Christmas is unlike any other holiday. Many of the acts we associate with celebrating it originated thousands of years ago, with the celebration of Yule in Norse culture, and eventually came to merge with Christmas celebrations as it expanded into the rest of Europe. By the 15th and 16th centuries, the Christmas celebrations had evolved to the point where people began bringing decorated trees into their homes. In 1880, Thomas Edison created a strand of light bulbs that he hung as a decoration outside his lab. Decades later, these things would converge, and now people use light bulbs to decorate their homes for Christmas.
Today, Christmas light displays have become quite complex, and viewing them is now seen as a fun pastime in itself, similar to scenic train rides and motorcycle road trips. There are hundreds of displays all over the world that you can check out to get a boost of Christmas spirit, and many of the best (and most iconic) Christmas displays have been around for more than 100 years. So, if you need an injection of holiday spirit, here are some of the coolest Christmas displays we could find, in the U.S. at least.
Columbus Zoo Wildlights 2025 (Ohio)
Since I was tasked with writing this article, I decided to sneak in my hometown favorite with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Wildlights display. The staff at the zoo decorates the entire place with lightings, culminating in a set of lights near the center that do a little light show periodically through the evening. Patrons who show up will have access to food and beverages, and some of the cold-friendly animal exhibits are also open after hours, so you can see some animals. I personally enjoy petting the stingrays. They feel like jello, it’s very cool.
It’s certainly a unique way to enjoy the local zoo, and an experience you can’t get any other time of the year. The Columbus Zoo is also far from the only zoo that does a lighting event. Dozens of zoos around the country have holiday-inspired events like this. They’re family friendly, and attending the events helps support your local zoo. The holiday-themed merch also makes for excellent stocking stuffers, especially if you have family members who love animals.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (New York)
Dyker Heights is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Brooklyn in New York City. This little neighborhood does quite a bit more than your average neighborhood when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Not only does every person there cover their property with enough decorations to open a shop of their own, but the neighborhood also banded together to form Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, a tourism company specifically so that people can come visit and see all of the decorations. The company hosts bus tours to offer views of the whole neighborhood, complete with a tour guide to talk about the various spectacles that you’ll see…