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Tis the season! Let’s celebrate with the best Christmas light displays in Massachusetts, from Boston to the Berkshires and all the small towns in between.
If you’re only staying in the city and don’t have a car, then check out our Boston holiday lights guide instead and get all the best spots.
But there are so many more places to go beyond Beantown if you’re looking for celebrations and light shows!
To continue the seasonal fun, check out our guide to Massachusetts in winter.
Festive Christmas Light Displays in Massachusetts
Christmas Lights in the Greater Boston Area
Christopher Columbus Park, Boston
Each year on the Monday before Thanksgiving (making this one of the earlier Christmas light displays in MA), the Trellis at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park (110 Atlantic Ave, Boston) is lit up with beautiful blue lights.
This is also one of the Massachusetts holiday lights displays that lasts the longest: these lights stay on until April!
The lights are turned on at 5pm, with classic New England clam chowder, traditional hot chocolate, and plenty of Christmas carols to keep everyone warm that evening.
If you don’t go for the actual lighting, you can still enjoy the lights on their own.
This is one of the more romantic spots in Boston; check out our Boston date ideas for even more romance.
The Common & Public Garden, Boston
Few places in Boston in December are as beautifully festive as the Common and Commonwealth Avenue along the Public Garden.
The huge Christmas tree in the Common is an annual gift from the province of Nova Scotia in thanks for the aid provided by the people of Boston after a massive explosion in Halifax back in 1917.
Each year, it brings light and joy to locals and visitors in Boston as it twinkles with thousands of lights.
Beyond the tree itself, festive lights adorn nearly 100 trees across Boston Common and the Public Garden.
While you’re here, enjoy ice skating on Frog Pond!
It’s one of our favorite things to do in the winter in Boston.
Walking along Commonwealth Ave (Comm Ave) leading to the Public Garden is another favorite local pastime each December.
Illuminations Tour, Somerville
Take a self-guided Christmas lights tour in Massachusetts that features the best and brightest of the Somerville community!
Head to Somerville in December and follow the Illuminations Tour map, which is community-based and crowd-sourced for everyone’s enjoyment!
Members of the community submit their addresses if they’re decorating for the season.
A map is created and launched each year around the second week of December so you can follow along and enjoy the festive decor.
There’s also a night of caroling, if you’d like to join!
Check the website for full details and to register your interest.
This is a true community-led celebration of all things festive, artistic, and joyful!
Canale Christmas Light Display, Readville
Near Blue Hills Reservation, head to Readville to enjoy a delightful local lights celebration offered to the neighborhood by the generous Canale family.
Set to tunes requested by friends, family, neighbors, and fans, the Canales light up everyone’s faces each festive season.
Go to 42 Meadowview Rd, Readville, park up or bundle up, and enjoy the show!
The Canales have been offering a vibrant Christmas light show for Massachusetts since 1974.
Kenneth C. Canale Sr. started the tradition and his son now continues it for the joy of all.
In 2018, the family was even recognized by the City of Boston for their delightful contributions to the community of Hyde Park every Christmas.
Support local and enjoy this wonderful family tradition year after year!
North Shore Holiday Lights
Go beyond Boston city limits to the towns of the North Shore for more festive fun.
We love this part of the state all year round.
Check out our guides to Rockport, Newburyport, and Salem if you want to spend more time in any of them and need ideas for things to do.
Here are some of the best places to see Christmas lights in Massachusetts’ North Shore region…
Annual Festival of Trees, Methuen
Methuen’s Festival of Trees (13 Branch St) is an annual favorite!
Since 1994, this delightful event has attracted visitors from all across New England (and abroad).
Expect to see more than 200 trees decorated in unique styles — with the chance to win one of them!
The raffles and auctions help support preservation efforts in Methuen and the wider Merrimack Valley.
Santa will also be there for the kiddos and an awesome photo op.
Note that timed tickets are required and must be purchased online in advance.
Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens, North Andover
Winterlights is an annual event run by The Trustees, a nonprofit focused on the preservation and conservation of natural spaces and historic buildings.
One such historic building — the Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover (153 Chickering Road) — is one of the loveliest places to see Christmas lights in Massachusetts this year!
Take the whole family and enjoy walking around the beautiful grounds with all the light displays and then walk through the house to enjoy its festive decor.
Winterlights runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving through the first Saturday of January, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays.
Tickets sell out early, especially for weekend time slots.
Booking in advance is required.
Unfortunately, there are stairs and steps throughout, so this event is not wheelchair-accessible.
North Shore Holiday Light Show, Haverhill
The North Shore Holiday Light Show offers a 1-mile drive-through Christmas lights experience in MA that you won’t want to miss!
The company hosts shows in various locations in the US, but this is the only one in Massachusetts.
Head to Crescent Farms in Haverhill (1058 Boston Rd) with some road snacks and warm festive drinks, tune in to the radio, and enjoy dozens of light displays timed to the music.
