Best FREE Christmas Light Displays in Cleveland Area
If you’re searching for the best Christmas light displays in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, this guide has everything you need to plan a magical holiday night with your family. From the most jaw-dropping neighborhood Christmas lights to must-see house displays, drive-through light shows, city squares, and walk-through holiday experiences, this list highlights the very best spots to see Christmas lights with kids. Nearly all of these displays are free (except for the paid section), family-friendly, and perfect for creating unforgettable holiday memories.
Our family has been driving around to see Christmas lights since our kids were in diapers (it was the only way to get them to sleep those first few years!), and it’s become one of our most treasured holiday traditions. Even as they’ve gotten older, it’s still something they love — so we’re soaking up every year while we can.
If you come across any displays you think should be added to our list, please send them to clewithkids@gmail.com. And don’t miss the Google Maps version of this guide at the bottom of the page!
Best FREE Christmas Light Displays in Cleveland Area
Crown Point Parkway Cul-De-Sac Display
14395 Crown Point Pkwy, Strongsville OH 44136
Crown Point has been our family tradition for 8 years, and somehow it never gets old! This cul-de-sac display is the crown jewel of Cleveland Christmas lights. Nearly every house on the street is decorated, and each has its own unique style. The sidewalks are lined with festive archways that make you feel like you're walking through a holiday village.
The crown jewel: The Hoag House. It's nearly unbelievable! They were even featured on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight a few years back.
Our Tips:
🚗 Park on nearby streets and walk the route
🚶♀️ Walk up the driveway and along the side of the Hoag property for the best views (stay on concrete!)
🎅 Santa visits Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6-9pm
⏰ Lights turn on at 5:30pm
💡 Visit weeknights to avoid weekend crowds
💝 Donation boxes support local families in need
Season: Late November through early January
SEABURY AVENUE
Seabury avenue, fairview park OH 44126
Seabury has been one of our favorite go-to destinations for years. When our son was a baby, only about half the street was decorated. Now it feels like Fairview Park has become its own little Christmas village! What makes Seabury great is that it's not just one house or even one street anymore. The streets surrounding Seabury Ave (Cromwell, Eaton, Robinhood) also have many houses that are decorated for Christmas. In years’ past there were dozens and dozens of houses decorated, but unfortunately it’s been scaled back due to complaints. We did visit this year (2025) and there are still many great displays, just not as many as previous years.
Our Tips:
🚗 Street parking available throughout the neighborhood
📸 Walk slowly and enjoy – there's so much to see!
🌟 Check the Fairview Park Holiday Lights Facebook page for updates on the famed Elf Tent
Season: Late November through early January
Downtown Bedford City Lights
730 Broadway Avenue, Bedford , OH 44146
Bedford has one of the best suburban Christmas displays, hands down! ❄️ ⛄️ I remember walking around it as a child, and it always felt so special to me. I love, love, love that I get to experience it with my kiddos now, too. It reminds me of those adorable little town squares in Hallmark Movies. ❤️
There’s usually plenty of street parking whenever we go visit. There’s also a parking lot behind the square at the corner of Willis Street and N Park Street.
Our Tips:
🅿️ Street parking usually available
🅿️ Parking lot behind the square at Willis Street and N Park Street
🎄 Tree lighting ceremony in late November (check dates!)
🏛️ Beautiful architecture makes for great photos
Season: Late November through early January
Griswold House (Christmas Vacation)
173 Duane Ln, Wadsworth, OH 44281
Wadsworth is a solid hour drive from Cleveland, but if you’re a big Christmas Vacation fan, it’s well worth the drive to see this SPECTACULAR recreation of the Griswold House from Christmas Vacation. They have installed over 25,000 lights on their house, and have added even more elements from the movie over the years like Cousin Eddie’s RV. It’s loads of fun, and they also help raise support and awareness for Cystic fibrosis. Check them out on instagram!
BEST Synchronized Musical Christmas Light Shows
Synchronized lights on W. 222 in Fairview Park
4251 W 222nd St, Fairview Park, OH 44126
(Not yet confirmed)
Visiting the house on W.222 is always a must for our family during the Christmas season. (It’s not far from Seabury Ave!)
Park your car and tune into 94.3 and watch as their beautiful display plays and sings to different Christmas songs.
My daughter says the dancing houses are her favorite and I totally agree. They’re the best.
Our Tips:
📻 Tune car radio to 94.3 FM
🚗 Park on the street (not in driveways)
🎵 Stay for multiple songs – the variety is amazing!
📍 Not far from Seabury Ave – visit both in one night!
Season: Late November through Christmas
Synchronized lights at Havencrest Lights
6056 Havencrest Ct, North Ridgeville, OH 44039
(Not confirmed yet)
We LOVE synchronized lights and Havencrest has an amazing display and large variety of Christmas music. On our last visit, we stayed for awhile listening, watching, and making wonderful holiday memories as a family.
BEST Drive-Through Christmas Light Displays Near Cleveland
carlisle reservation (FREE!)
