I may not be a fan of winter weather, but I do love a family trip to one of these amazing light displays. There is something about lights even as an adult that brings me so much joy. Maybe a piece of it is seeing my little ones smile as we walk or drive through a light display or maybe it brings the kid out in me during the holiday season. Either way, we love visiting the places on this list. Not only are they family-friendly, but they are infant and toddler-friendly, too. This is a bonus for this mom of four. This year we have you covered with our guide to holiday lights in Central Mass and beyond.
Below are places to visit with your family this holiday season to see holiday lights:
Southwick’s Zoo Winter Wonderland (Mendon)
New England’s favorite zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with illuminated lights and displays. The experience is a MUST for everyone in Central Mass. We recently visited Southwick’s for their Winter Wonderland with our Central Mass Mom crew, and we stayed for hours. Our kids absolutely loved it! The light displays are beautiful, and there are so many opportunities for photos. The display runs now through December 31st.
Lancaster Celebration of Lights (Lancaster)
This lights display is a drive-thru of over 1 million LED lights featuring a 90-foot Christmas Tree and a 300-foot multi-colored tunnel. This glittering display is located in Lancaster. We just drove through recently, and it was well done! It was really easy to drive through and our littlest kept saying “so many lights” the whole way through it!
Red Apple Farm Winter Festival (Phillipston)
Red Apple Farm is hosting their second annual Winter Festival which opened on November 24th and runs through December 31st. They have created a unique interactive light experience filled with many new features and interactive installations for the entire family to enjoy.
The winter festival includes food and beverages throughout the farm. Full meals, beer, and cider are available at the Brew Barn. They also have wood-fired pizza from Timber Fire Pizza. And you can find even more food, snacks, and gifts are available in their country store.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (Boylston)
The Night Lights: Starry Skies is a winter light display like no other in the region! This year, they will take you on a journey through the cosmos and back. They also have s’mores, seasonal drinks, a model train, shopping, and awesome photo opportunities for the entire family. It is one of the most spectacular light shows and it runs daily now through December 31st from 4-10 PM.
Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville Family Theme Park (Carver, MA)
Edaville Family Theme Park is back to delight guests with their yearly holiday display that includes steam trains, 250,000+ Christmas lights, food, local businesses and crafters, vintage amusement rides, Santa, and so much more fun. The Festival of Lights is scheduled for Thursday-Sunday from now until December 31st (except for Christmas Day). They have three different ticket options to choose from: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. And just a reminder that anyone under the age of 2 enters the park for free!
Amarante’s Winter Wonderland (Dayville, CT)
If you live in south Central MA, you must take a trip to this beautiful display of lights located at a home! Yup, this display is a walk-thru in a family’s yard where you can see a stunning display of lights. With over 185,000 lights on display, a gift shop, and they partner with local non-profit organizations for charitable giving throughout their season, which runs from now until New Year’s Day nightly from 5-9PM.
LaSalette Christmas Celebration of Lights (Attleboro)
This beautiful display of lights spans over 10 acres of property at the LaSalette Shrine. A little bit out of the Central Mass region but well worth the drive. Traffic and parking can get tricky during busy times because people from all over come to see this display, but the display lights up every evening from 5-9PM. This gives you ample time to visit this display from November 23rd through January 1st.
Bright Nights at Forest Park (Springfield, MA)
Last but certainly not least is Bright Nights at Forest Park. Since 1995, this drive-through holiday experience has enchanted visitors with its wide variety of extravagant lighting displays. From now through January 1st, you can drive along the trail and experience the magic from 5-9PM.
We love seeing families come together and enjoy events like the ones listed above, so make sure to tag Central Mass Mom on Facebook and Instagram so we can hear all about the fun your family is having visiting these light displays!
