10 Best Christmas Light Displays In Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse

There’s something wonderful and exciting about getting out of the house with the kids to look at Christmas lights. It’s an adventure! Here are our Ten Best Christmas Light Displays In Rochester, Buffalo & Syracuse that you won’t want to miss.

Best Christmas Light Displays In Rochester

RocLights at Victor Hills | Victor Hills Golf Club

ROCLights at Victor Hills Golf Club

2024 will be the final season for RocLights The Holiday Light Show at Victor Hills Golf Club, located in the Rochester NY area. It is a five week long event featuring a drive through Christmas light display designed to provide an affordable, family-friendly holiday outing. Opens November 29!

Holiday Lights Tour | The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester

Experience the magic of the season while supporting local children and families with The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester’s RG&E Holiday Lights Tour, presented by Montage Wealth Management. CACGROC has partnered with some of the brightest and most festively decorated homes in the Greater Rochester area to bring you a fun, family-centered event. Take the tour as often as you like between December 7 and New Years Day and don’t forget to tag us if you share twinkling photos on social and use #HLT2024!

Holiday Laser Shows | Strasenburgh Planeterium

The Strasenburgh Planetarium’s family holiday spectacular returns as our new state-of-the-art laser system and full-dome visualization system combine to create a more colorful and immersive experience than ever before. This show features your favorite holiday songs played back-to-back, from Mariah Carey to Mannheim Steamroller, choreographed with dancing laser light among the stars of the Planetarium sky. Shows start November 9.

Holiday Show | Lamberton Conservatory

In December, the Lamberton Conservatory at Highland Park is decorated with poinsettias and Christmas lights with extended hours for guests to enjoy their Holiday Show. The Conservatory is open 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. During the Holiday Show, it is open until 9pm on Fridays and Sundays.


Best Christmas Light Displays In Syracuse

Lights On The Lake

Lights on the Lake runs from November 18 – January 15 at Onondaga Lake in Liverpool. It is a two mile long drive-thru show featuring towering holiday displays, larger-than life Land of Oz, a twinkling fantasy forest, colorful section arches, memorable animated scenes and a fairy tale magic grand finale! Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time.

The Wild Winter Wonderland of Lights | The Wild Animal Park

The Wild Animal Park in Chittenango hosts The Wild Winter Wonderland of Lights. At this event, you can walk through their zoo and see the animals who are used to cold weather out and about as well as enjoy all of the lights. Santa will also be stopping by. Open select days November 15 – January 1.


Best Christmas Light Displays In Buffalo

ZooLights | Buffalo Zoo

Each year, the Buffalo Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland in the evenings. The Buffalo Zoo Light Festival normally runs November to January.

Poinsettias After Dark: Dimensions | Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

The sparkling lights of the holidays are bringing a whole new dimension to this year’s Poinsettia Exhibit! This year’s Poinsettia Exhibit will feature a brand-new installation called Dimensions. These displays feature large reflective orbs and mirrors and explore how reflections of our own world can cause us to view familiar objects and shapes in entirely new ways. The event runs select days from November 29 to December 30.

Winter Festival of Lights | Niagara Falls

What a way to experience Niagara Falls! Technically, this is on the Canadian side of the falls, but the Winter Festival of Lights attracts over 1 million visitors each year and is Canada’s largest illumination festival, featuring 3 million lights. The Festival opens November 16 and runs until January 5.

Fairgrounds Festival of Lights

Located at the Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY, 30 minutes south of Buffalo. There are so many things to do at the festival including the Christmas Train Express Ride, visiting Santa at his animal barnyard, entertainment, an illuminated pixel show and more. There are dates for drive-thru only experiences and dates with walk-around and drive-thru experience. The Festival runs select dates from November 29 to December 30.

Guide To Holiday Activities For Families

The holiday season in Rochester is filled with festive activities and cherished traditions for all ages. From sparkling light displays and holiday markets to cozy carriage rides and family-friendly events,…

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