From the little ones to the young at heart, there’s an undeniable thrill in witnessing the dazzling spectacle of Christmas lights that illuminate the nights leading up to the big day. So, throw on your coziest winter gear, jump in the car, and embark on a merry journey to explore the most splendid Christmas lights in Dayton. Trust us, it’s a ride you won’t want to miss!
Best Christmas Lights Around Dayton:
Cincinnati’s Nights of Lights
Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust St, Owensville, OH 45160
When: November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026 (every night)
Cost: $30.00 per carload (up to 8 passengers) Valid any night; $50 for carloads of 9+ people.
Times: Runs nightly from dusk until 10:00pm
Cincinnati’s Nights of Lights is a dazzling drive thru holiday light show illuminated by more than 2 million lights! It has become a beloved Cincinnati holiday tradition as many visitors of all ages and abilities are awed by larger-than-life Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes, fantastic tunnels of lights, and so much more!
Holiday Lights at Lost Creek Reserve
Lost Creek Reserve, 2385 OH-41 | Troy, OH 45373
When: Open weekends November 29 thru December 23, 2025
Cost: $10 per vehicle at the gate. Cash only and $30 per 15 passenger van.
Times: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays from 6 to 9 pm
Be transported into a winter wonderland featuring over a mile of illuminated landscapes and tens of thousands of lights. It takes you along the woods, down charming farm lanes and past the historic Knoop Homestead. Make this enchanted experience part of your holiday traditions!
Pyramid Hill Lights
Pyramid Hill, 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., Hamilton, OH
When: November 14, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Cost: $25/carload for non-members and $15/carload for members
Times: Tuesdays to Thursdays: 6PM – 9PM | Fridays to Sundays: 6PM – 10PM | Closed to the public on Mondays
Pyramid Hill of Lights returns to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum for its 25th consecutive year. Previously known as Holiday Lights on the Hill or Journey Borealis, you can experience Pyramid Hill Lights from the comfort of your own car as you make your way through scenic holiday displays, over one million lights, and featured independent artist installations.
Woodland Lights
Countryside Park, 895 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township, OH 45459
When: November 21 – December 30, 2025
Cost: $9 – Purchase tickets in advance online or on the night of! Children 2 and under are free.
Times: 6-9 pm | Gate closes at 8:30 pm
Visitors can stroll through the 10 acres of sparkling light and whimsical displays or take a ride on the Rieck Express train along a separate path. Climb aboard this colorful 4-car train that seats up to 16 and take a scenic ride that winds past the Pollinator Garden and the vernal pond, creating a treasured new memory for long-time visitors.
Gift of Lights at Christmas Ranch
Christmas Ranch, 3205 S. Waynesville Road, Morrow, OH
When: November 21 – December 23, 2025
Cost: $37 per carload | $47 per oversized van (10+ visitors) (Save $5 when you make reservations online)
Times: See times here.
To call this a ranch is an understatement. This is a country all its own. More than 350,000 animated lights are synchronized to music. Most of the ranch is accessible by car but there’s also a pedestrian-only Christmas Village with six shops. Train and wagon rides run most evenings and Santa visits for pictures from 5-9 pm.
ParkLights at Caesar Ford Park
Caesar Ford Park, 520 South Stringtown Rd, Xenia,OH
When: December 1 – December 31, 2025
Cost: FREE
Times: 6-9pm
Forget deck the halls, we’ve decked the park with dazzling lights! You’ll wind your way through our Winter Wonderland, North Pole Car Show, Winter Farm, and Festive Festival, then wave to Santa at the North Pole. Drive through once, and you’ll want to do it again.
Festival of Lights Cincinnati Zoo
When: November 20 – January 4, 2026
Cost: Save money and time when you buy tickets online here!
Times: Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 9pm | Friday – Saturday – 10am – 10pm | PNC Festival of Lights Activities begin at 4pm
If you’re looking for a dazzling family outing this holiday season, mark your calendar for Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Vine Street location. This annual event returns for 2025 with a spectacular display of approximately 5 million LED lights, immersive themed areas and plenty of holiday-fun experiences for kids, teens and grown-ups alike.
A Christmas Glow at Land of Illusion
Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Rd, Middletown, OH 45042
When: November 20 – December 24, 2025
Cost: $10 for ages 4-12 | $15 ages 13-64
Times: 6 – 10pm
Celebrate the season at The Christmas Glow, over 3.8 million lights at the 2-mile long Christmas Around the World drive-thru experience, visit Santa at the Christmas Village Santa Workshop or just take in the majestic lights of the 45-foot Christmas Tree as you and yours warm by the gas fire pits.
A Carillon Christmas
Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd, Dayton
When: November 25 – December 30, 2025
Cost: $14 (Adults), $12 ( Seniors ages 60+), $10 (Ages 3-17) Free for ages under 3, Free for Dayton History members.
Times: Sunday – Thursday: 5:00pm – 9:00pm | Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Join them for A Carillon Christmas to see Carillon Historical Park’s 65-acre campus transformed into a winter wonderland of sparkle, magic, and holiday cheer!
Legendary Lights at Clifton Mill
Clifton Mill, 75 Water St. Clifton, OH
When: November 28 – December 30, 2025
Cost: Admission is $15 per person for everyone age 4 and older. Children 3 and under get in Free!
Times: Gates open every day at 5 pm, the lights come on at 6 pm. Gates close at 9 pm; lights go off 30 minutes after gates close.
For 37 years, Clifton Mill has celebrated the Christmas season in a very special way. This light display is one of the country’s finest with over 4 million lights illuminating the mill, the gorge, the riverbanks, trees, and bridges.
There is even a 100-foot “waterfall” of twinkling lights. The flip of one switch turns all the lights on at once transforming night into a fantastical winter wonderland.
Light up Middletown
Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue, Middletown, OH
When: November 27 – December 31, 2025
Cost: You set the price, admission by cash donation.
Times: Every night from 6-10pm
A season’s fantasyland of holiday lights at Smith Park in Middletown. Your journey begins with a tunnel of lights. This driving tour has an abundance of themed areas. You’ll encounter a floating sea serpent in the lake, Santa’s workshop and sleigh, a penguin village and plenty more festive fun. Deer leap over the road and there are surprises around each sparkling turn.
