Looking for the best Christmas lights in Lakeland? We’ve got a list of amazing neighborhood Christmas light displays around Lakeland, Bartow, Mulberry & Plant City, as well as local events where you’ll find an abundance of Christmas lights.
Thank you to The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village for sponsoring this post
Tampa’s Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village is the premier Tampa-area holiday theme park, located at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover, Florida, less than 30 minutes from Lakeland. Take a drive through one mile of dazzling lights and Holiday displays that will make lasting memories for the whole family.
At the end of your journey, you can visit the Village with circus attractions, a wolf exhibit, amusement rides, camel rides, and even photos with Santa!
New this year, you can take a journey through the light display or just make a visit to the Village for a small admission fee. Season tickets are available so you can make multiple visits to this Holiday Theme park.
Open from Thanksgiving night through December 29. Check website for hours. Save time and purchase tickets online to avoid the lines.
Located at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds – 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover, FL, 33527
Neighborhood Christmas Lights in Lakeland
There are some houses that go all out for Christmas, and for that the rest of us say THANK YOU! I love driving these streets and seeing people’s creativity. If you do go on a Christmas light drive, keep in mind that you are in someone’s neighborhood. Make sure you print out our CHRISTMAS LIGHT SCAVENGER HUNT list before you go.
We’ve also included a handy map below that you can edit to create your own Christmas Light Drive – don’t forget the pajamas and hot chocolate!
Lancelot Drive off Lake Miriam
Lake Miriam Dr & Lancelot, Lakeland, FL 33813 (MAP IT)
Almost every house on this street is COVERED with Christmas lights and more inflatables and yard decorations than you can imagine. On weekend nights, some of the residents are outside handing out candy canes. (I take a quick drive down this street anytime I’m out after dark in December!)
Lochnivar Dr. off Lake Miriam
Lake Miriam Dr & Lochnivar, Lakeland, FL 33813 (one street East of Lancelot) – (MAP IT)
Has a few houses all decked out – worth a drive after you’ve visited Lancelot (see above)
Curtis Family Lights
Yarborough Lane, 1/4 mile south of 540-A in South Lakeland (MAP IT)
Begins on December 8. Tune into 99.7 when you arrive for a light and music display! Visit their Facebook page for more details.
Don Weaver’s Christmas Lights
3832 Marquise Ln, Mulberry, FL 33860 (MAP IT)
Don Weaver, Lighting Director creates an amazing light display for the month of December in Mulberry, Florida with over 175,000 lights. The lights and music will run every night from Dec 1 thru Dec 31 beginning at 6p – 10p. Santa and Hot Chocolate night is December 15.
This year’s light display will be in Loving memory of Don’s wife Merita who recently passed away. She loved the Christmas season especially the lights and music but most of all of the people who came to visit and enjoyed the holiday light display.
See the Facebook photos/video here. He’s also been featured in the news!
Inflatables Galore
Woodland Hills & Sagamore Street off Edgewood Dr. (MAP IT)
Inflatables. LOTS and LOTS of inflatables! They also have a beautiful nativity and light display in front of the house.
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Christmas Lane in Bartow
E. George Street & Spring Court in Bartow – (MAP IT)
You’ll find quite a few houses in this area decorated with great light displays! Make sure you explore Spring Court, and then go across to E. George Street and down all of the side streets (Helen St. & Lila Circle) from there. You know it’s impressive when it is known as “Christmas Tree Lane” to the locals!
Ariana Village Lights
From December 15 – 23 nightly from 6-9pm the gates will be open for you to visit Ariana Village! Take Harden Blvd and head West on Ariana Street. The park is located about a 1/2 mile on the right. Bring your kids to see Santa and Mrs.Claus for treats at the exit. The park has a Facebook Page where you can see photos people have taken in previous years.
Country Oaks Neighborhood
Old Polk City Rd & Odoniel Dr, Lakeland, FL 33809 (MAP IT)
From a reader: Country Oaks neighborhood off of Old Polk City Rd is worth a drive. Each year they do a “Come to Bethlehem” drive. A good portion of the homes have lights, nightly luminaries, and figures out of wood that are all headed to “Bethlehem” with the final house as the full nativity.
Santa’s House by the Bigda’s
4314 Shadow Wood Trail, Winter Haven, FL 33880 (MAP IT)
Huge animated display that runs to music. Everything you see in the yard is handmade and painted, several different Disney characters including Cars, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey and Minnie, etc. Collecting donations for Polk Sheriffs Charities, Inc. Visit their Facebook page for photos.
