics. I always make time to stop at the s’mores stations to roast marshmallows over open fire pits. Their hot chocolate comes with peppermint schnapps for adults, a delightful winter warmer!
3. Christmas Nights Of Lights (Indianapolis State Fairgrounds)
Imagine driving through a 2-mile wonderland where millions of LED lights dance and shimmer to holiday music playing right through your car radio! This dazzling drive-through experience transforms the State Fairgrounds into a synchronized light spectacular.
Kids particularly love the giant light tunnels that make them feel like they’re traveling through a wormhole of Christmas magic.
The best part? You never have to leave your toasty vehicle! Perfect for those bitterly cold Indiana nights when stepping outside seems unbearable.
4. Walkway Of Lights (Marion)
Along the Mississinewa Riverwalk, magic happens when nearly three million twinkling lights create a half-mile paradise of illuminated scenes. Matter Park transforms into a wonderland with over 120 unique displays, including a spectacular light tunnel that makes everyone feel like they’re walking through starlight.
If you’re lucky, you might catch Santa during his scheduled visits! The best viewing spot? Cross the illuminated bridge for a breathtaking panoramic view of all displays reflected in the river below. This small-town spectacle rivals anything you’d find in bigger cities.
5. Washington Park Festival Of Lights (Michigan City)
Nestled against the shores of Lake Michigan, this charming display offers something truly special, holiday lights with the backdrop of crashing waves!
Washington Park’s mile-long drive features animated displays that tell classic Christmas stories. The lighthouse decorated with green and red lights serves as a beacon of holiday cheer visible for miles.
My secret tip? Park your car and walk through instead of driving, you’ll discover hidden displays and photo opportunities most visitors miss. Afterward, Michigan City’s downtown offers cozy restaurants perfect for warming up.
6. Pleasant Grove Farm Light Show (Lyons)
Hidden in rural Greene County, this family farm creates an old-fashioned Christmas experience that’ll transport you straight into a Hallmark movie. The Rowe family syncs over 100,000 lights to holiday music across their 60-acre property.
What makes this display special? The authentic farm setting includes decorated barns, tractors wrapped in lights, and even illuminated livestock figures!
Their hot apple cider is legendary among locals. Since it’s far from major cities, you’ll avoid the crowds that plague bigger displays. Sometimes you’ll feel like you have the entire magical experience to yourself.
7. City Of Lights (Kokomo)
Downtown Kokomo transforms into a glittering wonderland with over 250 unique displays throughout Highland Park. The centerpiece? A stunning 92-foot-tall Christmas tree that would make even Rockefeller Center jealous!
If you’re bringing little ones, don’t miss the North Pole Express train that circles through illuminated fairy tale scenes. Highland Park’s historic covered bridge draped in thousands of lights creates the perfect backdrop for family photos.
Unlike commercial attractions, this community-driven display operates on donations, keeping the focus on holiday spirit rather than profits.
8. Christmas In Shipshewana
Want to experience Christmas like it’s 1899? Shipshewana’s Amish country celebration offers a refreshing break from high-tech light displays. Horse-drawn carriages adorned with jingle bells carry visitors through streets illuminated by simple white lights and traditional decorations.
The Trading Place grounds feature hand-crafted wooden displays and thousands of lights reflecting Amish craftsmanship. Don’t miss the ice sculptures illuminated from within!
The local shops stay open late, offering handmade gifts you won’t find elsewhere. This celebration reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful holiday experiences come from the simplest traditions.
9. Forest Of Lights At Fair Oaks Farms
Who knew a working dairy farm could create such Christmas magic? Fair Oaks transforms its adventure park into an illuminated forest with themed light zones representing different holiday traditions from around the world.
Kids go crazy for the milk bottle tree, a 30-foot Christmas tree made entirely from glass milk bottles illuminated from within! Their unique farm-to-table restaurant offers special holiday menus featuring ingredients produced right on the property.
After exploring the lights, warm up inside their massive gift shop featuring farm-fresh cheese and ice cream made from milk produced by the very cows you can visit.
10. Christmas Tyme Lights At Harvest Tyme Family Farm
Just a stone’s throw from the Illinois border, this family farm creates a charming country Christmas that feels worlds away from city stress. Their hayride light tour takes you through illuminated corn fields and festive farm scenes while you snuggle under warm blankets.
The massive bonfire area surrounded by lights offers the perfect spot to roast marshmallows and swap Christmas stories.
The decorated antique tractors and farm equipment showcase the property’s agricultural heritage. Their Christmas market features local artisans selling handmade ornaments and gifts you won’t find in any mall.
11. Holiday Displays In Indiana State Parks
Mother Nature provides the perfect backdrop for Christmas lights at Indiana’s state parks! Ouabache State Park’s fire tower wrapped in lights can be seen for miles, while Mounds State Park creates illuminated pathways through ancient Native American earthworks.
Spring Mill’s pioneer village transforms into a Victorian Christmas celebration with period-appropriate decorations and candlelit cabins. The parks offer a unique opportunity to combine holiday traditions with outdoor adventure.
Many locations host special weekend events featuring wildlife encounters, ranger-led night hikes, and campfire stories about winter wildlife.
12. Circle Of Lights (Indianapolis)
Every year, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument transforms into the world’s largest Christmas tree. Seriously, it’s huge! Nearly 5,000 colorful lights wrap around this 284-foot tall monument while 26 giant toy soldiers and sailors stand guard.
Families have gathered here since 1962, making it Indy’s oldest holiday tradition. The switch-flipping ceremony after Thanksgiving draws massive crowds, complete with holiday music and appearances by local celebrities.
