When I think of Christmas, I think about snowflakes, hot chocolate, Santa Claus, and of course twinkling lights on trees and houses. Many neighborhoods offer great holiday light displays, you just have to know where to find them.
We have created a list of all of the best neighborhoods in the area to cruise around and experience the magic of the holiday season. We also have information on some new light shows in the area, and a new scavenger hunt to make it even more fun!
Best Holiday Light Displays Lake County
How we make our list:
We ask! Over the last ten years, our Facebook Followers and readers have told us. We love your help, so keep commenting! Some owners also self-submit information on their homes.
We have not verified that lights are up or on, meaning we haven’t driven to and past all these houses. If there is an online source for the house, we do check. However we acknowledge that people move, don’t turn them on, etc. If you drive by a location we have listed and there is nothing there tell us!
Share your pics with us! Tag #LTMLightTour if you are out and about thanks to our list!
We will update this all season so leave us comments and suggestions!
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Christmas Lights Near Me | Best Neighborhoods for Lights |Home Christmas Light Displays | Drive-Thru Holiday Light Shows| Worth the Trip| Scavenger Hunt
Christmas Light Displays Near You
Find Christmas Lights Near Me.
Back to TopBest Neighborhood Light Displays
Take a long way home and meander through these neighborhoods that are awash in lights and decorations.
Hampton Reserve Neighborhood off of Midlothian Road, Mundelein
The entrance to this neighborhood is on a little street called Timber Pass Road, off of Midlothian Road in Mundelein (just past the park district building). About 100 of the homes in the neighborhood have coordinated to make their trees look the same. I think they look a bit like palm trees.
Grayslake Heritage District
This drive was recommended by others on our Facebook page. Start by driving through the downtown on Center street while it’s all aglow in lights. Then meander around the side streets through the older section of town (south of Center Street) and enjoy the lights and historic architecture.
Delany Road, Wadsworth
Delany Road between Adams and 21st Street in Wadsworth is another great neighborhood for wandering around and checking out the lights, as many of the houses decorate.
Golf Road and Dymond Road, Libertyville
This is my family’s absolute favorite neighborhood to drive around in the winter. The whole neighborhood is lined with milk carton luminaries. While milk cartons may not sound very festive, when illuminated, they make a breathtaking sight from afar.
Manchester Lane, Port Barrington
There are a group of about eight houses that orchestrate a musical Christmas lights show together in Port Barrington on Manchester Lane. The neighborhood is on the corner of Rawson Bridge Road and Roberts Road. We’ve heard you should bring canned food donations, as the houses have blue coolers set up collecting donations for the food pantry.
Painted Lakes Subdivision, Lake Villa
Located southwest of the intersection of Grass Lake Road and Deep Lake Road, you can enter the subdivision off either street. This is a large, newer development with many homes that decorate. Our writer Holly’s family drives through the Tuesday before Christmas every year, then they head over to The Lake House restaurant for dinner and to see Magic Dave and treat the kids to $0.99 meals.
North East Corner of 9th and Kenosha Rd., Wadsworth
There is an old schoolhouse that has been converted into a home. Every year they put up an antique Christmas display including Santa and reindeer that is second to none. This house is totally worth the trip and is on your way to Christmas Tree Lane in Wisconsin. Even in the daytime, it looks great yet evenings are best! Their lights go on at dusk and are on until midnight.
Best Home Light Displays in Lake County
These homes give Clark Griswald a run for his money. With yards full of inflatables to computer-controlled synchronization that make them dance to music your kids will be wowed by these displays, guaranteed.
Tarkowski Family
The Tarkowski Family Light Show, 1256 Bradford Lane, Antioch
The lights will be turned on daily until Christmas Day from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. (9:30 p.m. on the weekends). Be sure to “like” the family’s Facebook page as they often post updates about whether their lights will be on or off on a particular night. Please see their page for specific details on parking and traffic flow
Lakewood Lights
222774 N Lakewood Ln Lake Zurich, IL 60047
A new spot on our list check them out and tell us what you think!
Christmas Lights on Poplar, Fox Lake
39 Popular, Fox Lake
Tune your radio to 91.3 FM to get the full Christmas lights experience. Shows are every hour on the hour from 5:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. You might get lucky, every once in a while they have elves passing out candy canes.
Mack Manor
1010 Algonquin Rd., Fox River Grove
With their 99 blow-up decorations and thousands of lights, this is definitely a house to see. In previous years the display was open for the public every night from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Start date and times are pending, no sooner than December 8. Follow them on Facebook (link above) to check before heading out.
Mabus Family Christmas Lights
We stumbled upon this house’s display this year on our way to see the now ended Herzog Family lights. You can see the house from blocks away it is so illuminated. Make sure you roll down your windows as they do have their own music playing for passersby. The display turns on November 30.
Santa Rescue Display
The first block of Idlewild, between Courtland & Crystal Street, Mundelein
Come see a unique rescued Santa display. This family saves Santa blow-molds from garage sales, shops, flea markets, and out of people’s trash to have on display during Christmas time.
Germann Lights
4968 Prairie Oak Rd., Gurnee
The light display is set up by a young video programming student, who decorates with over 15,000 lights, a half-mile of extension cords, and four-light control boxes for his display each year. Drive-by this impressive house and tune your radio to 87.9 FM to listen to the music that the lights are synchronized to. The display begins on December 1.
