Visit the East Coast to experience the holidays with family and friends at one of the many Christmas light displays around the region. Ride holiday carousels, hop on festive Christmas trains or just enjoy the evening in your car. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to bring a smile and your holiday spirit as the night will be a memorable one.
Fantasy in Lights. Located at beautiful Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga., the Fantasy in Lights has been held annually since it opened in 1992. This lighted Christmas event showcases outdoor light displays that help visitors celebrate nature in a new and exciting way. Whether visitors drive their own cars through the Christmas light show or choose to ride the Jolly Trolley, the Christmas light displays like “The Nativity,” “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and Snowflake Valley will have everyone glued to their windows to take in as much of each scene as possible before moving on to the next display. Visit the website to make overnight reservations, or call 800-225-5292 for more information. The Christmas light show runs from the weekend after Thanksgiving until Dec. 30.
Holiday Festival of Lights. You can do more at the Holiday Festival of Lights than just drive through an outdoor Christmas light display. Enjoy roasting marshmallows, drinking hot chocolate, riding the holiday train, or even take a spin on the carousel while at this annual Christmas event. Located at James Island County Park in Charleston, S.C., the Holiday Festival of Lights opens the second Friday in November and runs through New Year’s Day. For vehicles with fewer than 15 people, the price is $12. Vehicles with 16 to 30 people will pay $40, and the price of vehicles with more than 30 people is $100. There are three shops on the grounds to purchase Christmas presents or sweet treats. Be prepared to have your picture taken with Santa by having the entire family come in festive holiday outfits. This could be a great Christmas card photo opportunity.
Magical Nights of Lights. Located at Lake Lanier Island Resorts in Buford, Ga., the Magical Nights of Lights is set to open the first week after Thanksgiving and will stay open through Dec. 30, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Visitors can enjoy the Christmas light displays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Christmas event has carnival rides and games, pony rides, roasting marshmallows, hot chocolate and other activities scheduled at an additional charge. Admission ranges from $40 a car load to $250 for a bus load of 20 people or more. To book rooms for the Christmas event, schedule breakfast with Santa or reserve a table at the Magical Nights of Lights Buffet, call 770-945-8787.
Meadow Lights. Located on Godwin Lake Road in Benson, N.C., the Meadow Lights Christmas light show is the largest and oldest outdoor Christmas light display in eastern North Carolina. This special Christmas event makes its home on 30 acres of land with a holiday train chugging visitors along nearly 10 of those acres. You won’t have to worry about waiting in line for the train, though. Meadow Lights have three trains they operated during the event. While the outdoor Christmas light shows has free admission, the train rides cost $2 per person. There is also a magical holiday carousel that can be ridden for an extra $2 per person and pictures with Santa cost $6. For those who want to make the evening a family outing, the folks at Meadow Lights offer hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers and nachos, along with coffee, hot cocoa and water. For more information, call 919-669-5969. While you are there, pick up some homemade Christmas candies to give as Christmas presents as they have more than 300 different varieties to choose from.