13650 Diagonal Rd, Lagrange, OH 44050
We love this display because you can enjoy it from the comfort and warmth of your car! We spent about twenty minutes slowly driving through the beautiful and classic display of lights. It's magical and perfect for cold Ohio nights.
Our Tips:
🚗 Drive-through display (stay in your car!)
🥫 Bring a non-perishable food item to donate
⏰ Plan for 15-20 minutes drive time
🎁 Donations benefit Second Harvest Food Bank
Season: Wednesday-Sunday, late November through December (closed Dec 24-25)
Location: TWO locations – Equestrian Center (drive-thru) and Visitor Center (walking trail on Wed-Sat, Sundays only at Equestrian)
Cleveland Zoo Wild Winter Lights
3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109
Wild Winter Lights at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is such a magical holiday event. We love the Zoo, and seeing it all lit up for the holiday season is so much fun. Each year they have drive-through and walk-through options. We have done both options in past years. When our kids were younger, the drive-through option was great!
Our Tips:
🚗 Drive-through option is great if you have kiddos who don’t like walking/being out in the cold
🥫 Bundle up nice and warm
⏰ Plan for 30 - 45 minutes to drive through
🎁 Admission:
Bethlehem Hills Christmas Lights Drive Thru
Geauga County Fairgrounds
Experience the magic of Bethlehem Hills Christmas Light Park in Ohio! Drive through millions of twinkling holiday lights, enjoy festive displays, and make lasting memories with family and friends. Open throughout the holiday season for a one-of-a-kind Christmas light show. Spectacular 1.5 mile drive-through park with more than 40 displays and 2 million lights. Turn your radio to 98.7 and listen as the lights move in sync to Christmas music. Located at the Great Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton, OH. Now with bigger and better displays. It is sure to bring a smile to the whole family, even your family’s Scrooge.
More info & purchase tickets here.
Country Lights Drive-Thru
8800 Euclid Chardon Rd. (Rt. 6)Kirtland, Ohio 44094 (FARMPARK)
This year will feature some familiar lighting displays throughout Farmpark as visitors enjoy the experience during the month of December from the warmth of their own vehicles. The following times will be available each evening: 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 pm. More info and ticket purchase here.
Advance purchase of tickets is required.
Ticket cost is $27.50 per carload (maximum of three drive-thru tickets per family or Farmpark membership).
DRIVE-BY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN OLMSTED TOWNSHIP
7597 Lewis Rd, Olmsted Township, OH 44138
This beautiful and large Christmas display is on Lewis Rd in Olmsted Township. I honestly think this is the prettiest display I’ve ever seen, and it makes me happy every time we drive past it. There is NO STREET PARKING, so you can only drive by. But we think it’s beautiful and worth driving past. It’s also just a few minutes from the impressive Coe Lake display, so you could definitely do both the same night.
BEST CITY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
CLEVELAND Public Square Light Display
We think Public Square is absolutely beautiful during the holiday season. While getting down there can be a challenge, it’s still a must-visit for us at least once every holiday season. The massive tree, lights throughout the square, and festive atmosphere make it a must-visit at least once every holiday season.
Our Tips:
🅿️ Parking garages nearby or street parking is available
🎄 Combine with a visit to Tower City
🌃 Best at night when all the lights are glowing
📸 Fantastic photo opportunities
Season: Late November through early January
The Arcade Cleveland
401 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115
The Arcade opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America. Nicknamed Cleveland’s Crystal Palace, it is one of the most incredible architectural buildings in all of Cleveland (no wonder James Gunn wanted to film Superman in there!) and when it’s lit up for Christmas it’s absolutely stunning. The Arcade Cleveland opened in May of 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America.
CITY OF BEREA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Coe Lake, Berea, OH 44017
The city of Berea always does a fantastic job with their Christmas light display. Seeing the treehouse lit up is spectacular, and there’s a special holiday magic that comes from looking at lights with Coe Lake in the background. It’s peaceful, serene, and such a fun Christmas evening.
Our Tips:
☕️ Bring some hot cocoa
🚗 Park in the big lot behind the library
🎄 Be sure to head down toward the gazebo to see more lights
Season: Late November through Christmas
City of Strongsville Christmas Lights
Strongsville Commons, Strongsville, OH 44136
Winter Wonderland at the Strongsville Commons is worth visiting every single year. We’ve been going here since our kids were little littles and we have always loved it. There are a few different paths to take, and there’s usually a few different spots that are great for photos. It’s also right next to Mitchell’s, so we will often stop by to get some of their delicious seasonal flavors.
Our Tips:
☕️ Bring some hot cocoa
🚗 Park over by the library (just northeast of the commons)
📸 Take photos in the gazebo
Season: Late November through Christmas
Professional Christmas LightS Shows (Paid but Worth It!)
