Southern Holiday Weekend Festivals: December 18-21, 2025

Holiday Lights Festivals, some Christmas Festivals and the Hmong New Year.

Welcome back, Festival Fans, and Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish readers.

Now that we are in the second half of December, most of the festivals will be Holiday Light Festivals. There are some festivals beyond that, but not too much.

Here are some interesting weekend festivals that I’ve noticed…

• Palm Bay Family Christmas Extravaganza in Florida
• Florida Hmong New Year in Florida
• Lion and Lamb Music Christmas Bash in Georgia
• Christmas on the Farm in Kentucky
• Golden Meadow Christmas Boat Parade and Gumbo Cook-Off in Louisiana
• Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s Christmas Market in North Carolina

Just a quick note about the Festival Guides: I am almost done with updating festivals for the first half of 2026 (at least as much as I can). I’ll start going through the second half of 2026 festivals in January.

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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-122125/

And here are the other two sections again…
Northern Section: https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/north-festival-weekend-122125
Western Section: https://festivalguidesandreviews.com/west-festival-weekend-122125

Until next week…

Love, Peace and Festival Grease!

Upcoming Festival Weekend: December 18-21, 2025

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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

12/15-12/21 – Lights Under Louisville VI – Louisville – My Review

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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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ALABAMA

12/15-12/21 – Christmas in the Park IV – Arab
12/15-12/21 – Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration V – Birmingham
12/15-12/21 – Lights of Noel V – Birmingham
12/15-12/21 – Magic of Lights: Alabama Adventure V – Birmingham
12/15-12/21 – Cullman Christkindlmarkt V – Cullman
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Light Spectacular IV – Dothan
12/15-12/21 – Christmas at the Falls V – Gadsden
12/15-12/21 – Galaxy of Lights VI – Huntsville
12/15-12/21 – Rocket City Christmas Light Show V – Madison
12/15-12/21 – Christmas in the Park III – Millry
12/15-12/21 – Christmas Nights in Lights V – Mobile
12/15-12/21 – Christmas Lights Festival at the Montgomery Zoo III – Montgomery
12/15-12/21 – Oxford Festival of Lights V – Oxford
12/15-12/21 – Magic Christmas in Lights V – Theodore
12/15-12/21 – Christmas in Ansley V – Troy
12/18-12/21 – Coastal Christmas Walk III – Daphne
12/18-12/21 – Santa Land IV – Rogersville

ARKANSAS

12/15-12/21 – White River Wonderland IV – Batesville
12/15-12/21 – Lights of the Delta IV – Blytheville
12/15-12/21 – Corning Christmas in the Park IV – Corning
12/15-12/21 – Drive-Thru Lights at The Great Passion Play IV – Eureka Springs
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights at Garvan Gardens V – Hot Springs
12/15-12/21 – Jonesboro Christmas at the Park IV – Jonesboro
12/15-12/21 – Coulter Celebration of Lights V – Mountain Home
12/15-12/21 – Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends IV – Pine Bluff
12/15-12/21 – Sherwood’s Enchanted Forest Trail of Lights IV – Sherwood
12/17-12/21 – GloWild Lantern Festival VII – Little Rock
12/20 – Holiday Market on the Downtown Square IV – Fayetteville

FLORIDA

12/15-12/21 – Holiday Fantasy of Lights V – Coconut Creek
12/15-12/21 – Night Garden VII – Coral Gables
12/15-12/21 – Magic of Lights at Daytona International Speedway V – Daytona Beach
12/15-12/21 – Tampa Bay’s Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village IV – Dover
12/15-12/21 – Edison and Ford Holiday Nights Celebration IV – Fort Myers
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights in the Gardens IV – Largo
12/15-12/21 – Suwannee Lights IV – Live Oak
12/15-12/21 – Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden IV – Naples
Weekend continues below…