Michelle Drive in Auburndale
Michelle Dr. Auburndale, FL (MAP IT)
From a reader: 2 homes on the same street that the lights are synchronized to music they do a really good job!
High Glen Drive in Lakeland
5910 High Glen Drive, Lakeland, FL 33813 (MAP IT)
From a reader: Drive all the way to the cul-de-sac for a Christmas light display, many other houses are decorated as well.
Tera Ln and King Rd in Winter Haven
King Rd SW & Tera Ln, Winter Haven, FL 33880 (MAP IT)
From a reader: Santa Claus was there in his wooden sleigh passing out candy canes and greeting cars.
Island Walk Community in Lakeland (UNCONFIRMED for 2018)
St. Lucia Drive, Lakeland, FL 33812 (MAP IT)
From a reader: The cul du sac at the end of Saint Lucia Drive in Island Walk community (off Clubhouse Road) has a few very nicely decorated houses.
Lynch Family Dancing Lights in Fort Meade
N Hendry Avenue, Fort, Meade FL (MAP IT)
Over 50,000 Christmas lights that dance to music. Thanksgiving Night – January 1st from 6PM-9PM (weather dependent)
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The next two houses have Plant City addresses but are only 5-7 minutes from where Drane Field Road meets County Line Road, so we are including them because they will be very close for some of our readers. They are just 2 miles apart so make sure you find both of them if you’re out driving!
Lights of Winter in East Plant City
3212 Bella Garden Lane, Plant City, 33566 (MAP IT)
November 22 – January 2 / Sunday – Thursday from 6pm-9pm / Friday & Saturday 6pm-10pm
Lights Of Winter is a computerized Christmas light show in Plant City, Florida featuring over 35,000 lights dancing on TWO houses! Tune in to 107.5 FM when you get there to hear the music that goes along with the lights. Check our their Facebook Page for videos and photos. **MAKE SURE YOU TURN DOWN THE DRIVEWAY – they want people to come down the driveway instead of blocking traffic on Sparkman Road**
Masters Family Christmas in East Plant City
2329 Jim Johnson Road, Plant City, 33566 (MAP IT)
Over 50,000 LED Christmas lights in an amazing display! Check our their Facebook Page for photos. Lights will be on starting Thanksgiving night. Turn your radios to 88.3 to hear the music. **MAKE SURE YOU TURN DOWN THE DRIVEWAY – this is the best way to see all the lights and they welcome you to turn in.**
Lakeland Christmas Lights Map
We’ve created a driving tour map that covers all of the locations in Lakeland/Bartow/Mulberry – to modify it for your own Christmas Light drive, simply click “View Larger Map” or “More Options” in the upper left corner to open it in your Google Maps app or website, and then you can move/delete locations to make your own driving tour. Note that Plant City locations are not included in this map – we could only include 10 stops!
Community Events & Christmas Lights Around Lakeland
Munn Park Lights in Downtown Lakeland
Every year the City of Lakeland makes our downtown magical with the addition of light displays all over Munn Park. Lights come on at dusk every night, so pick a night to eat at a great local eatery downtown, and take a stroll through the park! Or visit during one of this month’s special events, such as First Friday on December 7, or the Holiday Walkabouts on Friday nights – December 14 and December 21. Check out our recent post about ALL of the Holiday Happenings in Downtown Lakeland.
You can also find light displays around Lake Morton and Lake Mirror in the downtown area.
Lights of Lakeland
You’ll find an impressive display of OVER 500,000 LIGHTS at Lights of Lakeland! Located just south of the Polk Parkway on Lakeland Highlands Road, Lights of Lakeland is Highland Park Church’s ANNUAL, FREE walk-thru Christmas experience the whole family can enjoy! Includes The Grinch, Santa’s Workshop, Live Reindeer Barn, Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus, Walk through Bethlehem experience with live camels, sheep, and donkeys, Food Court with local food trucks, Sweet Shoppe with homemade treats, General Store for children to Christmas shop on their own, Photos with cartoon characters for kids.
