Queens' Holiday Light Displays: Forest Park to Queens Center Mall

If you go around during the holiday season, you can't help but feel the festive atmosphere. In Queens, New York, both commercial establishments and residential houses will be glowing from light displays. Some are not as grand as others, but certainly wherever you look, it's all scintillating with brightness.

You may want to try the Bayside neighborhood for some good old joyride-cum-sightseeing activities. Here you're definitely going to see houses filled with light displays and nativities that are well-set in resident's garage areas. Some good neighborhoods to try are the 166^th Street at the 23^rd Avenue, 33-20 205^th Street, corner of 212^th Street and 32^nd Avenue, 91^st Street between 157^th and 158^th Avenues, and the 76^th Street at the 77^th Avenue.

Queens is also famous for having beautiful parks decorated with glittering lights throughout the holiday season. These parks come alive even more with added programs and entertainment that are usually free for all ages.

Flushing Meadows Park is home to the Queens Wildlife Conservation Center (111^th Street at 53rd Avenue), this park beams with holiday lights that stretch throughout the 1,255-acre land. Perfect for those especially with kids, while you enjoy the grandeur of the Christmas Light display all over the place, the zoo holds a Wildlife Holiday Party that runs on December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23 where your children can watch animals devour holiday treats. Other attractions on the same park are the Queens Museum of Art, New York Hall of Science, and the Queens Theatre Park.

While you're at the Flushing Meadows Park this holiday, check out the Queens Botanical Garden on Dec. 16 for its Lights and Latke's event where delicious potato patties with applesauce are available to fill and warm your tummies.

Forest Park at Myrtle Ave., is where you can enjoy a Victorian holiday atmosphere at this 538-acre land of trees and fields. This is Queen's third largest park surrounded by five ethnically diverse neighborhoods (Kew Garden, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Glendale, and Forest Hills). On Dec. 01, they will have a Holiday Happening that will feature a visiting Santa, holiday crafts, and "Winter Wonderland" show. This event runs from 11am to 2pm at $4 ticket price (tickets may only be purchased at the park on that day). Don't forget to wait till after 6pm to see the light display.

A great holiday event this year is The Paw-fect Holiday at the Atlas Park Mall (8000 Cooper Avenue at 80th Street) on November 10 starting at 5 in the afternoon. It's going to be an enchanting evening with holiday lighting, holiday parade, and fireworks display.

The Queens Center Mall, Queen's premiere shopping center, will officially begin celebrating the holidays via a Magical Tree Lighting event at level 2. If you're going to be one of the first to arrive, you will receive a magic wand to help light the trees. There's also going to be cookies & milk with Santa, and fun games with exciting prices. The event starts at 4 in the afternoon. The mall is located at 90-15 Queens Boulevard.

Don't forget to bring friends and members of the family along when you go checking out these light displays and holiday events. After all, Queens, NY remains to be one of the brightest and merriest places across the country during the holidays.