12/15-12/21 – Dazzling Nights Orlando IV – Orlando
12/15-12/21 – Fantasy Lights Festival IV – Palm Coast
12/15-12/21 – The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens Asian Lantern Festival VI – Sanford
12/15-12/21 – Drive Thru Light Show V – West Palm Beach
12/15-12/21 – Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Festival of Lights III – White Springs
12/18-12/21 – The Wonderland of Lights III – Auburndale
12/18-12/21 – Glowing Gardens at Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens IV – Jacksonville
12/18-12/21 – Pinecrest Gardens Night of Lights III – Pinecrest
12/19-12/20 – Taste of the North Food and Music Festival – St. Petersburg
12/19-12/21 – An Old Fashioned Country Christmas at Raprager Family Farm IV – Odessa
12/19-12/21 – Christmas in the Wild IV – Tampa
12/20 – Florida Hmong New Year – Largo
12/20 – Palm Bay Family Christmas Extravaganza – Palm Bay

GEORGIA

12/15-12/21 (Closed 12/19, 12/20) – Winter Wonderlights V – Athens
12/15-12/21 – Garden Lights, Holiday Nights VI – Atlanta
12/15-12/21 – IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Lantern Festival V – Atlanta
12/15-12/21 – Magical Nights of Lights VI – Buford
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights at Veteran’s Park V – Canton
12/15-12/21- Lights of the South V – Grovetown
12/15-12/21 – Glow Light Show VI – Lawrenceville
12/15-12/21 – Enchanted Garden of Lights VI – Lookout Mountain
12/15-12/21 – Lights of Life IV – Marietta
12/15-12/21 – World of Illumination: Candy Rush VI – Marietta
12/15-12/21 – Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort and Gardens VI – Pine Mountain
12/15-12/21 – December Nights and Holiday Lights V – Savannah
12/15-12/21 – Savannah Christmas Market (Christmas on the River) V – Savannah
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights of Hope IV – Woodstock
12/16-12/21 – A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms V – Cartersville
12/17-12/21 – Atlanta Christkindl Market IV – Lawrenceville
12/18-12/21 – Mountain Country Christmas in Lights IV – Hiawassee
12/19-12/21 – Christmas Lights at A.H. Stephens State Park IV – Crawfordville
12/19-12/21 – Stone Mountain Christmas VII – Stone Mountain
12/20 – Lion and Lamb Music Christmas Bash – Columbus

KENTUCKY

12/15-12/21 – Winter Wonderland of Lights V – Ashland
12/15-12/21 – Christmas in the Park Light Show IV – Benton
12/15-12/21 – Light Up The Fair VI – Burlington
12/15-12/21 – Christmas Island V – Burnside
12/15-12/21 – Elizabethtown’s Christmas in the Park IV – Elizabethtown
12/15-12/21* – Deck the Y’alls Lightfest V – Florence – DISCONTINUED
12/15-12/21 – Patti’s Festival of Lights VII – Grand Rivers
12/15-12/21 – Southern Lights Holiday Festival IV – Lexington
12/15-12/21 – Lights Under Louisville VI – Louisville – My Review
12/15-12/21 – Christmas at Panther Creek IV – Owensboro
12/15-12/21 – Christmas in the Park IV – Paducah
12/18-12/20 – ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter IV – Williamstown
12/19-12/21 – Festival of Lights IV – Mayfield
12/19-12/21 – Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill IV – Millersburg
12/20-12/21 – Christmas on the Farm – Cynthiana

LOUISIANA

12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge General V – Baton Rouge
12/15-12/21 – Louisiana Lights at Burden Museum and Gardens IV – Baton Rouge
12/15-12/21 – Zoo Lights at Baton Rouge Zoo IV – Baton Rouge
12/15-12/21 – Candy Cane Lane VII – Calhoun
12/15-12/21 – Spirit of Christmas IV – Destrehan
12/15-12/21 – Reindeer Trails V – Greenwood
12/15-12/21 – Kenner’s Magical Christmas Village IV – Kenner
12/15-12/21 – Noel Acadian au Village III – Lafayette
12/15-12/21 – Christmas in Lafreniere Park III – Metairie
12/15-12/21 – Celebration in the Oaks IV – New Orleans
Weekend continues below…