The show starts in mid-November with more availability right around Christmas.
Tickets are per carload; book online for Fridays and Saturdays, tickets for other days can be purchased at the gate.
Christmas Lights on the South Shore & Cape Cod
From southeastern Mass to the tip of the Cape, check out the variety of displays and plan some festive cheer.
There are plenty of walk-through and drive-through Christmas lights displays that you won’t want to miss!
Here’s our guide to Cape Cod in winter for more seasonal fun.
Winterlights at Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, Canton
Another Winterlights event is held at Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate (2468B Washington Street/Route 138) in Canton.
This beautiful home is set on 90 acres and is a favorite spot to visit all year round.
For the holiday season, head to the Bradley Estate to marvel at the thousands of shimmering lights set up around the property.
Winterlights runs Wednesdays through Sundays, beginning the day after Thanksgiving and ending the first week in January.
You must purchase tickets in advance.
The lights are all outdoors and most people spend around an hour there, so dress accordingly!
Unfortunately, the uneven paths mean this event is not wheelchair accessible.
Personal note: I took my dad here on opening night in 2023 and we spent about 45 minutes walking around with hot cocoa (an additional purchase inside the house) and taking lots of photos, it was such a lovely event!
The Enchanted Village at Jordan’s, Avon
What started in the 1960s at the Downtown Crossing flagship Jordan Marsh furniture store is now a permanent display at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon (100 Stockwell Dr).
The Enchanted Village comes to life each holiday season for family-friendly fun and festivities.
This is also an ideal place to see Christmas lights in Massachusetts indoors so you can avoid the cold weather.
Enjoy indoor ice skating, classic reindeer games, a ride on the 4D Polar Express, a Santa meet-and-greet, and taste the traditional (and iconic) blueberry muffins that have been enjoyed by generations.
It might seem strange that all of this is at a furniture store, but Jordan’s is an institution around Boston!
I grew up going to the store to take the MOM ride and absolutely loved it; we never visited for the Christmas lights though, so tell me about your experiences in the comments below!
Magic of Lights at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
2023 Update: Unfortunately, the organizers announced that 2022 would be their final year at Gillette Stadium, so hopefully you enjoyed this event while it was still available!
For some of the best drive-through Christmas lights in Massachusetts, you have to head to Magic of Lights at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
Better known as the home of the New England Patriots NFL team, Gillette turns into a magical place around the holidays.
From mid-November through December 31st, hop in your car and drive through the 200-foot-long Enchanting Tunnel of Lights, listen to festive tunes through the car radio, and marvel at the wide variety of displays.
Kids of all ages (including those who are young at heart) enjoy the dinosaurs, giant Barbie, Candy Cane Lane, Toyland, and more.
Over a million lights are used, so it’s certainly a space that sparkles!
Note: Set your GPS to this address, not just to Gillette Stadium: 67 Washington St, Foxborough, MA 02035.
LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro
The La Salette Christmas lights in Massachusetts are some of the most popular for the southeastern Mass area.
The LaSalette Shrine (947 Park St, Attleboro) is an active religious institution, but they open up the property to visitors of all kinds for the festive season.
With more than 400,000 lights around the property, you can walk through various displays between 5 and 9pm every night of the week.
The Christmas lights are available to view between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day each year.
Entry to the Christmas lights display is absolutely free, but donations are always welcome.
Note that traffic starts to build up and parking can take a while at the busiest times on weekends, so try to go during the week if you can.
Edaville Family Theme Park, Carver
Edaville is a local institution!
Originally a destination for riding the “Cranberry Belt Line” trains back in the 1940s, the Christmas season attracted visitors from all around.
Nowadays, Edaville (5 Pine St, Carver) boasts everything from vintage amusement park rides for kids to steam train rides for all ages.
The Festival of Lights and the Christmas Market offer a beautiful setting that’s full of nostalgia.
Bring the whole family for a fun-filled evening of rides and pretty lights.
Note that tickets range from General Admission for just the lights and market entrance, to higher-priced tickets for unlimited train rides or unlimited park rides.
Season passes are available if you live close by and want to enjoy the festivities all season long.
Children aged 4 and under are always free.
Edaville is open Thursdays through Sundays.
Carver is just down the road from Plymouth, if you’re looking for places to stay to spend a festive weekend away together!
Giants Holiday Lights Sculptures, Cape Cod
Drive along Route 6A on Cape Cod and you’ll encounter brightly-lit giants!
The annual Giants Christmas light display includes dozens of sculptures created by artist Michael Magyar.
Start in Sandwich and drive towards Dennis to enjoy these delightful displays en route.
You might want to check out our other Cape Cod winter suggestions to enjoy more coastal fun!
Gardens Aglow, Sandwich
After enjoying the Giants, head to Gardens Aglow at the Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich (67 Grove Street).
This is the Cape’s most popular Christmas lights display — they sell out the full season most years, so grab your tickets early!
