The last weekend for Holiday Light Festivals, some NYE Fests and the start of 2026!
Welcome back, Festival Fans.
If you’re reading this in 2025, there may be some New Year’s Eve celebrations to catch tonight in most of the regional states.
But, if it’s already 2026, you can still enjoy the final weekend of most Holiday Light Festivals as well as some different festivals of the new year, such as….
- an Eagle Festival in Illinois and Missouri
- Fire and Ice Festival in Indiana
ALSO, all Festival Guides are already set up for 2026. So be sure to check out the guides and start planning your weekends ahead.
And please share the guides with others! It helps me learn about new festivals.
I will be checking tentative dates regularly and updating festival listings as I find new info.
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Have a great weekend, everyone!
If you happen to be in Ohio this weekend, check this weekend’s post at OhioFestivals.net to see what’s going on. You can find this week’s post at https://ohiofestivals.net/ohio-weekend-010426/
And here are the other two sections again…
Southern Section: https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/south-festival-weekend-010426
Western Section: https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/west-festival-weekend-010426
Until next week…
Love, Peace and Festival Grease!
Upcoming Festival Weekend: January 2-4, 2026
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MAP of festival and fair food cities this weekend.
If you can’t see the map on your smartphone, click HERE.
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Reviews for Festivals this Week
No festival reviews this weekend.
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Only want to see festivals in your state?
Go directly to your State Festival Guide.
Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Delaware | Florida
Georgia |Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana
Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Nevada
New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma
Oregon | Pennsylvania |South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia
Washington | Washington, DC | West Virginia | Wisconsin
Otherwise, continue down for all of this weekend’s festivals…
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DELAWARE
12/29-12/30 – Schellville VIII – Rehoboth Beach
12/29-1/4 – Gift of Lights Dover Motor Speedway VI – Dover
ILLINOIS
12/29-12/30 – Du Quoin Holiday Lights Fair VI – Du Quoin
12/29-12/30 – Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights VI – Wheaton
12/29-12/31 – Way of Lights VII – Belleville
12/29-12/31 – Christmas Lights of Hope VI – Carmi
12/29-12/31 – Christmas in Fairview Park VII – Casey
12/29-12/31 – Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville VIII – Chicago
12/29-12/31 – Santa’s Rock N Lights VII – Geneva
12/29-12/31 – Christmas Lights Wonderland at American Farm Heritage Museum VI – Greenville
12/29-12/31 – Hutsonville Trees on the River VI – Hutsonville
12/29-12/31 – Bright Nights: A Celebration of Lights VI – Jerseyville
12/29-12/31 – Lebanon’s Winter Wonderland VII – Lebanon
12/29-12/31 – A December to Remember VI – Pana
12/29-12/31 – Quincy Festival of Lights VI – Quincy
Weekend continues below…
12/29-1/1 – Wonderland in Lights VI – Effingham
12/29-1/1 – Olney Christmas Lights VI – Olney
12/29-1/1 – Shelbyville Festival of Lights VII – Shelbyville
12/29-1/1 – Old Tyme Christmas Presents: A Festival of Lights VIII – Vandalia
12/29-1/3 – Winter WonderFest V – Chicago
12/29-1/3 – Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum VII – Lisle
