Because December is the darkest month, we welcome these grand displays of holiday lights to brighten the night. These homeowners and communities go all out to celebrate the season, so let’s get out there and celebrate with them!
Follow each link for directions, or if you are using Google Maps on your mobile device, add this map or holiday lights as a layer.
Neighborhood Holiday Lights
1. Rahway Road
Gates. Many of the homes in the Rahway community (Rahway, Dawson, Winter Hazel) in Gates, NY participate in the annual holiday lights extravaganza. Some homes are lit to the extreme, while others are elegant, monotone, or traditional. Most visitors drive because it’s usually quite cold, so take your time. Bring along some hot cocoa and snacks, and put on the holiday songs! You can also purchase popcorn and drinks on Winter Hazel Court (Thursday through Sunday, and every night the week of Christmas).
2. Colony Lane Holiday Lights
Henrietta. This is a cul-de-sac with lights and music synced across multiple homes. There’s a food donation box here, too, so bring some canned goods with you. Join the Facebook group to stay informed.
3. Endicar Drive
Irondequoit. This cul-de-sac neighborhood is lit! Multiple homes participate to bring the holiday cheer.
4. Stonebridge Lane Holiday Lights
Pittsford. The entire neighborhood gets decked out by a professional light designer. What an incredible experience!
5. Wheat Hill
Chili. Chili Town Supervisor, David Dunning, lights the way into the holiday season every year at 2 Wheat Hill, as do the neighbors down the street.
Holiday Lights Synced to Music
6. 9 Burning Tree Lane
Penfield. AKA Wrights Bright Lights. Extraordinary light display synced to music, this video features music from Star Wars. Get all the details on their Facebook page and bring along a pajama donation.
7. 76 White Oak Bend
Chili. AKA King Christmas Lights. This home has been a stop on my family’s holiday lights adventure for years! White Oak Bend is a single home synced with over 19,000 lights to 33 songs. Check out their website for their story. Hint: Park on Wellesey Knoll near the stop sign, across from the house, for a forward-facing view.
8. 15 Academy Drive Holiday Lights
Henrietta. AKA T2 Holiday Lights. This home has synced music with 20,000 lights. Check out their website for more info.
9. Buckskin Drive
Farmington. AKA Raggi Christmas Light Show. The house is lit and synchronized to music, and 20 other houses in the neighborhood join in the fun! Follow along on their Facebook page.
10. 16 Beauclaire Lane
Fairport. Single home with synced music and lights, plus fun lighted lawn displays.
Other ways to enjoy holiday lights around Rochester
Liberty Poll Lighting
Rochester. This is a family-fun event sponsored by the City of Rochester. There are activities around the Liberty Poll leading up to its official lighting. After, there’s parade over to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square.
NEW for 2018: Roc Holiday Village
Rochester. There is so much to say about this new family-friendly feature in Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Park! The Village has incorporated the annual ice skating experience into an overarching holiday experience complete with Santa’s workshop, shops, food & beverage, hands-on activities, and planned events. Plus, you can rent a winter igloo for your little party-of-8. The village will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in December until Christmas.
Lamberton Conservatory
Rochester. The Holiday Show features a tower of poinsettias and the various rooms are strung with holiday lights. Plus, the tropical temperature will wisp you away from cold & snowy Rochester.
The Garden Factory
Gates. Over 100,000 LED lights, enough to cover over five-hundred individual trees, all hung up within one room. Set in their heated indoor theater that seats up to 60 people, the show features three-song sets from among eleven holiday songs, ranging from rock opera to the oldies.
Lights on the Lake
Syracuse on Onondaga Lake. This is a bit of a drive (roughly 90 minutes) but a fun way to spend an evening. It’s truly an over-the-top holiday lights experience.
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Which holiday lights do you go out of your way to see?
Share with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!