Christmas Lights near Cleveland.

Downtown's Public Square fills with a giant tree, light tunnels, an ice rink and animated shows projected on Terminal Tower. Viewing is free; pair it with dinner in Little Italy or the Terminal Tower observation deck.

• free
• downtown
• ice skating
• family friendly

The 1890 glass-roofed Arcade on Euclid Avenue downtown hangs wreaths and garland from its balconies around a tall indoor tree. Free to walk through and an easy add-on to Public Square.

• free
• indoor
• historic
• downtown

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's winter light show, with themed zones, costumed characters and Santa on select nights, done either on foot or by car on separate drive-through nights. Bring hot chocolate and plan a long walk at the zoo in Old Brooklyn.

• ticketed
• walk-through
• drive-through
• family friendly
• santa

Berea's Coe Lake Park lights its lakeside trails and a treehouse, with the displays reflecting off the water. Free and open nightly at dusk.

• free
• walking
• lakeside
• family friendly

A day-trip drive-through light show in Louisville near Canton with a Santa Land craft area and an artisan shop.

• drive-through
• day trip
• santa
• shopping

Check current details before visiting.

A touring light show set up as a walk-through at Victory Park in North Ridgeville, built around a long light tunnel and digital animations.

• ticketed
• walk-through
• light tunnel
• family friendly

Check current details before visiting.

A drive-through at the Randolph Fairgrounds in Atwater with a light tunnel and Santa and Grinch photo stops, open Thursday through Sunday evenings.

• drive-through
• light tunnel
• santa
• photo stop

Check current details before visiting.

A Strongsville cul-de-sac on Crown Point Parkway where nearly every home decorates, featured on The Great Christmas Light Fight. Santa visits on weekend evenings and donations go to local families.

• free
• neighborhood
• santa
• walk or drive

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron decorates the rooms of its Tudor manor and lights the grounds with more than a million bulbs on select nights.

• ticketed
• historic estate
• walk-through
• indoor and outdoor

Check current details before visiting.

Playhouse Square's theater district on Euclid Avenue downtown adds holiday lights around its outdoor chandelier, and the ornate theater lobbies are decorated for the season's shows. It is a short walk from WinterLand at Public Square.

• free
• downtown
• theater district
• walkable

Check current details before visiting.

The Cleveland Botanical Garden's winter show in University Circle, pairing outdoor lights and decorated trees with a flower tunnel and the warm tropical glasshouses. Open until 9 pm Thursday through Saturday.

• ticketed
• walk-through
• indoor and outdoor
• family friendly

Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland runs a drive route of light displays on a handful of December nights. Tickets are sold in advance online per carload and tend to sell out.

• drive-through
• advance tickets
• family friendly

Season: Dec 4-6, 11-13, 26-27, 2026; 6-8:30 pm

Check current details before visiting.

The Akron Zoo's lights event, with Santa and the Grinch, golf-cart safari tours and a sensory-friendly night.

• ticketed
• zoo
• family friendly
• sensory friendly night

Season: Nov 20 - Dec 27, 2026; 5-9 pm (10th year)

Check current details before visiting.

Strongsville's commons on Royalton Road becomes a North Pole scene with a light tunnel, a lit gazebo and a 40-foot tree, free nightly through early January.

• free
• light tunnel
• family friendly
• park

Lorain County Metro Parks' Carlisle Reservation in LaGrange runs a slow mile-long drive past lit scenes at the equestrian center, plus a separate walking trail at the visitor center. Free, with food or cash donations requested.

• free
• drive-through
• walking trail
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

A drive-through at the Medina County Fairgrounds with more than 85 displays, priced per car and paid in cash or check.

• drive-through
• cash or check
• family friendly

A Wadsworth home on Duane Lane recreating the Christmas Vacation house, down to Cousin Eddie's RV. Donations go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

• free
• private home
• movie themed
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

Bethlehem Hills turns the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton into a 1.5-mile drive of animated displays set to music on your car radio. Priced per vehicle; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

• drive-through
• fm radio
• family friendly

Bedford's downtown commons on Broadway Avenue is lit for the season after a tree lighting the night before Thanksgiving.

• free
• town square
• tree lighting

A Wadsworth home on Oak Street running a light show synced to Christmas music on FM radio. Donations go to the American Cancer Society.

• free
• private home
• fm radio
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

A pixel light show with a 20-foot tree on Firestone Lane in Macedonia, set to songs broadcast on FM radio.

• free
• private home
• fm radio
• pixel show

Check current details before visiting.

A choreographed home light show on Bell Road in Willoughby that appeared on The Great Christmas Light Fight, running Thursday through Sunday evenings in December.

• free
• private home
• tv featured
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

A synchronized pixel show on Acadia Drive in Sagamore Hills, with light trees and garage-door animations set to music.

• free
• private home
• pixel show
• synced to music

Check current details before visiting.

A long-running home show on Joseph Drive in Aurora with lights dancing to Christmas songs on outdoor speakers or FM radio.

• free
• private home
• fm radio

Check current details before visiting.