12/29-1/4 – Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic VII – Brookfield
12/29-1/4 – Christmas in Carlyle Lights in the Park VI – Carlyle
12/29-1/4 – ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo VII – Chicago
12/29-1/4 – Folepi’s Winter Wonderland VI – East Peoria
12/29-1/4 – Wonderlight’s Christmas in St. Louis VIII – Fairmont City
12/29-1/4 – Lightscape at the Chicago Botanical Garden VIII – Glencoe
12/29-1/4 (Closed 1/1) – Glow Holiday Festival VII – Joliet
12/29-1/4 – Holiday Lights in Lilacia Park V – Lombard
12/29-1/4 – All Aglow Holiday Display VI – Rockford
1/1 – TR’s Festival Festival – Belleville
1/2 – Alton Eagle Ice Festival – Alton
INDIANA
12/29-12/31 – Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights VII – Fort Wayne
12/29-12/31 – Christmas Nights of Lights IX – Indianapolis
12/29-12/31 – Walkway of Lights VII – Marion
12/29-12/31 – Shipshewana’s Lights of Joy VIII – Shipshewana
12/29-1/1 – Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights VI – Evansville
12/29-1/1 – Winter Lights at Sunset Hill Farm VII – Valparaiso
12/29-1/3 (Closed 12/31, 1/1) – Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights at Wellfield Botanic Gardens VI – Elkhart
12/29-1/3 (Closed 1/1) – Festival of Trees VIII – Indianapolis
12/29-1/3 – Michigan City Festival of Lights V – Michigan City
12/29-1/4 – Fort Wayne Zoo Wild Lights VI – Fort Wayne
12/29-1/4 (Closed 12/31, 1/1) – Christmas at the Zoo VII – Indianapolis
12/29-1/4 – Winterlights VII – Indianapolis
1/2 – Fire and Ice Festival – Goshen
IOWA
12/29-12/30 – Symphony of Lights VI – Clinton
12/29-12/31 – Uptown Wonderlights VIII – Ankeny
12/29-12/31 – Holiday Lights at the Lake VI – Iowa City
12/29-12/31 – Mt. Pleasant Festival of Lights VI – Mt. Pleasant
12/29-12/31- Santa’s Rock N Lights VI – Urbandale
12/29-1/1 – City of Christmas Display of Lights VI – Keokuk
12/29-1/1 – Maytag Park Holiday Lights VI – Newton
12/29-1/4 (Closed 1/1) – Dome for the Holidays VIII – Des Moines
12/29-1/4 – Jolly Holiday Lights VII – Des Moines
MARYLAND/WASHINGTON, DC
12/29 – Winter City Lights Holiday Festival VI – Olney
12/29-12/31- LuminoCity Festival at Montgomery County Fairgrounds VIII – Gaithersburg
12/29-12/31 – Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park VI – Gaithersburg
12/29-12/31 – Winterfest of Lights VII – Ocean City
12/29-1/1 – Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park VII – Annapolis
12/29-1/1 – Annmarie Garden in Lights VI – Solomons
12/29-1/1 – Winter Festival of Lights VI – Upper Marlboro
12/29-1/1 – Washington DC Temple Festival of Lights V – Washington, DC
12/29-1/4 (Closed 1/1) – Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens VII – Wheaton
12/30 – Maryland Holiday Light Spectacular V – Timonium
12/31 – Berlin New Year’s Eve – Berlin
12/31 – Easton Crab Drop – Easton
12/31 – New Year’s Eve Key Drop on Carroll Creek – Frederick
12/31 – Havre de Grace Duck Drop – Havre de Grace
12/31 – Krumpe’s Donut Drop – Hagerstown
12/31 – Big Night DC – National Harbor
MICHIGAN
12/29-12/31 – Sparkle in the Park VI – Bear Lake
12/29-12/31 – St. Clair Shores Tunnel of Lights V – St. Clair Shore
12/29-1/1 – The Colors of Christmas Wonderland VI – Newaygo
12/29-1/3 – Christmas Lite Show VI – Comstock Park
12/29-1/3 – Magic of Lights VII – Detroit
12/29-1/4 – Nite Lights VII – Brooklyn
12/29-1/4 – The Big, Bright Light Show VI – Rochester
12/29-1/4 (Closed 1/1) – Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo VII – Royal Oak
12/30-1/3 (Closed 12/31, 1/1) – LIGHTS at Fernwood VI – Niles
12/31 – Allegan New Year’s Eve Celebration – Allegan
12/31 – Cedar’s New Year’s Springing Eve Ball Drop – Cedar Springs
