Holiday Light Festivals, Christmas Markets and a few unique eating fests!
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend, Festival Fans!
Many of you may be switching states as you visit family or friends this long holiday weekend. Fortunately, this post covers many states, so it may still be useful for you to find something to do. And, if you are traveling to Ohio, you can see what’s happening there by visiting https://ohiofestivals.net/thanksgiving-festival-weekend-112722
This weekend’s events are mostly made of Holiday Light Festivals. Most of them take place in parks or county fairgrounds so that you can casually drive through them and enjoy all the wonderful Christmas displays. Others may take place in zoos or other areas where you can walk through the attraction. And some even have designated nights for walking on some nights (usually during the week) and driving on others.
You will likely need tickets for these Light Festivals, which can be purchased online.
Another type of popular festival this weekend are the Light-Up Festivals. These are festivals where communities have a festival to celebrate the lighting of their downtown holiday displays. If I list them, it’s usually because they is more going on than a simple flip of the switch. The festivals I list should also have food, vendors and some form of entertainment.
A third popular festival type is the Christmas Market. Again, those that I list should also have food and some form of entertainment. I love this type of festival because it usually reflects the German Christmas Markets with gingerbread and mulled wine.
I should also mention that there are other types of festivals this weekend as well. For instance, there’s a Turkey Testicle Festival in Illinois and a Chitlin’ Festival in South Carolina for the more adventurous eaters. If that doesn’t suite your palate, there’s a Blue Crab Festival in Florida, a Native American Heritage Festival in North Carolina, and a Wine and Chocolate Festival in New York.
Here’s a short breakdown of what each state is offering:
Alabama
Holiday Light Festivals.
Florida
Holiday Light Festivals, a Pottery Festival, a Blue Crab Festival
Georgia
Christmas Markets, a Silver Comet Fest, and plenty of Holiday Light Festivals
Illinois
A Turkey Testicle Festival and more Holiday Lights
Indiana
Christmas Markets, Christmas Lights and some Festivals of Trees.
Kentucky
Holiday Light Festivals and a Light-Up Festivals.
Michigan
A Holly DIckens Festival, Christmas Markets, and a Holiday Light Festivals.
New York
A Wine and Chocolate Festival, Christmas Markets and Holiday Light Festivals.
North Carolina
A Holiday Flotilla Festival, Holiday Markets, and Holiday Light Festivals
Pennsylvania
Holiday Light Festivals and Christmas Markets
South Carolina
Holiday Light Festivals and the Salley Chitlin’ Strut
Tennessee
Christmas Markets and Holiday Light Festivals
West Virginia
Holiday Light Festivals and a Moonlight Market
Wisconsin
A Blues Harmonica Festival, Holiday Lights Festivals and Christmas Markets
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Have a great weekend, everyone! Safe travels and I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Also, I want to let you know that next weekend will be a pretty big festival weekend. So please keep an eye out for next week’s post and, if you would like to receive notification when new posts are published, you can subscribe at festivalguidesandreviews.com/subscribe/
Until next week…
Love, Peace and Festival Grease!
