Holiday Light Shows Around The Country

The excitement of the holiday season is rapidlySanta's, giant gift-wrapped packages, and a 3-story
approaching - great food, great times with the family,Christmas tree. You eyes will fight to view all of the
and great entertainment. One of the best parts ofgreat surprises the beach has brought you - trust
the holidays for many is the fabulous lights thatme, my eyes are still spinning from the struggle to
emanate throughout the country. Whether you're incatch it all.
New York City or "Smallville" you can find some greatOsborne Family Spectacle of Lights in Orlando, FL
displays to make your mouth drop. To give you aNo, it's not the Osborne family you're thinking of. This
short roadmap to some of the fascinating eventsOsborne family is originally from Little Rock Arkansas.
going on this year, I've rounded up some of theTheir tradition of holiday light shows began with a
more popular holiday light shows found from coast tobusinessman named Jennings Osborne who strung up
coast - check them out!1000 red lights to appease his 6-year-old daughter.
Chicago land Holiday Light ShowsEach year the light display grew until it eventually
Chicago kicks off the list in style by presenting angrew to more than 3 million lights strong, which was
assortment of holiday light shows around the largetoo big for one home to manage. Luckily, the display
Midwest city. These exciting shows featurecaught the attention of Disney MGM Studios and was
impressive displays of color and also showcasemoved there. Now millions of people visit each year
animated figures of a variety of Christmas stories.to catch a glimpse (a blinding one at that) of the light
The lights can be found at Navy Pier, the Magnificentdisplay that includes Mickey Mouse, Santa Clause,
Mile (Michigan Avenue), and the Daley Plaza Germantons of trees and carousels, and even Florida snow.
Christmas Market (also known as Christkindlmarkt).While the display is huge, believe it or not, 90 percent
In addition to holiday light shows within the Chicagoof the figures in the Disney display came from the
city limits, you can find an assortment of displaysoriginal home in Little Rock - now that's worth
presented in the suburbs, including Holiday Magic atchecking out!
Brookfield Zoo, which displays lights, and isThe Light Displays of Southern California
accompanied by live music, carolers, celebrityWhile Southern California never really catches on to
storytellers, magicians and more! Lincoln Park Zoo alsothe winter weather of the holiday season, it tries to
takes part in the festivities by presenting huge lightedfollow suit in spirit. As a result, you can find a number
animal sculptures and fun ice carvings free of charge.of holiday light shows throughout the southern-most
Other great Chicago light shows include Clearbrook'sportion of the state offering just as much fun as you
Wonderland of Lights and Wonderland of Lights atmight expect in the frosty fields of Wisconsin.
Chicago Botanical Gardens. But if you want to involveGriffith Park is one place you can find a beautiful light
yourself in the true essence of Chicago, Idisplay. At the Los Angeles Department of Water
recommend visiting Navy Pier and the Magnificentand Power Griffith Park Holiday Lights Festival (that's
Mile, both wonderful attractions, even without thequite the mouthful) you can enjoy walking through a
lights.beautiful display of lights for a one-mile stretch. But if
McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach in Virginiayou prefer to stay in your car while enjoy a light
Beach, VAdisplay, you might want to try the Fantasy of Lights
While Virginia Beach is best known as a quaint littledrive-through display in Vasona Park near Los Gatos.
resort city that becomes densely populated withAnd if, on the other hand, you don't like to walk or
college students during various holiday breaks, manydrive your own car, you can try the Gilroy Gardens
don't know that when the students are away, thelight show that allows you to enjoy their beautiful
townspeople come out to play. Whether visiting thisdisplays from their family-friendly rides.
lovely portion of the Atlantic Ocean in the summerNiagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights in Ontario,
months, or during the holiday season, it remainsCanada
beautiful. And it is even more so with the addition ofIf you feel like venturing out even further - out of
the holiday light shows that stretch along 31 blocksthe country to be exact - then you'll want to visit
of the popular hotel-lined boardwalk.the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights. The two
Unlike some holiday light shows, this one requires thatmiles of lights offers 100 displays including
you stay in your car and drive along the boardwalkEnchantment of Disney displays and beautiful
(it is closed to beach combers after nightfall). Afireworks that light up the already gorgeously
beautifully-lit archway borders the entire 31-blockilluminated Falls.
stretch and adds flair to the gorgeous animatedIt is always a great idea to make the most of the
figures strategically placed on either side of thetime you have available during the holiday season by
boardwalk. Some of the figures are centered in thefinding ways to truly enjoy it. Visiting beautiful holiday
sandy path to the ocean, which you can hearlight shows in your area is just one of the many
crashing emphatically in the background, vying forgreat ways to spend quality time with friends and
attention.family. If you know of other holiday light shows in
Among the over 250 animated displays include funyour area and around the country, be sure to spread
and festive fish, jumping dolphins, and frolickingthe word. The people behind the fun displays want
porpoises. If you're paying attention, you can catch athem to be enjoyed by the community. Don't let
glimpse of a shy mermaid trying to swim away fromanyone be left out of the fun!
nearby rocking sailboats. There are also fun waving