Best Christmas Light Displays in Huntsville

The best Christmas light displays to be found in the Huntsville area are generally found at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, which has fast become a Huntsville holiday tradition. Every year the Botanical Gardens put on a spectacular light show with several different themes. There are generally several children's themes present, including nursery rhymes, Santa and dinosaurs, some assorted plants and animals made of lights, and a patriotic "fireworks" display of lights. There is also the yearly icicle forest, made of twinkling lights. Each year there are new displays and themes that are incorporated into the lights, and the Galaxy of Lights display is now the largest Christmas attraction in Northern Alabama. It also has become big enough to draw in onlookers from all around the Southeast and has won numerous Christmas display awards.

The Galaxy of Lights continues through New Year's Eve, and the display is now a full mile and a half long. Admission for the Galaxy of Lights is $15 per carload for the drive-through tour (with a maximum of 10 people per vehicle), and there are also special walk-through dates each year. If you go before December 8, there is a $3 discount on the drive-through admission. There is also a $1 admission discount if you bring a donation of canned food, winter coats, toys or pet foods. For members, buying tickets in advance at Gazebo Gifts will get you a discount.

Another intricate light display is the annual Burritt Museum Christmas display. This one is a world away from the Botanical Gardens display- the one at the Burritt is made of candles. Museum volunteers light hundreds of candles to light up the historic buildings, including log cabins from the 1800s, the old church, the mansion, and much of the grounds. In addition to the candle display, there are other displays that honor Christmas traditions from the 19^th century. Volunteers in historical costumes will guide visitors in the correct way to celebrate the holidays in the mid-1800s and in 1900 as well. The BurrittMuseum also has a prime view of Huntsville's lights from its Monte Sano perch.

A place to see Christmas light displays in a less organized way is to drive through the Twickenham area, including Constitution Hall village and the surrounding old town. The whole area is made even more beautiful at Christmastime, with lots of individual lights displays. There are also large annual displays of luminaries in Twickenham, which always draw big holiday crowds.

One of the lesser-known holiday lights displays in town is the Ditto Landing Parade of Boats. This event usually kicks off with a fireworks display, then, just as the name suggests, there is a parade of boats. The boats are decked out splendidly in lights, and they parade slowly down the Tennessee River. One great thing about this event is that it is completely free to the public. This has been growing yearly as a family event and is sure to become as much a Huntsville tradition as the Galaxy of Lights.