Thanksgiving Festival Weekend: November 24-27, 2022
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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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ALABAMA
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Galaxy of Lights III – Huntsville
11/21-11/27 – Oxford Festival of Lights II – Oxford
11/22-11/27 – Winter Park at The Orion I – Huntsville
11/24-11/27 – Christmas at the Falls I – Gadsden
11/25-11/27 – Christmas in the Park I – Arab
11/25-11/27 – Santa Land II – Rogersville
11/25-11/27 – Magic Christmas in Lights I – Theodore
FLORIDA
11/21-11/27 – Night of a Million Lights III – Kissimmee
11/21-11/27 – Santa’s Enchanted Forest III – Hialeah
11/21-11/27 – Magic of Lights at Daytona International Speedway II – Daytona Beach
11/21-11/27 – Magic of Lights at Homestead-Miami Speedway II – Homestead
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens Asian Lantern Festival II – Sanford
11/24-11/26 – Sertoma Youth Ranch Thanksgiving Bluegrass Festival – Brooksville
11/24-11/27 – Tampa Bay’s Festival of Lights and Santa’s Village I – Dover
11/25-11/26 – Christmas in the Wild I – Tampa
11/25-11/27 – Space Coast Light Festival I – Palm Bay
11/25-11/27 – Dazzling Nights Jacksonville I – Jacksonville
11/25-11/27 – The Wonderland of Lights and American’s Christmas Village I – Auburndale
11/25-11/27 – Dazzling Nights Orlando I – Orlando
11/25-11/27 – Enchant Christmas I – St. Petersburg
11/25-11/27 – Tinez Farms Fall Festival XI – Miami
11/25-11/27 – Raprager Family Farm’s Winter Festival and Christmas Extravaganza I – Odessa
11/25-11/27 – Christmas Made in the South – Jacksonville
11/25-11/27 – Christmas Lane I – Plant City
11/26 – Old Florida Holiday and Winter Market – Santa Rosa Beach
11/26 – Bloomers Garden Center Holly Days – San Mateo
11/26 – Ozello Arts, Crafts and Blue Crab Festival – Crystal River
11/26 – Whimsy’s Holiday Market – Umatilla
11/26 – Orlando Pottery Festival and Holiday Arts Market – Orlando
11/26-11/27 – Shopapalooza Festival – St. Petersburg
11/26-11/27 – Fusionfest – Orlando
11/26-11/27 – Sarasota Medieval Fair IV – Myakka City
11/26-11/27 – Suncoast Renaissance Festival II – Sarasota
11/26-11/27 – Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Festival – Tarpon Springs
11/27 – Light Up Tioga – Newberry
GEORGIA
11/21 – Alma Christmas Lighting Festival – Alma
11/21-11/27 – Garden Lights, Holiday Nights III – Atlanta
11/21-11/27 – Georgia Festival of Trees II – Atlanta
11/21-11/27 – Festival of Trees at Town Center at Cobb III – Kennesaw
11/21-11/27 – Stone Mountain Christmas III – Stone Mountain
11/21-11/27 – World of Illumination: Reindeer Road II – Marietta
11/21-11/27 – Enchanted Garden of Lights II – Lookout Mountain
11/21-11/27 – Holiday Lights at Veteran’s Park II – Canton
11/21-11/27 – Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort and Gardens II – Pine Mountain
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese Lantern Festival I – Atlanta
11/21-11/27 – Margaritaville’s Lakeside Lights Spectacular II – Buford
11/22 – Washington Wonderland and Holiday Gift Market – Washington
11/23-11/27 (Closed 11/24, 11/26) – Winter Wonderlights I – Athens
11/24-11/26 – Mountain Country Christmas in Lights I – Hiawassee
11/24-11/27 – Lights of Life I – Marietta
11/24-11/27 – A Country Christmas at Pettit Creek Farms I – Cartersville
11/25 – Christmas in Possum Snout – Tallapoosa
11/25-11/26 – Christmas at the Mill – Canton
11/25-11/26 – December Nights and Holiday Lights I – Savannah
11/25-11/27 – Atlanta Christkindl Market I – Atlanta
11/25-11/27 – Atlanta Holiday Lights I – Atlanta
11/25-11/27 – Holiday Road Atlanta I – Fairburn
11/25-11/27 – Holiday Lights of Hope I – Woodstock
11/25-11/27 – Christmas Lights at A.H. Stephens State Park I – Crawfordville
11/26 – Light Up Blue Ridge – Blue Ridge
11/26 – Silver Comet Fest – Rockmart
11/26-11/27 – Christkindlmarkt on the Marktplatz I – Helen
ILLINOIS
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Lightscape at the Chicago Botanical Garden III – Glencoe
