Be advised that while the houses profiled below traditionally have elaborate holiday light displays, some may have decided not to participate this year.

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Insider Tips for Seeing Christmas Lights on Long Island 

• Most homes turn on their holiday lights each evening from about 5pm to 11pm through New Year's Eve. 
• For younger kids, early evening is best for them to enjoy and still make their bedtime. Older kids will enjoy a later viewing and night out after dinner. 
• Some owners even host special events or Santa visits. Check ahead on social media for special event nights. 
• Dress warmly if you plan to spend time outdoors walking around the Christmas light displays and neighborhoods. 
• These are all private homes. While owners expect large numbers of sightseers, people should not enter private property, touch any displays, or make too much noise in the residential areas. 
• Always have snack and bathroom break options planned out. Hot chocolate is a popular treat after Christmas lights viewing! 

Neighborhood Christmas & Holiday Lights in Long Island FAQ

Q. Where are the best Christmas lights on Long Island?
A. Many towns across Long Island offer incredible Christmas lights displays for the whole family. Some even have music you can tune into on your car radio and interactive components to experience. Levittown in Nassau County is a popular town for Christmas light displays, as well as Centereach in Suffolk County. 

Q. Are there free Christmas light displays in Long Island?
A. The neighborhood displays are FREE to visit. Many of the neighborhood homes collect money for charities, so it's wonderful if you can donate to the cause. The commercial holiday light experiences do charge a fee, often per car, for the drive-through events. 

Q. When do Christmas lights start on Long Island?
A. Most of the major displays begin Thanksgiving weekend and run through early January. The neighborhood lights also usually go up right after Thanksgiving. 

Q. Are Long Island holiday lights kid-friendly?
A. Yes, absolutely, holiday lights are a fantastic, kid-friendly holiday activity for kids of all ages to enjoy. 

Christmas Light Displays in Nassau County

1. Franklin Square Christmas Display – Franklin Square

1051 Harrow Road
This Franklin Square home features an array of holiday decorations with lighted archways, toy soldiers, inflatables, blown plastic, and lots more. Some years, the Grinch and Santa even stop by for pictures, so check the Facebook page for updates.

2. Walsh Home – Lynbrook

113 Wood Street
This central Nassau destination dazzles with merriment and Christmas cheer. The owners use their property's natural landscaping to great effect in the Christmas lights display. Fully lit reindeer, candy canes, and a Santa delight visitors, but the nativity scene is not to be missed. The home is located just north of Sunrise Highway.

3. Winkler Home – Levittown

28 Serpentine Lane
Lights remain on until after New Year's Day at this home. There is a 20-minute projection with music. They add something new to the elaborate setup every year! 

4. Aquilina Home – Levittown

117 Schoolhouse Road
The holiday lights shine brightly here, as this home is completely decked out for the season. The homeowners host an annual Christmas block party for the whole community. This year, it will be held on Friday, December 13, 2025, from 5pm to 9pm, with Santa, food trucks, raffles, and Christmas fun to support ALS. 

5. Froehlich Home – East Meadow

1439 Sherwood Drive
In addition to Halloween lights, the Froehlich Family home does a spectacular Christmas display set to music each year. The Christmas show starts on Friday, November 28, 2025, and runs through New Year's Eve this year. They are scheduled to host a Santa night on Saturday, December 20, 2025, so be sure to check social media for event details. 

6. Lights to a Beat – Garden City

4 Lincoln Street 
Music is synchronized to the fabulous light display at this home decked out for the season in Garden City. Check out the Facebook page for updates.

RELATED: Holiday Light Shows: Drive-Thru and Drive-by Christmas Displays on Long Island

Listen to Christmas music while watching the dancing light show at the Elwood Road Lights Show.

Christmas Light Displays in Suffolk County

7. Elwood Road Lights Show – Centereach

14 Elwood Road
More than 10,000 glittering lights adorn this home that sits off Nicolls Road in central Suffolk. Visitors can sit in their cars and listen to holiday music from 107.3 FM. The family plans and creates new, exciting holiday additions each year for the whole neighborhood to enjoy. 

8. East Quogue Christmas House – East Quogue

10 Oakland Lane
If you are out shopping for a tree, make a stop in East Quogue to view one of the East End's best displays on Oakland Lane, featuring a lit-up Santa, snow scenes, and more Christmas cheer.

9. Fifth Street Christmas Lights – Ronkonkoma

8A Fifth Street
Unique to this display is the Star of Bethlehem, which sits atop a utility pole outside the home. The star casts a wide eye over a display that includes glittering snowmen, lit-up trees, Santa, seasonal characters, and plenty more. Kids can write a letter to Santa and leave it in his North Pole mailbox. The home is situated just off the LIE at Exit 60.

10. Fabris Family Christmas Wonderland – Centereach

3 Malibu Lane
The Christmas elves have been busy decorating this family home. Be prepared to be amazed by the dozens of candy canes along the front fence at this home, which is also synchronized to holiday music. Delight in the inflatable Santa, Mr. Grinch, reindeer, and more.   

RELATED: 25 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities on Long Island

The Arlington Avenue display in St. James features a Dickens Village. Photo by the author

11. Arlington Avenue – St. James

10 Arlington Avenue
This home won ABC's The Great Christmas Light Fight in 2022. Among the standout features are lights on the roof that spell out "Kringle" and a Dickens Village. My family had the opportunity to see this house in person last year, and it did not disappoint. The kids loved exploring the Dickens village made of playhouses. You'll want to park down the block and get out for this one. 

12. WI Christmas House – West Islip

40 Pace Drive S.
This is one of the South Shore's most illuminated and longest-running light displays. The homeowners have been decorating their house every year since 1987, raising thousands for the Long Island chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Opening night for this spectacular Christmas house display is scheduled for Friday, November 28, 2025

13. Wichard's Winter Wonderland – Commack

18 Wichard Boulevard
Teenager Joseph Barragato and his family welcome you to this holiday display that raises money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. More than 75,000 lights adorn the property, which is just east of Sunken Meadow State Parkway. Santa arrives this year on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 6:30pm. 

14. 3 Village Lights – Stony Brook

44 Mills Road
The Christmas lights shine bright at this jolly destination with a launch night on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The street will shut down for the holiday launch party, and the charity they are raising money for this year will be revealed. 

15. Lights on Liberty – Deer Park

119 Liberty Street
The first lighting of this wonderful holiday display will be Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 8pm. The street will be closed for two hours on opening night. This is a walk-up display that will be lit up daily until the last night on Thursday, January 1, 2026. 

More Ways to See Holiday Lights on Long Island

After visiting some fun residential Christmas light displays, consider a visit to one of these commercial holiday light installations:

• Bonac Festival of Lights at Mulford Farm, James Lane in East Hampton, Fridays and Saturdays, November 29 through December 20, 2025.
• Riverhead Holiday Lights Show, Friday, November 14 through Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
• Winter Wonderland at Clark Botanic Garden, daily starting Saturday, December 13 through Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
• Holiday Trail of Lights at the Smithtown Historical Society, Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, 2025.
• Magic of Lights at Jones Beach State Park, daily Friday, November 21 through Saturday, January 3, 2025.
• LuminoCity Festival at Eisenhower Park runs through Thursday, January 1, 2026. 
• Sayville Falls Holiday Light Show & Winter Garden opens Friday, November 21, 2025.
• Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show, Thursday through Sunday, starting Friday, November 28, through Sunday, December 21, 2025.
• LI Lights Map and Holiday Houses on Long Island are Facebook groups that map houses with holiday light displays!

Unless noted, photos are courtesy of the families/houses.

This article was first published in December 2012 and has been updated for 2025.