1Winter Lights: Medfield State Hospital Grounds
2020: Dec 17 through Dec 20
4 days only
Drive-through light display with timed tickets every 15 minutes from 5 PM through 9 PM. $20/car, purchase in advance online. Details here
2Festival of Trees: Elm Bank, Wellesley
2020: Nov 27 through Dec 20
Beautifully decorated trees and indoor decorated Snow Village with model trains winding throughout. S’mores at outdoor fire pit. Admission $25/adult, $5/youth ages 3-17. Details here
3Santa’s Wonderland: Patriot Place Foxboro & Cabela’s Hudson
2020: Nov 7 through Dec 24
Free photo with Santa. Kids can mail their letter to Santa and bring home a craft kit. All activities + photo are free. Details here
Must reserve in advance online. Each day opens 7 days in advance, at midnight. Bass Pro spots fill almost immediately. Cabela’s spots tend to last longer before filling.
4Magic of Lights: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
2020: Nov 13 through Jan 2
Drive-through display at Patriot Place. Purchase tickets in advance for $50/car. Details here
5Drive-Through Holiday Light Show: Waltham
2020: Nov 27 through Jan 3
1 mile drive-through light display with music through the car radio. Purchase tickets in advance for $20-$23/car. Details here
6Winter Wonderland, Southwick’s Zoo, Mendon
2020: Nov 27 through Dec 30
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Drive through the Frozen Forest of decorations and deer. Park and walk through Santa’s Enchanted Village which includes a petting zoo, distanced Santa to greet, s’mores and hot toddys. Details here
7“Light from Afar”: La Salette Shrine, 947 Park St, Attleboro
2020: Daily Nov 26 through Jan 3
Illuminated 5-9 PM Daily
A popular walk-through light display that has a religious emphasis. Free admission and parking, but donations are welcome. Can be extremely crowded on weekends. Arrive by 4:30 on weekends and make s’mores while waiting. Details here
8Winter Wonderland Drive-Through: AJT Supplies, Foxboro
2020: Fridays & Saturdays Dec 4-19
Drive through a winter wonderland with light displays and several characters including Santa. The entire event is outdoors from the car. $15/car. Details here
9Festival of Lights: KOA, Middleboro
2019: Dec 12-13 and Dec 19-20
4-9 PM
Drive through acres decorated with over 500,000 lights. Reserve tickets online in advance: $10/vehicle.” Details here
10Zoo Lights: Stone Zoo, Stoneham
2020: Nov 27 through Jan 3
The zoo is lit up with holiday lights and festive decorations. No Santa this year. $14 admission, Under 2 free. Details here
11Christmas by Candlelight: Old Sturbridge Village
2020: Dec 4-30
on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
plus select dates near Christmas
“See demonstrations of classic Christmas projects like knitting stockings, wreath making, and making natural ornaments. Watch as we make a traditional Christmas meal, punch tin lanterns, make ice skates or a sled, and other special projects. You’ll enjoy strolling from the Common to the Countryside as you enjoy our festive, outdoor decorations, Christmas Tree Trail, and Christmas Wish Bridge. And Christmas by Candlelight wouldn’t be complete without a horse-drawn carryall ride and warming up by the bonfires.” $22/adult, $11/youth. Under 4 free. Details here
12Lancaster Light Show: Lancaster Fairgrounds
2020: Nov 25 through Jan 3
Over 1 mile of roadway decorated with over 1 million lights, including giant Christmas tree and wreath. $20-$28/car. Purchase tickets in advance. Details here
13Bright Nights: Springfield
2020: Nov 25 through Jan 6
25th annual drive-through light show. As a long-standing event, many people report that it has grown more elaborate through the years and is very much worth the drive. Purchase tickets in advance. Details here
14Winterlights: Eleanor Bradley Cabot Estate, Canton
2020: Nov 27 through Jan 2 [SOLD OUT]
Walk through the Bradley Estate property to see the elaborate light display. Tickets available on presale to members first, then the general public. 2020 tickets sold out before Thanksgiving.
15Closed for 2020
- Enchanted Village: Jordan’s Furniture in Avon
- Christmas Festival of Lights: Edaville, Carver
- Night Lights & Winter Wonderland: Tower Hill Botanic Gardens, Boylston
- Fatima Shrine: 101 Summer St. (Rt 126) Holliston
- Blink!: Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
16Map of Light Displays: The Best Neighborhoods Near You
We here at Community Kangaroo have gathered recommendations for jaw-dropping light displays in just about every town west and southwest of Boston. We put them all on one big map! See our map here
17 Our List of Santa Pictures: Local Malls, etc
Coming soon: We’ll post any Santa stops that we’ve found. Once they’re ready, you’ll be able to Find Santa photo ops here
18Hanukkah Celebrations: See the Events Near You
Local menorah lightings and other Hanukkah celebrations from our calendar: Find Hanukkah celebrations here
19Keep Track of What’s Coming Up Near You!
Our website is put together by a team of parents scattered across the suburbs between Boston and Worcester. Each of us writes a weekly newsletter of the best upcoming events, which lands in your inbox just in time to plan each weekend! Sign up to hear about things worth driving to from your town