11/21-11/27 – Mattoon Lightworks II – Mattoon
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo II – Chicago
11/21-11/27 – Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville II – Chicago
11/21-11/27 – Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza II – Chicago
11/21-11/27 – Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum II – Lisle
11/21-11/27 – Shelbyville Festivals of Lights II – Shelbyville
11/23 – Turkey Testicle Festival – Huntley
11/24-11/27 – East Peoria Festival of Lights I – East Peoria
11/24-11/27 – Christkindlmarket Aurora II – Aurora
11/24-11/27 – Wonderland in Lights I – Effingham
11/25 – Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival – Grayslake
11/25-11/27 – Walnut Grove Farm’s Christmas at the Farm – Knoxville
11/25-11/27 – Chatham Light Up the Park I – Chatham
11/25-11/27 – Julmarknad Christmas Market I – Bishop Hill
11/25-11/27 – Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic I – Brookfield
11/25-11/27 – Ottawa Chris Kringle Market I – Ottawa
11/25-11/27 – Cosley Zoo Festival of Lights I – Wheaton
11/26 – Holiday Cheers Market I – Alton
11/26 – Keeping Christmas Close to Home – Streator
11/26 – Fox Lake Festival of Lights – Fox Lake
11/26 – Highwood Holiday Fest – Highwood
11/26 – Holly Jolly Fest – Niles
11/26 – Downtown Country Christmas Festival – Jerseyville
11/27 – Orland Park Holiday Festival – Orland Park
INDIANA
11/21-11/27 – Festival of Trees III – Indianapolis
11/21-11/27 – Winter Lights at Sunset Hill Farm II – Valparaiso
11/21-11/27 – Christmas Nights of Lights III – Indianapolis
11/21-11/27 – Winterlights II – Indianapolis
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Christmas at the Zoo II – Indianapolis
11/23-11/27 – Carmel Christkindlmarkt German Holiday Market II – Carmel
11/23-11/27 – Fort Wayne Festival of Trees I – Fort Wayne
11/24-11/27 – Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights I – Evansville
11/25-11/27 – A Merry Prairie Holiday I – Fishers
11/25-11/27 – Lanthier Winery Festival of Trees I – Madison
11/25-11/27 – Waterman’s Winter Wonderland Christmas Festival I – Indianapolis
11/25-11/27 – Athenaeum Christkindlmarkt I – Indianapolis
11/25-11/27 – Christmas Tyme Lights I – Lowell
11/25-11/27 – Gift of Lights at the Potawatomi Zoo I – South Bend
11/26 – Christmas Through the Ages at the Old Fort – Fort Wayne
11/26 – DPI Christmas Street Market – Princeton
11/26 – Corydon Extravaganza Christmas Market – Corydon
11/26 – Cambridge City Christmas Wonderland – Cambridge City
11/27 – Ladoga Christmas Festival – Ladoga
KENTUCKY
11/21-11/27 – Patti’s Festival of Lights IV – Grand Rivers
11/21-11/27 – Festival of Trees and Trains II – Ashland
11/21-11/27 – Winter Wonderland of Lights II – Ashland
11/21-11/27 – Lights Under Louisville III – Louisville
11/23-11/27 – Elizabethtown’s Christmas in the Park I – Elizabethtown
11/24-11/27 – Christmas in the Park I – Paducah
11/25 – Light-Up Louisville – Louisville
11/25-11/26 – Festival of the Mountain Masters – Harlan
11/25-11/27 – Christmas at Panther Creek I – Owensboro
11/25-11/27 – Southern Lights Holiday Festival I – Lexington
11/25-11/27 – ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter I – Williamstown
11/25-11/27 – Winter Woods Spectacular I – Louisville
11/26 – Light Up the Levee – Newport
11/26-11/27 – Festival of Lights I – Mayfield
11/26-11/27 – Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill I – Millersburg
MICHIGAN
11/21-11/27 – Magic of Lights II – Clarkston
11/21-11/27 – Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital Festival of Trees I – Manistique
11/21-11/27 – Festival of Trees II – Dearborn
11/23-11/27 – Wayne County Lightfest II – Westland
11/23-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll I – Lake Orion
11/24-11/27 – Nite Lights I – Brooklyn
11/24-11/27 – Glenlore Trails Aurora II – Commerce Township
11/24-11/27 – Lansing Holiday Light Show II – Lansing
11/25 – Evergreen Festival – Reed City
11/25-11/26 – Dutch WinterFest KerstMarkt II – Holland