12/15-12/21 – Christmas in Roseland IV – Shreveport
12/15-12/21 – Christmas in the Park III – Thibodaux
12/17-12/21 – Dark Woods Christmas IV – Natchitoches
12/19-12/20 – Holiday Light Safari IV – Alexandria
12/19-12/20 – Holiday Kids Fest IV – Natchitoches
12/19-12/21 – Shreveport Family Christmas Festival and Parade – Shreveport
12/19-12/21 – Bayou Christmas/Christmas Under the Stars II – Slidell
12/19-12/21 – Christmas at Kiroli IV – West Monroe
12/20 – Golden Meadow Christmas Boat Parade and Gumbo Cook-Off – Golden Meadow
12/20-12/21 – NOLA Christmasfest I – New Orleans

MISSISSIPPI

12/15-12/21 – Brandon Magic of Lights V – Brandon
12/15-12/21 – Canton Christmas Festival IV – Canton
12/15-12/21 – 50 Nights of Lights VII – Cleveland
12/15-12/21 – Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival IV – Gulfport
12/15-12/21 – Light Garden IV – Olive Branch
12/15-12/21 – The Southern Lights V – Pearl
12/19-12/21 – Lights of the Wild III – Hattiesburg

NORTH CAROLINA

12/15-12/21 – Lake Julian Festival of Lights IV – Arden
12/15-12/21 – The North Carolina Arboretum’s Winter Lights VI – Asheville
12/15-12/21 – Holidays at the Garden IV – Belmont
12/15-12/21 – Smoky Mountain Christmas Light Spectacular VII – Bryson City
12/15-12/21 – NC Chinese Lantern Festival VI – Cary
12/15-12/21 – Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular IV – Charlotte
12/15-12/21 – Speedway Christmas V – Charlotte
12/15-12/21 – Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights VI – Clemmons
12/15-12/21 – Lu Mil Vineyard Festival of Lights IV – Elizabethtown
12/15-12/21 – Winter Wonderlights at the Greensboro Science Center V – Greensboro
12/15-12/21 – Lake Linda’s Christmas Lights IV – Hampstead
12/15-12/21 – Kannapolis Celebration of Lights VI – Kannapolis
12/15-12/21 – Costner’s Christmas Light Extravaganza V – Kings Mountain
12/15-12/21 – Winterfest at Tryon International VI – Mill Spring
12/15-12/21 – Christmas Wonderland of Lights at Zootastic Park V – Troutman
12/15-12/21 – Lake Myra Christmas Lights IV – Wendell
Weekend continues below…

12/15-12/21 – Christmas Lights at Contentnea Fire Department IV – Wilson
12/17-12/21 – Winterfest at Carowinds VI – Charlotte
12/17-12/21 – Lights on the Neuse at Boyette Family Farms IV – Clayton
12/17-12/21 – The Arbor Hills Holiday Festival IV – Cleveland
12/17-12/21 – Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights V – Manteo
12/17-12/21 – Hill Ridge Farms Festival of Lights IV – Youngsville
12/18-12/21 – Light the Knights Festival IV – Charlotte
12/18-12/21 – Country Christmas Train at Denton FarmPark IV – Denton
12/18-12/21 – McLaurin Farms Christmas Festival II – Greensboro
12/19-12/21 – Kersey Valley Christmas IV – Archdale
12/19-12/21 – Tweetsie Christmas IV – Blowing Rock
12/19-12/21 – Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) IV – Charlotte
12/19-12/21 – Festival of Lights at Sweet Valley Ranch IV – Fayetteville
12/19-12/21 – Christmas Lights on the Farm IV – Middlesex

