Where to go see a holiday light show in the Hudson Valley, NYC
Looking for a holiday light show? There are several to go see in the Lower Hudson Valley and beyond.
Some, such as Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers are regional draws.
Harvest Moon and Orchard's light display, in North Salem, is in its third year.
The display is a half-mile walk with various thematic light installations — there's an Under the Sea installation and another where children can walk or dance on light discs.
"We're really excited about it," said Kristina Jahaly, Harvest Moon and Orchard general manager, adding: "We customize it every year to keep it fresh and interesting for our guests. We're just doing things to create another way to enjoy the farm during the holiday season."
People can take in the scene from a hilltop patio where there's a large Christmas tree, and enjoy cider, hot mulled cider and, for adults, hard cider. There's also food available, from bratwurst to apple cider doughnuts — and places to enjoy it, such as around fire pits.
As the holidays draw closer, perhaps some of us contemplate channeling an inner Clark Griswold, the dad in “Christmas Vacation” whose attempt to create a, well, comprehensive holiday light show at his house nearly breaks the power grid.
But best leave that level of lights to the pros. Here are several places to go see holiday lights:
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
The Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, the Bronx, bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights
It features immersive light displays, custom-designed animal lanterns, and animated light shows. This year's includes new lantern displays "showcasing the wildlife of New York's ocean waters and wetlands," according to the zoo's website. Check the website for dates and times.
Go online for ticket prices and availability. For date-specific shows, Bronx Zoo's website listed a range of free for children age 2 and under; $26.95 for ages 3 to 12; $36.95 for seniors age 65 and over; and $41.95 for those ages 13 and over. For any-night tickets, the prices are higher.
Erdajt Holiday Light Display
8 Patrick Drive, LaGrangleville, www.erdajt.com/
A drive-through light display in Dutchess County that's nightly from Nov. 24 through Dec. 28. The event runs Sunday through Thursday, from 4:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; on Fridays and Sundays and from Dec. 24 through Dec. 28, the light displays will run until 10:30 p.m.
Grand Holiday Illumination
Untermyer Gardens, 945 N. Broadway, Yonkers, www.untermyergardens.org/illumination2023.html
Opening night is Dec. 8. The light shows runs through Jan. 1, a walk-through nighttime event that includes the Walled Garden and features almost 100,000 holiday lights.
Free admission Dec. 9 to Jan. 1, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Festival of Lights
Harvest Moon & Orchard, Hardscrabble Road, North Salem
There's apple-picking in the fall, and then the Festival of Lights for the holidays – more than 750,000 lights, plus some surprises. It’s a half-mile walk through several spaces, and among the other sights are a giant reindeer. After walking the trail, there are fire pits, and enjoy for purchase hot food, cider doughnuts, seasonal drinks.
There is a range of ticket prices on various days: check here to see.
Peace, Love & Lights Powered by Healey Brothers
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Road, Bethel, www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/peace-love-lights
In Sullivan County, it's a drive-through holiday light show that runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.. Partial-week shows from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 and Dec. 7 through 10. Daily shows from Dec. 14 through Dec. 31. According to the event's website, people are encouraged to buy tickets in advance.
Check ticket price and availability online.
Westchester’s Winter Wonderland
Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla, Nov. 24 through Dec. 31, starting at 5:30 p.m., https://www.wwinterwonderland.com/
It’s 1.2 miles of holiday lights, a drive-through format, and there are some new features this year: The 175-foot-long Transporter Tunnel and Rudolph’s Runway, “colorful light tubes ushering you into and out of the north pole,” according to the event’s website. Other features along the way include elves Ned and Albert, peace angels, a 50-foot dove, and snowballs aglow.
Wonderland of Lights
Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Ave., Rhinebeck, Nov. 22 to Dec. 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., www.dutchessfair.com/the-fairgrounds/all-events/the-wonderland-of-lights/
A drive-through light show, it's more than a mile of lights, including tunnel displays, towering structures and whimsical designs.
It's $30 a vehicle for up to 8 passengers, online or at the gate.
Note that the holiday light event is closed during the following days: Nov 27 to 29, Dec. 4 to 6, and Dec 11 to 13
Michael McKinney covers growth and development in Westchester County and the Lower Hudson Valley for The Journal News and the USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Holiday light show in the Hudson Valley, NYC: Where to see