Grass Family Holiday Lights
39441 N. Circle Ave, Antioch
The Grass family hosts their light show animated to music on 88.1 FM daily from 4:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. This year’s show start has not been confirmed. Their house is located on a cul-de-sac and it’s best to enter from the right (counter-clockwise). Due to the high amounts of viewers, they ask that you be respectful of their neighbors and keep the windows closed and radio at a respectable level. As of publishing, there is no update for 2020
Kolman Family Christmas Light Show
2 N. Brittany Lane, Hainesville
This family has been celebrating with lights since 2012 and impressing all of its neighbors. Lights are on nightly until 10:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. on weekends), which makes this house a good one to drive past if your kids are night owls. Many of our readers have said that this neighborhood also has other very festive houses, which you can see while you are out in the area.
Lights on Magnolia
4504 Magnolia Dr., Rolling Meadows
The show starts on November 29 and runs through New Years’. Lights are on from 4:30 – midnight daily! There are five houses with lights synced to music. Tune your radio to 98.3 FM to listen and watch the show from the warmth of your vehicle. The show is 30 minutes long and runs on a continuous loop. Please do not block driveways and turn off your headlights (parking lights are ok).
Gandor Family Light Show
237 Mark Ln., Lake Zurich
This show is currently underway and runs nightly in Lake Zurich.
Witchwood Lane and Rolling Ridge
Lindenhurst
There is a house on Witchwood just past Rolling Ridge that goes all out with choir, Santa & reindeer, toy soldiers all lit up.
Millennium Park Fox Lake
Decorated with many great additions to the park including two new lighted bridges. The park will be lit on November 28 at 6:00 p.m. and will remain lit until the end of the year.
Drive-Thru Light Displays
No need to get out of the car! Drive-thru these displays and ooh and ah as you make your way around surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights.
Home for the Holidays Lighted Christmas Trail
4, 5, & 6 December 5-10 p.m.
Shiloh Park, Zion
Drive-thru Shiloh Park with over 50 displays, 100,000 lights, and Santa! This is a contactless event and will follow all COVID-19 safety precautions. All families must stay in their vehicles at all times.
Kohlights – a Walk-Thru Experience
December 11 – 13, 18 – 23, 26 – 31, and January 2 – 3.
Preview evenings December 4 -6.
Kids take charge of the area’s newest holiday light display. Using glow stick learning wands, children can control and change the lights, so it’s a different lightacular experience every time. Learn while you play with light and color as you create new hues and patterns in this safe and interactive holiday light installation. The show must “glow” on! Tickets for timed entry required.
Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights
21 November – 31 December, Sunday-Thursday: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Car (up to 8 people) $20 Cash Only
This is over a one-mile drive with thousands of lights. All of the lights are unique and you will never see them anywhere else. Afterward, visit Santa in his on-site workshop and sip some hot chocolate.
Santa’s Rock ‘n’ Lights
November 25 – January 3
Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake
Lights are synchronized to music and animated. Pricing is based on that date and the number of people in your car. Note you are driving through gravel and fields at the fairgrounds and there were some complaints about the bumpy ride in 2018.
Let it Shine
November 15 – January 9, 4:30 – 10 p.m. Weekdays, 4:30 – 11 p.m. Weekends
Northbrook Court, 1515 Lake Cook Rd., Northbrook
Let It Shine is proud to present North Shore’s largest drive thru world of Christmas lights at Northbrook Court! Guests are invited to stay in their cars and immerse themselves in a wonderland of light displays that are synchronized to holiday classics. There’s no denying the holiday cheer as you cruise past dazzling archways, sparkling candy canes, glowing snowmen and more illuminated installations. Timed tickets required.
Worth the Trip
You’re already in the car, start at these a little bit farther than Lake County locations and work your way home.
Christmas on Evergreen
145 Evergreen Lane in Winnetka
Christmas on Evergreen is an animated Christmas light display that began in 2012 as Christmas on Garland. Every year, Christian Tingle–now a senior in high school–designs, builds, and choreographs this display now consisting of over 75,000 lights. The lights are on daily until about 10:00 p.m. but see the website for exact times.
Goebbert’s Christmas Lights Show
November 20 – January 3, Tue.-Thurs., Sun. 5-10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 5 – 11 p.m.
Goebberts Pumpkin Farm, 42W813 Reinking Rd., Pinegree Grove, IL
Enjoy a gorgeous and fun Light Show from the comfort of your vehicle! We have partnered with Epic Light Shows to bring you a spectacular and amazing light display, set to music and featuring over 1 million lights! Admission for the Light Show can be purchased ahead of time online, or at the entrance. Price based on car size.
Kenosha Christmas Lights
6834 106th Ave, Kenosha WI
This family’s lights are up from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Stop by to view 30,000 Christmas lights sequenced to music; tune into 101.3 FM when you arrive.
Rosemont
Rosemont puts on a fantastic light display all throughout the town in the month of December. All of the trees are completely lit up in colored lights. It truly is a sight to see.
Printable Scavenger Hunt
Print this off before you go to keep the kids engaged in the car!
Grab your printable Christmas Lights Scavenger hunt here!
Don’t be a Scrooge! If you know of another festive neighborhood tell us in the comments below and we will add it to our story!
Find more Christmas events and activities at Christmas in Lake County.
We have a very festive Christmas display, 501 Monterrey terrace, mchenry,il
Hello! The corner of Savannah and Carolina in Round Lake is our house, The Mabus family! We’re at 2027 W. Savannah pkwy. Thanks for the recognition! We have over 40,000 individual bulbs and our house is lit from 5pm-10pm every night. We have added more since the photo taken so come on by and see it all!
Thanks for this list!
We had no idea there were so many of these animated music synched displays near us!
We enjoyed them.
Another one that may be worth adding to the list, synchronized lights to music with 30,000+ lights
Lights on Tahoe Court in Mundelein
https://www.facebook.com/lightsontahoecourt
Runs nightly thru Jan. 3rd from 4:30-10pm, 11pm on Friday and Saturday, tune to 88.7 FM for the show
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