Cruising for Holiday Lights In & Around Jacksonville

Jacksonville's BEST Holiday Events Guide

One of our favorite holiday traditions is cruising around checking out the Christmas lights. We go with our good friends, wear our fun glasses that make the lights look like snowmen, Santa, and snowflakes, and rock out to a mix of our favorite Christmas songs. It is quite an event that the kids always look forward to!


Deck the Chairs

Deck the Chairs takes place in Jacksonville Beach November 23–January 1 and features lifeguard chairs decorated with various themes. This is a FREE event and is one of Jacksonville’s top must-see annual holiday events!

JAX Illuminations

Jax Illuminations will return in 2024 at an exciting new location!

Jacksonville Zoo’s Colors of the Wild

One of the largest Asian lantern events in the country, this striking showcase of beauty features more than 70 displays throughout the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens on select nights November through February. Zoo goers will also be able to visit Santa’s Village December 14–24, complete with visits from Kris Kringle himself! See website for pricing.

St. Augustine Nights of Lights

The streets of St. Augustine’s historic district will be aglow with its annual Nights of Lights display November 18, 2023–January 31, 2024, featuring over three million sparkling lights.

Dazzling Nights at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens

Immerse yourself in the wonder of the holidays! Dazzling Nights at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a 3/4 mile journey of awe-inspiring light experiences. Start with a great photo opportunity in front of a unique, 30’ tall towering Christmas tree. Enjoy live entertainment and holiday-inspired food and beverage. Interactive lights on the ground light up when you walk on them. You’ll journey through a forest of light and fog as if walking through the aurora borealis. Immerse yourself in a 65’ long tunnel of wondrous light. And the evening wouldn’t be complete without snow and holiday tunes. And so much more!

Blackhawk Bluff Subdivision

Located at Girvin Road off of Atlantic Blvd, the Blackhawk Bluff subdivision has become famous for some of the best lights in Jacksonville. Ride through the streets and enjoy the beautiful lights and displays throughout the neighborhood. This is a FREE neighborhood drive-thru.

Atlantic Beach Christmas

Atlantic Beach Christmas is located in the Ocean Walk neighborhood at 402 Snapping Turtle Drive East. Amazing show of houses on a cul-de-sac. Over, 40,000 lights set to holiday music. Park at the top of the cul-de-sac and walk down. This is a FREE neighborhood drive-thru.

Arbor Glade Subdivision

Arbor Glade Subdivision off of Old St. Augustine Road between 95 and 295 is another great neighborhood you can drive through and see lots of houses with lights and decorations. This is a FREE neighborhood drive-thru.

WizLights in Orange Park

Check out WizLights! 1252 Tumbleweed Dr., [South] Orange Park, in the Tanglewood subdivision, off Blanding. Over 20,000 LEDs, Lasers, Disco Balls, and lots of other special effects are all set to music. Lights will be up December 1st through New Years’.

Southcreek Lights

Synchronized Christmas Lights using 64 channels of Light-o-Rama controllers. Approx. 5,000 lights, and 29 songs. Complete show runs about 1 1/2 hours. Synchronized Christmas Lights on Southcreek Drive in Jacksonville (St. Johns) Florida. Show runs from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Eve.

Mikayla’s Magical Christmas Light Show

This display is located at 4568 Royal Port Drive. There are 48,000 lights on 120 channels synchronized to music. There will be a 20-foot mega tree (12,500 lights) along with a 10-foot spiral tree, nine mini trees, and two leaping arches. There are outdoor speakers to hear the music. You can also enjoy the music on FM channel 102.1 on cold nights. The show is on a continuous loop that takes about 30 minutes to see from start to finish and primarily focuses on the true meaning of Christmas. It runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, depending on visitors.

Gierlich Holiday Wonderland

A Gierlich Christmas Wonderland is a light display located in Interlachen, FL. There are displays for both Halloween and Christmas and a small one for Easter. The displays all consist of lights, blow molds, and inflatables. Please stop by sometime and check out the lights. You won’t be disappointed!

Lights on Nochaway

This display, located at 1392 Nochaway Drive off Pacetti Road in the World Golf Village area, features thousands of lights synched to 28 songs. Lights are on from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the holidays. To hear the coordinated music, just turn your car radio to 94.7 FM.

Lights on Grand Parke

Located at 776 Grand Parke Drive in St. Johns. The show runs nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Nov. 28 through New Year’s Eve. Just tune your radio to 88.5 FM to hear the music that goes with the lights.

Reader Submitted:

  • Loretto Rd.: Enjoy cruising through between Old St Augustine and San Jose Blvd.
  • 4568 Royal Port Drive: Lights on 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Over 16,000 lights set to music! A 30-minute show featuring 11 songs!
  • Ocean Pond Ct.: In Jax Beach behind Baptist Beaches Hospital.
  • 3 Bonita Drive, Ponte Vedra: Located in Dolphin Cove. Every night from 6 p.m.—10:30 p.m. Bring your Santa letters to put in our North Pole mailbox. Daily magic shared by a husband and wife team!
  • Smith Lights on Rue: Free annual walk-through for the community.
  • Greenwood Subdivision: Lights on display 7 p.m.–10 p.m. nightly as a gift to all in an effort to spread love and make people smile. All work is done by a cancer survivor as this is his way of giving back to the community.
  • 264 Arora Blvd.: Computer-controlled with over 50,000 lights and many wireframes.
  • 4826 Rathbone Drive: Animated Christmas Lights. Lights will be on daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tune into station 104.1 FM. There are 9 songs and the full show is approximately 30 minutes. There is also a smaller show on the side yard off Latimer. Children can place a note in the Santa’s Letter mailbox and we will ensure it is delivered to the North Pole. Remember to include a return address!

If you know of any additional light displays, please share the address and a description in the comment section.


Check Out Our Holiday Event Guide CLICK HERE

Chantel Beidleman
Born and raised in the Aloha state and a traveling gypsy at heart, Chantel left the nest fresh out of high school and headed off for college in sunny Southern California. Almost a decade later she met and fell madly in love with her hubby who whisked her off to the great Midwest. After five brutal winters in Nebraska, Chantel realized that home will always be where the ocean is (and the snow isn’t), so off to Jacksonville they went, where this Hawaiian girl now spends her days as a stay-at-home wrangler to her two baby bears. Prior to becoming a household CEO, she joyfully spent her time as the Program Assistant Director of a preschool. Digging deep into wellness and health is her jam alongside spontaneous dance parties with her kiddos are what sing to her soul. Chantel is wildly passionate about advocating for her son, who lives with multiple severe food allergies. You can find her out and about on a daily basis as she is a self-proclaimed busy body and loves hitting up the beach or exploring new spots in town while homeschooling her kiddos. If you ever see this fast-paced mama on the go, be sure to say hi because she is always up for meeting new people and making new friends!

73 COMMENTS

  1. Here in Orange Park, Fl. 32073 Aspen Ct. We have a lighting display from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve. Time 6:00 to 11:00 pm

  2. Check out the lights on Aurora Blvd. In Orange Park the house and yard is decked out and tune in to the radio to get the full affect of the twinkling lights to the music.

  3. When do the lights off Girvin Rd start? The kids loved it last year and are already asking to go again. Thank you to everyone that helps with the beautiful displays all over town!!

  4. Hey Vicky so nice meeting you last night! I love your website and are going to take the babies to see the lights on Oceanwalk tonight! Thank you again for this awesome website an such wonderful recommendations xo!

  5. Hey Vicky! So nice meeting you last night! We are taking the babies to see the lights on Oceanwalk tonight! Thank you for this wonderful website and awesome recommendations! Xo!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here