Each year, tucked under the warmth of quilted blankets, children young and old create fond holiday memories during trips through sparkling winter light displays. As snug mittens and knitted scarves keep the winter chill at bay, countless families flock to the wonder of Oklahoma’s top holiday light displays to rejoice in time-honored family traditions, embrace the magic of a countryside enveloped in twinkling lights and to make winter dreams come alive.
Festival of Light – Chickasha
Travel south of the Oklahoma City metro area and make your way to Chickasha for the city’s annual Festival of Light. This much-loved Christmas tradition, designated as one of the top ten light displays in the nation, features an astounding 3.5 million shimmering lights. Visitors to this celebration of holiday cheer will delight in over four miles of lighted walkways and the festival’s illuminated 172-ft. Christmas tree, which can famously be seen for miles. Roam through Chickasha’s Shannon Springs Park from the comfort of your own vehicle to view hundreds of animated displays and a fantastic light show synchronized to traditional holiday tunes, or enjoy the scenery from a cozy horse-drawn carriage. Don’t forget to visit the on-site gift shop for holiday gifts as well as sweet candied nuts, deliciously warm cocoa and scrumptious cinnamon rolls.
Christmas in the Park – Elk City
For millions of bright lights, hundreds of Christmas displays and a wealth of family-friendly activities perfect for the holidays, head to Elk City’s annual Christmas in the Park celebration. View the lights from atop an English double-decker bus or take an exhilarating trip around Elk City’s Ackley Park onboard a miniature train. Get the most out of your visit by attending this wintry kingdom on Friday or Saturday, when carousel rides and horse-drawn carriage rides will be available to guests. Bring the little ones and enjoy free hot dogs, free cocoa and a Santa’s gift shop for the kids.
Holiday Lights Spectacular – Midwest City
Take a magical trip through a quiet wooded area adorned with over one million sparkling lights at Midwest City’s Holiday Lights Spectacular. Snuggle up to someone special in a carriage ride perfect for two and embrace the spirit of the holidays as Joe B. Barnes Park shines under the glow of a 118-ft. Christmas tree trimmed with over 9,000 glittering holiday bulbs. Known as one of the state’s largest drive-through light displays, Holiday Lights Spectacular also features an immense dancing forest display choreographed to traditional Christmas hits.
Crystal Christmas – Woodward
Woodward’s Crystal Christmas, located in northwest Oklahoma, glistens like a gem each year against the dark, wintry backdrop of still December evenings. This cherished annual light display brings over two million holiday lights and 40 animated light displays to life to the delight of young and old. Witness as the surrounding lights reflect off the serene waters of Crystal Beach Lake while on a driving or lighted walking tour around the park. Bring the family to Crystal Christmas on Thursdays or Fridays for the park’s family nights, where family-oriented activities include lighted train rides, live nativity scenes and pictures with Santa Claus.
Christmas in the Park – Yukon
For over 100 acres of Christmas revelry and a stunning light display that weaves through three interconnecting parks, make Yukon’s Christmas in the Park your family’s destination this holiday season. Hop on the Santa Express Train that promises to whisk visitors away to an illuminated winter paradise that shines like the star atop the festival’s 50-ft. lighted Christmas tree. Escape the confines of your car and experience the breathtaking sight of millions of multi-colored lights gracefully draped along a variety of walking trails. Don’t miss the festival’s designated pull-over areas, which create a perfect viewing area for light displays set to music.
Garden of Lights – Muskogee
While Honor Heights Park in Muskogee is known for its vibrant azalea blooms in spring, the park keeps the magic alive through the wintry nights of December by swapping floral imagery for over one million dynamic lights and displays. As the park’s azaleas take to their wintry slumber, Honor Heights Park recreates the rich hues of spring by draping the hibernating rose and azalea bushes with bursts of holiday color. With over 120 acres of trees and water areas decorated for the holidays, and with animated displays of deer, squirrels and birds peppered along the park’s pathways, Muskogee’s Garden of Lights will transport visitors to a spellbinding holiday celebration of natural beauty.
Other Holiday Light Displays - Statewide
Though it is nearly impossible to list every breathtaking holiday light display within Oklahoma's borders, no top light display series would be complete without the following honorable mentions. Visit the Castle of Muskogee for Castle Christmas and make your way through one of the world's largest collections of holiday inflatables with over 1,000 displays, as well as train rides, holiday hayrides and even camel rides amidst the twinkling backdrop of the castle grounds.
If you're cruising through southern Oklahoma, make sure to stop at the Ardmore Festival of Lights. Millions of multi-colored lights and over 125 animated holiday displays and scenes make this Ardmore light festival one to behold. Turn your radio to your favorite Christmas music station, warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy the lights from the comfort of your own vehicle at one of the largest displays south of the metro.
For over 1.5 million lights, including over 100,000 shimmering bulbs synchronized to Christmas tunes and carols, make a joyous holiday stop at the Rhema Christmas Lights display in Broken Arrow. Also, don't miss Bartlesville's Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights where more than 750,000 lights and displays sprinkled throughout the grounds of this historic ranch.
See our complete list of holiday light displays for even more ideas.