Cleveland Zoo Wild Winter Lights
3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109
Wild Winter Lights at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is such a magical holiday event. We love the Zoo, and seeing it all lit up for the holiday season is so much fun. Each year they have drive-through and walk-through options. We have done both options in past years. When our kids were younger, the drive-through option was great, but now that they’re older we prefer to walk-through at our own pace. We always bundle up nice and warm and sip on hot chocolate while walking around. Plus you get to run into special characters like Santa and the Grinch, which is great.
Our Tips:
🚗 Drive-through option is great if you have kiddos who don’t like walking/being out in the cold
🥫 Bundle up nice and warm
⏰ Plan for one to two hours if you’re walking
🎁 Admission:
Season: Wednesday-Sunday, late November through December (closed Dec 24-25)
FROST at Cleveland Botanical Gardens
11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Frost: An Ice-Capped Garden Experience at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens is returning for it’s third-year. We have gone to Frost each year and it’s become a beloved family-tradition for us. We love the winter sculptures with their imaginative storytelling, seeing the gardens lit up for Christmas, and of course, the Gingerbread houses!
Our Tips:
🍭 Don’t miss the Gingerbread House competition!
🥫 Bundle up nice and warm so that you can explore the outdoor lights
⏰ Plan for one about one hour to get through every thing
🎁 Admission:
Season: Saturday, Nov. 22, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4.
Natures-A-Glow at Beech Creek Gardens
11929 Beech St NE, Alliance, OH 44601
Nature’s-A-Glow at Beech Creek Gardens takes holiday lights to the next level, with over 500,000 shimmering lights illuminating the gardens. But this experience is more than just a light display—it's an interactive holiday adventure. We visited in 2024 and my kids loved the hands-on activities and displays in the gardens. They made elf ears in the Elf Dance Party, made Christmas Trees on the giant Lite-Brite, played a match game at Olaf’s display, and decorated an ornament after visiting Santa. Another display we absolutely loved was Narnia hidden inside the “Woven” interactive outdoor exhibit. We love the Narnia series, and as soon as we saw the wardrobe and the lamp post nestled inside, we knew exactly what it was. Stepping inside, we also found the White Witch’s lair and Cair Paravel with Aslan near the Pevensie’s thrones.
🎁 General Admission is $17
Interactive Map: Cleveland AND NORTHEAST OHIO Christmas Light Displays
📍 Show Map of Christmas & Holiday Light Displays
Looking for even more Christmas and holiday fun in Northeast Ohio this year? Then check out our Free Christmas Activities Cleveland 2025: Ultimate Family Bucket List!
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Christmas Lights in Cleveland
What are the best free Christmas light displays in Cleveland?
Some of the best free Christmas light displays in Cleveland include Crown Point Parkway in Strongsville, Seabury Avenue in Fairview Park, Downtown Bedford Square, Coe Lake in Berea, Public Square in Downtown Cleveland, Crocker Park, and the free drive-through lights at Carlisle Reservation. These are family favorites that draw big crowds every year.
Where can I see Christmas lights in Cleveland for free?
You can see tons of free Christmas lights across Cleveland including Crown Point Parkway, Seabury Avenue, Bedford City Square, Public Square, Strongsville Commons, Coe Lake in Berea, Crocker Park, and multiple synchronized musical light shows like Havencrest and W. 222nd Street. Most neighborhood displays run nightly from late November through early January.
Where can my kids see Santa for free in Cleveland?
Cabela’s in Avon offers free Santa visits with a complimentary printed photo. Santa also frequently visits Crown Point Parkway on select nights, and some city events—like Bedford, Crocker Park, and Public Square—host free Santa appearances depending on the year. Always check dates before going.
When do Christmas lights start in Cleveland?
Most Christmas lights in Cleveland turn on the week before Thanksgiving and stay up through early January. Large displays like Crown Point Parkway, Seabury Avenue, and Bedford typically begin around November 24–27. City displays such as Public Square often launch with tree-lighting ceremonies.
How long does it take to see Crown Point Christmas lights?
Expect to spend 30–45 minutes walking Crown Point Parkway in Strongsville. You can drive it in about 10 minutes, but walking is highly recommended so you can see the famous Hoag House and the archway-lit sidewalks up close.
Are there drive-through Christmas lights near Cleveland?
Yes! Free and paid drive-through displays include Carlisle Reservation (free), Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Wild Winter Lights (drive-through nights), Bethlehem Hills (1.5-mile paid drive-through), and Country Lights at Lake Metroparks Farmpark. These are great for cold nights or younger kids.
Are there synchronized musical Christmas lights in Cleveland?
Yes! Popular synchronized musical displays include the W. 222nd Street house in Fairview Park and Havencrest Lights in North Ridgeville. Just park, tune your radio to the posted station, and enjoy the show as the lights dance to music.
What should I bring when visiting Christmas light displays?
Bring warm layers, blankets, hot cocoa, portable chargers, and cash for donation boxes. For walk-through displays, bring comfortable shoes and a stroller or wagon for younger kids. For drive-through events, snacks and a holiday playlist make it extra fun.