12/31 – Kalamazoo New Year’s Eve Fest – Kalamazoo
12/31* – Rockin’ NYE – Wyandotte
MINNESOTA
12/29-12/30 – Winter Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum VII – Chaska
12/29-12/31 – Kiwanis Holiday Lights VI – Mankato
12/29-1/1 – Country Lights Festival V – Sartell
12/29-1/3 – Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes VII – Minneapolis
12/29-1/4 (Closed 1/1) – Glow Holiday Festival VII – Saint Paul
12/31 – The Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights VII – Waconia
MISSOURI
12/29-12/30 – An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City X – Branson
12/29-12/30 – Celebration of Lights VI – O’Fallon
12/29-12/30 – Holiday Lights at Grant’s Farm VII – St. Louis
12/29-12/30 – Wentzville Holiday Night Lights VII – Wentzville
12/29-12/31 – Lights of Joy X – Branson
12/29-12/31 – Light Up the Lake VI – Hermitage
12/29-12/31 – Christmas in the Park VI – Lee’s Summit
12/29-12/31* – Holiday Light Park VI – Osage Beach – CANCELLED
12/29-1/1 – Chillicothe Festival of Lights VII – Chillicothe
12/29-1/1 – Enchanted Village of Lights VII – Laurie
Weekend continues below…
12/29-1/1 – Light Up Liberty VI – Sedalia
12/29-1/1 – Light Up Sikeston VI – Sikeston
12/29-1/1 – Holiday Park and South Pole VI – St. Joseph
12/29-1/2 – Light It Up Christmas V – Dexter
12/29-1/3 – The Trail of Lights X – Branson
12/29-1/3 (Closed 12/30, 12/31, 1/1) – Evergy Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens VII – Kingsville
12/29-1/3 – Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden VIII – St. Louis
12/29-1/3 (Closed 12/31) – Winter Wonderland VI – St. Louis
12/29-1/4 – Let there Be Lights X – Branson
12/29-1/4 – Santa’s Magical Kingdom VIII – Eureka
12/29-1/4 – Winter Magic X – Kansas City
12/29-1/4 – St. Patrick’s Festival of Lights VI – Laurie
1/2-1/4 – Gateway Arch Park Winterfest VII – St. Louis
1/3 – Eagle Ice Fest – West Alton
NEW JERSEY
12/29-12/30 – Orchard of Lights VII – Hillsdale
12/29-12/31 – Christmas Fantasy with Lights VIII – Egg Harbor Township
12/29-1/3 (Closed 12/31, 1/1) – Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show and Village VII – Augusta
12/29-1/3 – Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center VII – Holmdel
12/29-1/3 (Closed 1/1) – Holiday Lights Spectacular at Turtle Back Zoo VII – West Orange
12/29-1/4 – Holiday in the Park at Six Flags VII – Jackson
12/29-1/4 – Historic Smithville Holiday Light Show VI – Smithville
12/29-1/4 – Holiday Light Show at Diggerland VIII – West Berlin
12/31 – Hackettstown NYE Blast – Hackettstown
12/31 – First Night Morris County – Morristown
1/1-1/4 – Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular IX – Paramus
NEW YORK
12/29 – East Islip Holiday Lights Drive-Thru V – East Islip
12/29-12/30 – Poinsettias After Dark VI – Buffalo
12/29-12/30 – The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights VI – Hamburg
12/29-12/30 – Lumina: Magical Lights at Harvest Moon VII – North Salem
12/29-12/31 – Riverhead Holiday Light Show VII – Calverton
12/29-12/31 – LuminoCity Festival IX – East Meadow
12/29-12/31 – Westchester’s Winter Wonderland VII – Valhalla
12/29-1/1 – Oneonta Festival of Lights IV – Oneonta
12/29-1/1 – Northern Lights Holiday Light Show VI – Evans Mills
12/29-1/3 (Closed 1/1) – Wild Center Wild Lights VI – Tupper Lake
12/29-1/3 – Magic of Lights: Long Island VII – Wantagh
12/29-1/4 – Broome County Festival of Lights VII – Binghamton
12/29-1/4 – Wegman’s Lights on the Lake VII – Liverpool
12/31 – Saratoga New Year’s Eve – Saratoga
12/31 – Bank of Utica’s New Years Eve Bash – Utica
OHIO
Ohio Festivals can be found at ohiofestivals.net/ohio-festivals/
PENNSYLVANIA
