| The excitement of the holiday season is rapidly | | | | Santa'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 of | | | | great surprises the beach has brought you - trust |
| the holidays for many is the fabulous lights that | | | | me, my eyes are still spinning from the struggle to |
| emanate throughout the country. Whether you're in | | | | catch it all. |
| New York City or "Smallville" you can find some great | | | | Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights in Orlando, FL |
| displays to make your mouth drop. To give you a | | | | No, it's not the Osborne family you're thinking of. This |
| short roadmap to some of the fascinating events | | | | Osborne family is originally from Little Rock Arkansas. |
| going on this year, I've rounded up some of the | | | | Their tradition of holiday light shows began with a |
| more popular holiday light shows found from coast to | | | | businessman named Jennings Osborne who strung up |
| coast - check them out! | | | | 1000 red lights to appease his 6-year-old daughter. |
| Chicago land Holiday Light Shows | | | | Each year the light display grew until it eventually |
| Chicago kicks off the list in style by presenting an | | | | grew to more than 3 million lights strong, which was |
| assortment of holiday light shows around the large | | | | too big for one home to manage. Luckily, the display |
| Midwest city. These exciting shows feature | | | | caught the attention of Disney MGM Studios and was |
| impressive displays of color and also showcase | | | | moved 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 Magnificent | | | | display that includes Mickey Mouse, Santa Clause, |
| Mile (Michigan Avenue), and the Daley Plaza German | | | | tons 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 Chicago | | | | of the figures in the Disney display came from the |
| city limits, you can find an assortment of displays | | | | original home in Little Rock - now that's worth |
| presented in the suburbs, including Holiday Magic at | | | | checking out! |
| Brookfield Zoo, which displays lights, and is | | | | The Light Displays of Southern California |
| accompanied by live music, carolers, celebrity | | | | While Southern California never really catches on to |
| storytellers, magicians and more! Lincoln Park Zoo also | | | | the winter weather of the holiday season, it tries to |
| takes part in the festivities by presenting huge lighted | | | | follow 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's | | | | portion of the state offering just as much fun as you |
| Wonderland of Lights and Wonderland of Lights at | | | | might expect in the frosty fields of Wisconsin. |
| Chicago Botanical Gardens. But if you want to involve | | | | Griffith Park is one place you can find a beautiful light |
| yourself in the true essence of Chicago, I | | | | display. At the Los Angeles Department of Water |
| recommend visiting Navy Pier and the Magnificent | | | | and Power Griffith Park Holiday Lights Festival (that's |
| Mile, both wonderful attractions, even without the | | | | quite 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 Virginia | | | | you prefer to stay in your car while enjoy a light |
| Beach, VA | | | | display, you might want to try the Fantasy of Lights |
| While Virginia Beach is best known as a quaint little | | | | drive-through display in Vasona Park near Los Gatos. |
| resort city that becomes densely populated with | | | | And if, on the other hand, you don't like to walk or |
| college students during various holiday breaks, many | | | | drive your own car, you can try the Gilroy Gardens |
| don't know that when the students are away, the | | | | light show that allows you to enjoy their beautiful |
| townspeople come out to play. Whether visiting this | | | | displays from their family-friendly rides. |
| lovely portion of the Atlantic Ocean in the summer | | | | Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights in Ontario, |
| months, or during the holiday season, it remains | | | | Canada |
| beautiful. And it is even more so with the addition of | | | | If you feel like venturing out even further - out of |
| the holiday light shows that stretch along 31 blocks | | | | the 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 that | | | | miles of lights offers 100 displays including |
| you stay in your car and drive along the boardwalk | | | | Enchantment of Disney displays and beautiful |
| (it is closed to beach combers after nightfall). A | | | | fireworks that light up the already gorgeously |
| beautifully-lit archway borders the entire 31-block | | | | illuminated Falls. |
| stretch and adds flair to the gorgeous animated | | | | It is always a great idea to make the most of the |
| figures strategically placed on either side of the | | | | time you have available during the holiday season by |
| boardwalk. Some of the figures are centered in the | | | | finding ways to truly enjoy it. Visiting beautiful holiday |
| sandy path to the ocean, which you can hear | | | | light shows in your area is just one of the many |
| crashing emphatically in the background, vying for | | | | great 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 fun | | | | your area and around the country, be sure to spread |
| and festive fish, jumping dolphins, and frolicking | | | | the word. The people behind the fun displays want |
| porpoises. If you're paying attention, you can catch a | | | | them to be enjoyed by the community. Don't let |
| glimpse of a shy mermaid trying to swim away from | | | | anyone be left out of the fun! |
| nearby rocking sailboats. There are also fun waving | | | | |