7 Regional Christmas Displays Not to Be Missed

No matter where you live there is likely to be a Christmas display that will light up your heart. Some areas of the US have the advantage of what is imagined to be “traditional” Christmas weather, with snow and crisp, cold air to show off their displays. But enthusiasts who both love to create and enjoy Christmas displays are everywhere. In fact, there are so many regional or historical Christmas displays, you could spend the entirety of the holiday season traveling to see them, and still barely scratch the surface. Some are very traditional, some are high-tech and a couple displays are just a little quirky.

Sharpsville Lights, Christmas in the Country

The Sharpsville Lights display in Sharpsville Indiana is a high-tech event that is controlled by a computer software program called “Light-O-Rama,” that synchronizes the lights to Mp3 music files. The over 100,000 lights are controlled by 336 computer circuits, and music is transmitted to your car radio (99.1) as you drive through the 2-acre display. The Sharpsville Lights are located about 30 miles north of Indianapolis on US 31 and runs through December 30. The show lasts about 45 minutes, and is open from 6-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6-11 p.m. Friday to Sunday. The fee is a donation that supports various charities.

Royal Light Show at Dutch Wonderland

Dutch Wonderland is a unique amusement park in Pennsylvania Dutch country located in Lancaster, PA. The Dutch Winter Wonderland offers a variety of holiday themed rides, music, and activities to go along with the Royal Light Show, which looks like a fireworks display at ground level. The holiday themed program runs Saturdays from 3-9 p.m., Sundays from 3-8 p.m. until December 23. The display and events reopen on December 26 through Friday December 30. Ticket prices are $12.99 for ages 3 and up and free for 2 and under.

A Brandywine Christmas

Not all Christmas displays are about the lights. At Brandywine Museum, located in Brandywine, PA you can experience the holidays with a “step-in” doll house whose “rooms are filled with exquisite hand-crafted furnishings, a large display of rare antique dolls, the popular O-gauge model train display covering 2,000 feet of track, and thousands of whimsical ‘critter’ ornaments made from natural materials,” as stated on the museum’s website. The Christmas display runs through January 8. Hours for the museum are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours to 6 p.m. December 26 through 30. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, students with ID, and children age 6 to 12. Children under 6 are admitted free.

Dickens Victorian Village

Located in historic downtown Cambridge, Ohio, the Dickens Victorian Village is advertised as “old-world England. Visitors can stroll amidst “40 vignettes of 105 lifelike figures representing classic scenes from Victorian society.” The display, which is described as a public art project, has scenes located along Wheeling Avenue at each antique lamppost and bench between 6th and 11th streets. The event’s site states that the life-sized, hand-made mannequins are individually sculpted and painted by local artists. Particularly featured are characters from Dickens “A Christmas Carol.”  Dickens Historic Village runs through January 7 and is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Holiday Light Show on Lake Meone

The holiday light show on Lake Meone features over 100 Christmas trees described in several articles as “magically floating,” and lighting up to synchronized music. Admission is free and the lake is located in Historic Smithville, NJ. The show runs Thursdays through Sundays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Holiday Lights at Shore Acres

For the 25th year Shore Acres State Park in Coos Bay, Oregon will feature over 300,000 lights in the shape of sea animals, birds, flowers, ships, and more. Located at along the Oregon coast, the display runs through December 31 and is open to the public from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night including Christmas Eve and day. The park is located off Cape Arago Highway just south of Coos Bay. Visitors are also treated to “stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and immaculate gardens,” according to the park’s website.

River of Lights

Started in 1997, the River of Lights is a fund-raiser sponsored by the New Mexico BioPark Society to support a variety of their projects. The display is located in the Botanical Gardens in Albuquerque. Each year, the show unveils “ingenious new sculptures and stunning displays made by ABQ BioPark artists and craftsmen,” according to their website. This year’s display is themed as a “voyage beneath the sea.” The River of Lights is noted to be New Mexico’s largest walk-through light show, featuring hundreds of thousands of lights and “dazzling holiday displays.” Hours for the show are 6 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 15, 6 to 9 p.m. through December 30. The display will be closed on Christmas Eve and day. Admission is $8 for ages 13 and up, $4 for children 3 to 12, and free to children under age 3.

Let your holidays be bright!

Cris Carl is a Hometalk - http://www.hometalk.com - writer. Get home & garden ideas like this - http://www.networx.com/article/regional-christmas-displays-not-to-be-mi - on Hometalk.