Enjoy plenty of family-friendly activities, including reindeer scavenger hunts and games.
Don’t skip making s’mores around the fire and be sure to stop and see Santa while you’re here, too!
You could spend a few hours here if you stroll slowly and take lots of photos along the way.
Personal suggestion: If you’re visiting this lights display without kids, book a later entry ticket time since most of the crowds book earlier for their little ones; parking will be easier and the hot cocoa line will be minimal!
Cape Cod Enchanted Village, Hyannis
The Cape Codder Resort & Spa (1225 Iyannough Rd, Hyannis) hosts a beautiful holiday lights display, with thousands of lights adorning miniature Christmas trees and garden animals.
Their Enchanted Village is always a favorite spot for both locals and visitors alike.
Walk among the decorations and lights outside and then cozy up indoors with a fireplace and festive decor.
Booking a stay is an extra special festive treat to enjoy the seasonal glow.
Lobster Pot Tree Lighting, Provincetown
One of the most beloved Provincetown Christmas attractions is the Lobster Pot Christmas Tree (Commercial and Standish St).
While other towns might use regular old Christmas trees, P-town pulls together a massive pyramid of lobster pots and then decorates it with bows, LED Christmas lights, a giant anchor, and buoys.
You can’t miss seeing this unique Christmas light display — it’s a local favorite!
If you love coastal festive fun, then you also can’t miss Newport RI for Christmas celebrations.
Central & Western Mass
Let’s head inland and enjoy the many places to see Christmas lights in Central and Western Mass.
You’ll find some of the cutest Christmas towns in Massachusetts in these areas — straight out of a Hallmark film!
Night Lights at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston
Go to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston (11 French Dr) for a festive celebration on their 15 acres of gardens and woodlands.
Walk amongst the thousands of lights, make some s’mores, and cozy up inside the indoor greenhouses when you need to.
This beautiful space is a delightful Christmas night out!
Advance ticket purchase is required.
Plan to spend anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on how relaxed your schedule is and how much of the grounds you want to explore.
Christmas on Runaway, Lancaster
For a true New England treat, head to Lancaster where a family has been lighting up their property in time with tunes to the delight of locals.
Christmas on Runaway (24 Runaway Brook Rd, Lancaster) is the perfect spot for a truly local Christmas lights display in Massachusetts.
Drive up, park, and tune into 90.1 to enjoy the timed lights show with music as you stay cozy in your car.
Be aware of other cars and pull up as close as you can to the vehicle in front of you to give everyone the best chance to view the show.
Christmas on Runaway is just a 20-minute drive from the New England Botanic Garden (mentioned above), so you could even combine these two spots for one incredibly festive evening!
Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge
Want to feel like you’re starring in a Hallmark Christmas movie?
Then head to Old Sturbridge Village (1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd) for their annual Christmas by Candlelight celebration.
Enjoy dazzling lights, fun family activities, and traditions spanning centuries.
A lighting celebration happens each day at 4:30pm, plus you can enjoy walking the Christmas Tree Trail, warming up with food and drinks, and learning about the evolution of Christmas celebrations since the mid-19th Century.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Free parking is available on-site; navigate to 29 Stallion Hill Road in Sturbridge to reach the parking lot.
Bright Nights at Forest Park, Springfield
Visit Springfield, MA, for Bright Nights at Forest Park (300 Sumner Ave).
Enjoy a 3-mile drive-through Christmas lights event complete with festive tunes.
This beloved annual event has been running since 1995 and attracts visitors from far and wide.
Get your tickets in advance and enjoy this special seasonal event any night of the week — including holidays!
Winterlights at Naumkeag, Stockbridge
Yet another Winterlights event put on by The Trustees, Naumkeag in Stockbridge (5 Prospect Hill Rd) is a beautiful historic property boasting 48 acres to explore.
Built in the 1880s, the 44-room home is closed during the winter, but the first floor is open during Winterlights so you can enjoy the decor.
I visited Naumkeag in the summer and loved strolling the grounds; they also host an incredible Halloween event and this Christmas lights event that I’d love to witness in person!
Beyond the home, you can walk the grounds to bask in the glow of the thousands of LED Christmas lights on display.
Winterlights at Naumkeag runs from Wednesday through Sunday each week, beginning on the Friday after Thanksgiving and ending the first weekend in January.
Advance ticket purchase is required.
Note that there is no parking on-site; a shuttle is provided from Stockbridge.
There is designated parking on both sides of Town Hall (50 Main Street, Stockbridge) or you can find street parking where available.
The shuttle will be available across the street from the Stockbridge Library at the Stockbridge Information Booth (37-39 Main Street).
While you’re out in Western Mass, you might like our suggestions for date ideas in the Berkshires to impress your significant other.
Final Words
We hope this has helped you experience all the best Christmas lights in Massachusetts!
Let us know your favorite displays in the comments below.