SOUTH CAROLINA

12/15-12/21 – Christmas in Hopelands II – Aiken
12/15-12/21 – Anderson Christmas Lights IV – Anderson
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Festival of Lights VI – Charleston
12/15-12/21 – Fireflies Holiday Lights V – Columbia
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights on the River IV – Columbia
12/15-12/21 – Riverbanks Zoo Wild Lights V – Columbia
12/15-12/21 – Celebrate the Season Holiday Lights IV – Moncks Corner
12/15-12/21 – MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights IV – Murrells Inlet
12/15-12/21 – Winter Wonderland at the Beach IV – Myrtle Beach
12/15-12/21 – The Great Christmas Light Show IV – North Myrtle Beach
12/15-12/21 – Children’s Garden Christmas and Kid’s Walk V – Orangeburg
12/15-12/21 – Swan Lake Fantasy of Lights III – Sumter
12/15-12/21 – Magic of Lights: Hollywild V – Wellford
12/18-12/21 – Nights of a Thousand Candles IV – Murrells Inlet
12/18-12/21 – Santa’s Southern Lights at Sara’s V – Trenton
12/19-12/21 – Upstate Holiday Light Show IV – Easley
12/19-12/21 – Yuletide Unicorn and Night-Light Twinkling Light Show V – Fountain Inn
12/20-12/21 – Bierkeller Weihnachtsmarkt IV – Columbia

TENNESSEE

12/15-12/21 – Food City Speedway in Lights V – Bristol
12/15-12/21 – Franktown’s Festival of Lights V – Franklin
12/15-12/21 – Lights Over Gatlinburg VII – Gatlinburg
12/15-12/21 – Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland V – Johnson City
12/15-12/21 – Chad’s Winter Wonderland IV – Lebanon
12/15-12/21 – The Dancing Lights of Christmas VII – Lebanon
12/15-12/21 – Christmas at Gaylord Opryland IV – Nashville
12/15-12/21 – Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens V – Nashville
12/15-12/21 – Zoolumination: Chinese Festival of Lights VI – Nashville
12/15-12/21 – Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas VIII – Pigeon Forge
12/15-12/21 – Shadrack’s Snowy Mountain Village VI – Sevierville
12/15-12/21 – Skyland Ranch Festival of Lights VII – Sevierville
12/16-12/21 – Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees VI – Memphis
12/17-12/21 – Asian Lantern Festival at the Chattanooga Zoo V – Chattanooga
12/18-12/21 – Memphis Zoo Lantern Festival VI – Memphis
12/19-12/20 – Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park IV – Memphis
12/19-12/21 – Christkindlesmarkt IV – Knoxville
12/20 – Bell Buckle Old Fashioned Christmas III – Bell Buckle

VIRGINIA

12/15 – Chanukah Festival – Alexandria
12/15-12/21 – Buchanan Festival of Lights III – Buchanan
12/15-12/21 – Bull Run Festival of Lights VI – Centreville
12/15-12/21 – Winter Wander VI – Charlottesville
12/15-12/21 – Illuminate Light Show and Santa’s Village V – Doswell
12/15-12/21 – Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk V – Lynchburg
12/15-12/21 – Garden of Lights VII – Norfolk
12/15-12/21 – GardenFest of Lights V – Richmond
12/15-12/21 – Lighted Nights at Claude Moore Park III – Sterling
12/15-12/21 – Suffolk Festival of Lights IV – Suffolk
12/15-12/21 – Meadowlark Gardens Winter Walk of Lights VII – Vienna
12/15-12/21 – Busch Gardens Christmas Town VI – Williamsburg
12/18-12/21 – Winter Lantern Festival V – Tysons
12/18-12/21 – Winter Lantern Festival: Williamsburg VI – Williamsburg
12/18-12/21 – Williamsburg Christmas Market IV – Williamsburg
12/19 – Dickens of a Christmas III – Roanoke
12/20 – Fa La La Land II – Chesapeake

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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