December 7, 8, 9 and 14, 15, 16 from 6:30-9pm. (Fri, Sat, Sun each weekend)
FREE
Highland Park Church – 4777 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813 (MAP IT)
Plant City / East Tampa Light Displays & Christmas Events
Wonderland of Lights at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
At Wonderland of Lights, the Christmas season springs to life with dazzling displays of electric cheer. These illuminated spectacles are easily visible during drive-through car tours, but at Santa’s Village, even more holiday wonder awaits. Meet Santa, ride ponies & camels, ride the North Pole Express Train, games, holiday food & treats, and more. Opens Thanksgiving night through December 29.
November 22 – December 29. Select nights from 6 – 9pm or 6 – 10pm. See website for dates/times.
Prices start at $25/vehicle with up to 8 passengers. Train ride, animal rides, & some activities extra. Check for Groupon deals.
Hillsborough County Fairgrounds – 215 Sydney Washer Rd, Dover, FL 33527 (MAP IT)
Christmas Lane at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City
Christmas Lane is an extraordinary light display that originated in the 1980s for the Dover, Florida community. This light display has grown exponentially over the last 35 years. In 2015, Christmas Lane relocated to the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds in Plant City, FL. Various Christmas themed displays, photos with Santa, live entertainment, food, and rides (additional cost for food & rides). Parking is free and can be accessed from Lemon and Oak streets. Live nativity every Thursday, Friday & Saturday night at 7:00 & 8:00pm.
November 23 – December 24 / Thursdays – Sundays from 6-10pm
$5 for adults; $3 for children ages 4 to 12; free for children under 3 (Rides & food extra)
Florida Strawberry Festival grounds – 2508 W Oak Ave, Plant City, FL 33563 (MAP IT)
The Christmas Trail in Plant City
The Christmas Trail is an outdoor Christmas attraction located in Plant City, Florida. Featuring over a 1/4 mile walking trail filled with Christmas themed scenes and several thousand lights throughout. Photo ops, a 25ft tall Christmas tree, and even snow highlight a few of the magical aspects of The Christmas Trail. You might even catch a glimpse of Santa walking through the trail! Along with the trail guests can purchase an assortment of concessions including marshmallows for roasting and hot chocolate. Santa is also at the Trail nightly for pictures and Jack Frost creates magical snowfalls through the night. We also have vendors and free face painting. Guests can walk the trail at their leisure but can expect it to last around 15 minutes. The Christmas Trail is a Free Event but donations are appreciated. There are a limited number tickets available each night and they advise arriving early. Concessions and other items will be for sale along with vendors selling merchandise.
- Open from 6 – 10pm on the following dates – December 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23
Open from 6 – 9:30pm on the following dates – December 10, 17, 20 FREE Event but donations are appreciated. Ticket reservation strongly recommended (check website)
2837 South Frontage Road Plant City, FL 33566 (MAP IT)
If you know of a Christmas Light Display in Lakeland or the surrounding area that isn’t on our list, leave us a comment below and we’ll get it added ASAP!
Don Weaver is a great guy and his light display is amazing! He greets everyone on the street as they drive by and invites them to tour his front and backyard lights!
What street is Don Weaver on so we can visit?
On the end of High Glen Dr in Lakeland there is a beautiful Christmas display of lights and yard decorations. It’s a must see you won’t be disappointed.
Shadow wood trail in winter haven has a very nice display setup right now, lots of Disney characters, animated lights, and a home built Ferris wheel with Snow White and the 7 dwarfs on it.
Sheridan St SW in Winter Haven
high glen drive in lakeland many houses lit up and a great one at the end of the culdasac
The cul du sac at the end of Saint Lucia Drive in Island Walk community (off Clubhouse Road) has a few very nicely decorated houses.
Tera Ln and King Rd in Winter Haven. Santa Claus was there in his wooden sleigh passing out candy canes and greeting cars. Must see neighborhood on Tera Ln.
Thank you so much for taking the time to create such a wonderful list of Christmas light displays. My family and I are truely looking forward to our drive tonight!!!
Hello. The Lynch Family Dancing Lights in Fort Meade is pretty great. I am the girlfriend of the man who personally programs the lights and his family helps him put them all up. There are over 50,000 Christmas lights that dance to music. The address is
N Hendry Avenue
Fort, Meade FL
Thanksgiving Night-January 1st
6PM-9PM (weather dependent)
Thanks! We’ll add it to our list!
My family also enjoys watching a few homes with lights that dance to Christmas music on the radio, located plant city not far off county line rd. Street name is Ralston which turns into sparkman.
Thanks! I think that is Lights of Winter that is on our list, sounds like the same location. (Bella Garden Lane)
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