12/29-12/30 – Overly’s Country Christmas VII – Greensburg
12/29-12/30 – Enchanted Lights VI – Freedom
12/29-12/30 – Wild Lights at Elmood Park Zoo VII – Norristown
12/29-12/30 – Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights VI – York
12/29-12/31 – Stone Hedge Festival of Lights VII – Tunkhannock
12/29-1/1 – Holiday Nights of Lights VI – Bedford
12/29-1/2 – Christmas in the Park VI – Grove City
12/29-1/2 – Shining Light Through the Darkness V – Lewistown
12/29-1/3 – Koziar’s Christmas Village X – Bernville
12/29-1/3 – Trail of Lights VI – Chambersburg
12/29-1/3 – Christmas Light Up Celebration VII – Clinton
12/29-1/3 (Closed 1/1) – Dazzling Nights VI – Oakdale
12/29-1/3 (Closed 1/1) – LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo VII – Philadelphia
Weekend continues below…
12/29-1/3 (Closed 1/1) – Winter Lights Spectacular VIII – Schnecksville
12/29-1/4 – Holiday Lights on the Lake VIII – Altoona
12/29-1/4 – Hersheypark Christmas Candylane VIII – Hershey
12/29-1/4 – A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens VII – Kennett Square
12/29-1/4 – A Very Furry Christmas VIII – Langhorne
12/29-1/4 (Closed 12/31, 1/1) – Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience VIII – Pittsburgh
12/29-1/4 – Holiday Light Spectacular at Nay Aug Park VI – Scranton
12/29-1/4 (Closed 12/31) – Christmas Light Experience at Refreshing Mountain Retreat VII – Stevens
12/29-1/4 – Holiday Lights at Kennywood VIII – West Mifflin
12/29-1/4 – Holiday Light Show at Shady Brook Farm VII – Yardley
12/30-12/31 – PEEPSFEST and Peeps Chick Drop – Bethlehem
12/31 – Harrisburg New Year’s Eve Celebration – Harrisburg
12/31 – New Year’s Eve Bologna Drop – Lebanon
12/31 – First Night – Pittsburgh
12/31 – First Night State College – State College
12/31 – Sunbury New Year’s Eve Celebration – Sunbury
WEST VIRGINIA
12/29 – Celebration of Lights VI – Fairmont
12/29-12/31 – Krodel Festival of Lights VII – Point Pleasant
12/29-1/1 – Light the Night VII – Charleston
12/29-1/4 – Oglebay’s Winter Festival of Lights IX – Wheeling
12/31 – Downtown Countdown – Princeton
WISCONSIN
12/29-12/30 – Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens VI – Green Bay
12/29-12/31 – The North Pole Christmas Village VI – Chilton
12/29-12/31 – Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo VII – Milwaukee
12/29-12/31 – Carp Fest – Prairie du Chien
12/29-12/31 – Christmas Carnival of Lights VII – Caledonia
12/29-12/31 – East Troy Lights V – East Troy
12/29-12/31 – Rotary Lights VI – La Crosse
12/29-12/31 – Rotary Winter Wonderland VI – Marshfield
12/29-12/31 – Celebration of Lights VI – Oshkosh
12/29-1/1 – Irvine Park Christmas Village VI – Chippewa Falls
12/29-1/1 – Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival VII – Milwaukee
12/29-1/1 – Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour VI – Somerset
12/29-1/3 (Closed 12/31, 1/1) – Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show VI – Janesville
12/29-1/3 – Country Christmas VIII – Pewaukee
12/29-1/3 – Miracle at Big Rock VI – St. Croix Falls
12/31 – New Year’s Eve Sartori Big Cheese Drop – Plymouth
12/31 – New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop – Sister Bay
Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Delaware | Florida
Georgia |Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana
Maryland | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Nevada
New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Oklahoma
Oregon | Pennsylvania |South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia
Washington | Washington, DC | West Virginia | Wisconsin
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