11/25-11/27 – Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic I – Flint
11/25-11/27 – Michigan Made Holiday Market – Lake Orion
11/25-11/27 – Frankenmuth ChristKindlMarkt I – Frankenmuth
11/25-11/27 – Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo II – Lansing
11/25-11/27 – Winter Wonder Lights at Meadow Brook I – Rochester
11/25-11/27 – Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo II – Royal Oak
11/25-11/27 – The Colors of Christmas Wonderland I – Newaygo
11/26 – Stockbridge Festival of Lights – Stockbridge
11/26 – Northport Tree Lighting Festivities – Northport
11/26-11/27 – Sparkle in the Park I – Bear Lake
11/26-11/27 – Walk Through the Lights at Gull Meadow Farms I – Richland
11/26-11/27 – Holly Dickens Festival I – Holly
NEW YORK
11/21-11/27 – Wegman’s Lights on the Lake II – Liverpool
11/24-11/27 – Buffalo/Niagara Holiday Light Show II – Lockport
11/25-11/27 – Fall Makers and Shakers: Boozy Artisan Market – Buffalo
11/25-11/27 – Dickens Christmas Festival I – Skaneateles
11/25-11/27 – Buffalo Holiday Market I – Buffalo
11/25-11/27 – The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights I – Hamburg
11/26 – Syracuse Wine and Chocolate Festival – Syracuse
11/26 – LiveNF Markers Market – Niagara Falls
11/26 – Jingle Falls USA I – Niagara Falls
11/27 – Zoo Lights at the Buffalo Zoo I – Buffalo
NORTH CAROLINA
11/21-11/27 – Tanglewood Park Festival of Lights III – Clemmons
11/21-11/27 – Shadrack Christmas Wonderland II – Tryon
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Winterfest at Carowinds I – Charlotte
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Kannapolis Celebration of Lights II – Kannapolis
11/21-11/27 – NC Chinese Lantern Festival II – Cary
11/21-11/27 – The North Carolina Arboretum’s Winter Lights II – Asheville
11/21-11/27 – Speedway Christmas II – Charlotte
11/23-11/27 – Lake Myra Christmas Lights I – Wendell
11/23-11/27 – Charlotte Christmas Village I – Charlotte
11/25 – Holiday Flotilla – Swansboro
11/25 – Christmas in the Park – Blowing Rock
Weekend continues below…
11/25-11/26 – McLaurin Farms Christmas Festival I – Greensboro
11/25-11/27 – Hill Ridge Farms Festival of Lights I – Youngsville
11/25-11/27 – Country Christmas Train at Denton FarmPark I – Denton
11/25-11/27 – Elizabethan Gardens WinterLights I – Manteo
11/25-11/27 – Holidays at the Garden I – Belmont
11/25-11/27 – Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) I – Charlotte
11/25-11/27 – Light the Knights Charlotte Christmas Village I – Charlotte
11/25-11/27 – Lu Mil Vineyard Festival of Lights I – Elizabethtown
11/25-11/27 – WRAL Nights of Lights I – Raleigh
11/25-11/27 – OMB’s Christmas Market Weekend – Charlotte
11/25-11/27 – Tweetsie Christmas I – Blowing Rock
11/26 – Very Murray Christmas Festival – Catawba
11/26 – Waccamaw Siouan Heritage Celebration – Whiteville
11/26 – NC Holiday Flotilla at Wrightsville Beach – Wrightsville Beach
11/26-11/27 – Huntersville Holiday Market – Huntersville
OHIO
Ohio Festivals can be found at ohiofestivals.net/ohio-festivals/
PENNSYLVANIA
11/21-11/27 – Peoples Gas Holiday Market II – Pittsburgh
11/21-11/27 – Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland II – Butler
11/21-11/27 – Christmas Light-Up II – Clinton
11/21-11/27 – Holiday Lights on the Lake II – Altoona
11/24-11/27 – Beaver County Christmas Extravaganza I – Beaver Falls
11/24-11/27 – Overly’s Country Christmas II – Greensburg
11/25 – Beaver Light-Up Festival – Beaver
11/25-11/27 – Saint Vincent Festival of Trees – Erie
11/25-11/27 – Christmas in the Park I – Grove City
11/25-11/27 – Holiday Nights of Lights I – Bedford
11/25-11/27 – Zoo Lights Drive Thru I – Pittsburgh
11/26 – Luminate Leechburg – Leechburg
11/26 – Uptown Somerset Christkindmarket – Somerset
11/26-11/27 – Crafty Mart Holiday Market – Pittsburgh
SOUTH CAROLINA
11/21-11/27 – Holiday Festival of Lights III – Charleston
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/25) – Winter Wonderland at the Beach II – Myrtle Beach