A Twinsburg home on Burton Drive running a choreographed show set to rotating songs on FM radio. Food bank donations are collected.

• free
• private home
• fm radio
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

A half-acre of displays on Saratoga Trail in Medina, with a Santa mailbox and hot chocolate on Saturdays.

• free
• private home
• santa mailbox
• family friendly

Check current details before visiting.

A Christmas Story themed yard display on Shadow Creek Drive in Medina with motion-activated scenes and a Grinch weekend. Donations help a sponsored family.

• free
• private home
• movie themed
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

A display spread across two lots on Lear Road in Avon Lake, with lit trees, a gingerbread garage and a nativity.

• free
• private home
• nativity
• family friendly

Check current details before visiting.

A North Royalton home on Applewood Drive with front, side and back yards filled with lit arches, blow molds and inflatables.

• free
• private home
• inflatables
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church on Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights animates its lawn to music nightly, and adds indoor Sunday nights with puppet shows and live performances.

• free
• church
• synced to music
• family friendly

Chagrin Falls wraps its Triangle Park gazebo, waterfall boardwalk and shop windows in garland and lights, with Deck the Falls events on two December Saturdays.

• free
• small town
• shopping
• walkable

Check current details before visiting.

Chardon's town square is lit for the season with an animated Toyland and a nativity.

• free
• town square
• nativity
• family friendly

Medina's historic Public Square decorates its gazebo tree and holds a candlelight shopping walk the weekend before Thanksgiving.

• free
• town square
• shopping
• historic

Crocker Park in Westlake runs a synchronized musical show on a multi-story mega tree each evening from 7 to 9 pm.

• free
• shopping
• synced to music
• family friendly

A Lakewood home on Lake Avenue running a light show synchronized to seasonal music.

• free
• private home
• synced to music

Check current details before visiting.

Lakewood's lakefront Clifton Park enclave of large homes makes for a slow holiday drive past decorated houses.

• free
• neighborhood
• drive-by

Check current details before visiting.

A cluster of Rocky River streets near Beachcliff, including Frazier Drive, Avalon Drive and Lake Road, known for decorated homes worth a slow drive.

• free
• neighborhood
• drive-by

Check current details before visiting.

A Parma street lined with lit arches and several decorated homes on Keystone Road.

• free
• neighborhood
• drive-by

Check current details before visiting.

Musical houses on West 222nd Street and Bard Avenue in Fairview Park, tuned in on FM radio.

• free
• private home
• fm radio
• drive-by

Check current details before visiting.

A large home on Lewis Road in Olmsted Township decorated with wreaths, candles and a Santa sleigh, viewed as a drive-by.

• free
• private home
• drive-by

Check current details before visiting.

A Brecksville yard on Greystone Parkway packed with hundreds of inflatables and lights.

• free
• private home
• inflatables
• family friendly

Check current details before visiting.

A 25-minute synchronized light show on Radford Drive in Highland Heights, running nightly in the evenings.

• free
• private home
• synced to music

Check current details before visiting.

A synchronized light show spread across several neighboring houses on Creekside Trail in Solon.

• free
• private homes
• synced to music

Check current details before visiting.

A long-running home show on Wilbert Drive in Kirtland playing a 26-minute set of synchronized songs.

• free
• private home
• synced to music

Check current details before visiting.

Nearly 2.5 acres of handmade, old-fashioned displays on Little Mountain Road in Kirtland Hills.

• free
• private property
• handmade
• drive-by

Check current details before visiting.

A Mentor home on North Palmerston Drive running a 15-minute light loop on FM radio.

• free
• private home
• fm radio

Check current details before visiting.

A Grafton property on Durkee Road with lit figures including an island of misfit toys, on in both early mornings and evenings.

• free
• private property
• family friendly
• morning hours

Check current details before visiting.

Lorain's Lakeview Park on West Erie Avenue becomes a free lakefront drive past classic holiday scenes.

• free
• drive-through
• lakefront

Check current details before visiting.

Barberton's downtown Lake Anna Park is lit for the holidays from evening through early morning.

• free
• park
• lakeside
• walking

Check current details before visiting.

Downtown Akron's Lock 3 holiday displays use many of GE's retired Nela Park decorations, including a gingerbread house and animated elves.

• free
• downtown
• historic displays

Check current details before visiting.

A day-trip drive through Lakeshore Park in Ashtabula past about 70 displays on the lakefront, open Friday through Sunday with a suggested donation per car.

• drive-through
• day trip
• lakefront
• donations

Check current details before visiting.

A day-trip drive-through at Harvey S. Firestone Park in Columbiana with around 80 lit scenes, priced per vehicle with a season pass option.

• drive-through
• day trip
• family friendly

Check current details before visiting.

Beech Creek Botanical Garden in Alliance lights a garden walk with a giant Lite-Brite and a themed exhibit to find. Worth the day trip.

• ticketed
• walk-through
• day trip
• garden

Brookside Park in Ashland fills with lit structures along the Candy Cane Trail, a free display that has claimed a Guinness record.

• free
• park
• day trip
• walk or drive