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/25) – The Great Christmas Light Show I – Little River
11/21-11/27 – Holiday Lights Safari at Hollywild II – Inman
11/23-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s Lights Before Christmas II – Columbia
11/24-11/27 – Anderson Christmas Lights I – Anderson
11/24-11/27 – Upstate Holiday Light Show I – Easley
11/24-11/27 – Holiday Lights on the River I – Columbia
11/25-11/26 – Pendleton Christmas Market I – Pendleton
11/25-11/26 – CHRISTkindlmarkt Charleston I – Charleston
11/25-11/27 – Celebrate the Season Holiday Lights I – Moncks Corner
11/25-11/27 – Christmas Tree Festival at Boone Hall Farms – Mount Pleasant
11/25-11/27 – StarLight Unicorn Night-Lights with Santa I – Fountain Inn
11/26 – Salley Chitlin’ Strut – Salley
11/27 – Country Christmas Celebration – West Columbia
TENNESSEE
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Zoolumination: Chinese Festival of Lights II – Nashville
11/21-11/27 – Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland IV – Kodak
11/21-11/27 – Lights Over Gatlinburg II – Gatlinburg
11/21-11/27 – Pinnacle Speedway in Lights II – Bristol
11/21-11/27 – Franktown’s Festival of Lights II – Franklin
11/21-11/27 – The Dancing Lights of Christmas III – Lebanon
11/21-11/27 – A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland III – Nashville
11/21-11/27 – Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens II – Nashville
11/22-11/27 (Closed 11/24) – Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas IV – Pigeon Forge
11/22-11/27 – Christmas on the Cumberland I – Clarksville
11/23-11/27 – Gatlinburg Festival of Trees – Gatlinburg
11/23-11/27 – Fantasy of Trees – Knoxville
11/23-11/27 – Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees II – Memphis
11/23-11/27 – Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland I – Johnson City
11/24-11/27 – Chad’s Winter Wonderland I – Lebanon
11/25-11/26 – Zoo Lights at Memphis Zoo II – Memphis
11/25-11/27 – Zoo Lights I – Knoxville
11/25-11/27 – Shadrack’s Christmas Adventure I – Sevierville
11/25-11/27 – Starry Nights at Shelby Farms Park I – Memphis
11/25-11/27 – Wonders of Light Christmas Village III – Pigeon Forge
11/26 – Christmas on The Market – Morristown
11/26-11/27 – Christkindlesmarkt I – Knoxville
11/26-11/27 – Fairfield Glade Christmas Show – Fairfield Glade
11/27 – Light Up Lakeshore Park – Knoxville
WEST VIRGINIA
11/21-11/27 – Oglebay’s Winter Festival of Lights III – Wheeling
11/24-11/27 – Bluefield Holiday of Lights I – Bluefield
11/25-11/27 – Celebration of Lights I – Fairmont
11/25-11/27 – St. Albans Festival of Lights I – St. Albans
11/26 – Moonlight Market – Morgantown
11/26-11/27 – Lewisburg Holiday Festival II – Lewisburg
WISCONSIN
11/21-11/27 – Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival II – Milwaukee
11/21-11/27 – Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens II – Franklin
11/21-11/27 (Closed 11/24, 11/25) – Christmas Carnival of Lights II – Caledonia
11/24-11/27 – Chippewa Falls Christmas Village I – Chippewa Falls
11/25 – Festival of Lights – Three Lakes
11/25-11/26 – Holly Days – Egg Harbor
11/25-11/26 – Lights in Lincoln Park I – Manitowoc
11/25-11/27 – Fox Cities Festival of Lights I – Harrison
11/25-11/27 – Country Christmas II – Pewaukee
11/25-11/27 – Door County Christkindlmarkt I – Sister Bay
11/25-11/27 – Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show I – Janesville
11/25-11/27 – Rotary Lights I – La Crosse
11/25-11/27 – Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens I – Green Bay
11/25-11/27 – Rotary Winter Wonderland I – Marshfield
11/25-11/27 – Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour I – Somerset
11/25-11/27 – Enchantment in the Park I – West Bend
11/25-11/27 – Celebration of Lights I – Oshkosh
11/25-11/27 – Henry Vilas Zoo Lights I – Madison
11/26 – Winter Market at Thirsty Pagan Brewing I – Superior
11/26-11/27 – Twinkle Light Village Christmas Market I – Viroqua
11/26-11/27 – The North Pole Christmas Village I – Chilton
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