Whether it’s trying to one-up your neighbors with lawn decor or piling into the car to seek out the brightest lights in town, elaborate visual displays are a treasured holiday tradition. And, if you’re willing to travel a little further, you can check out some truly unique and spectacular holiday displays around the South, many of which feature interesting local traditions. Here are some of our favorites, plus bonus recommendations for spots to eat and drink after the lights go out!
10 Fun & Unusual Holiday Displays in the South
Deck the Chairs | Jacksonville Beach, FL
Through December 24, 2022
There aren’t a lot of pine trees in Jacksonville Beach, a beachfront suburb of the sprawling Jacksonville metroplex. The locals don’t let that minor detail keep them from celebrating Christmas; they simply string lights on something that there are plenty of — lifeguard chairs! Deck the Chairs is a community-created initiative to attract visitors during the traditionally slower holiday period and support public arts and education outreach.
It was expanded into a free six-week holiday event from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. Local businesses and civic organizations sponsor individual chairs decorated with amazing light displays, like parade floats that don’t move. Spread out around the Jax Beach Seawalk Pavilion — the chairs compete for awards for the most creative, colorful, and elaborate displays. Events are planned throughout the holiday season to attract visitors to enjoy the fantastic spectacle. Nightly light shows, concerts, and dance performances offer even more reasons to spend part of your holiday Decking the Chairs.
Grab some bites after the lights at North Beach Fish Camp.
They turn the lights on early at Deck the Chairs, so feel free to show up to enjoy the sunset, too. Image: deckthechairs.org
Santa gets into the tropical spirit at Deck the Chairs. Image: deckthechairs.org
Scuba Santa at the Newport Aquarium | Newport, KY
Through December 24, 2022
Who knew that Santa was as comfortable underwater as he is flying around in a sleigh? It’s true, at least if you visit Scuba Santa at the Newport Aquarium. 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of when (as the story goes) Santa’s reindeer got away from him and he made a trip to Newport to look for them. He made friends with the fish, sharks and turtles in the aquarium’s huge tank and returns every year to visit with them and the children who come to see him.
The display also features a flurry of magic bubbles that carry children’s wishes to Santa, and every time one pops, a wish comes true. Santa makes appearances over the course of the day to swim with his buddies, so be sure to stick around for the show!
It’s not Christmas in Newport until Santa swims by! Image: Newport Aquarium
Fun for all ages, Scuba-diving Santa is a hit. Image: Newport Aquarium
Water Taxi Holiday Light Cruises | Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Through December 31, 2022
As much fun as it is to stand on the shore and watch the lights float by on ships, it might be even better to be on a boat looking back at the decorations on shore. That’s the idea behind Ft. Lauderdale’s Water Taxi Holiday Light Cruises. Participants reserve a spot on the taxi boats for a front-row seat as they cruise along the New River, taking in breathtaking views of the holiday finery decking the halls of the waterfront mansions along Ft. Lauderdale’s “Millionaires Row.”
The residents of these opulent homes show up and show off with extravagant displays of lights, some accompanied by synchronized holiday music classics. You can even buy drinks on the boat to make the mood more festive while you see how the upper crust celebrates.
Grab some bites after the lights at Salt7.
Take in the mansions of “Millionaires Row” in Ft. Lauderdale. Image: Ft. Lauderdale Water Taxi
Key West Holiday Fest | Key West, FL
Through December 31, 2022
Did you know that it has never gotten below freezing in Key West? In fact, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the Conch Republic was 41 degrees, so remember that the next time you’re enduring the cold in your hometown. That makes it a fantastic destination to get out of the chill during the holidays, and the lack of cold weather doesn’t dampen the Christmas spirits of the locals one bit!
At Key West Holiday Fest, residents and visitors gather at the Historic Seaport and Key West Bight Marina for a nautical Christmas celebrating the area’s maritime history. Stroll the Harbour Walk of Lights along the seawall and revel in the splendor of gaily-decorated palm trees and Christmas trees made from buoys and crab traps. Most of all, soak in the quirky good nature of Key West, where citizens never take anything too seriously and nights revolve around good food, drink, and live music. Take a trip to Margaritaville for the holidays and end the year right!
Grab some Bites after the lights at Dante’s Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant.
This lobster trap tree is a nod to Key West’s maritime history. Image: fla-keys.com
Key West isn’t afraid to keep it weird, as this “reindeer” wrangler can attest! Image: fla-keys.com
Even the Coast Guard gets in on the fun in Key West. Image: fla-keys.com
Celebration in the Oaks | New Orleans, LA
Through January 1, 2023
City Park is a gem of New Orleans, with 1300 acres of green space about 50% larger than New York City’s Central Park. For the holidays, the beautiful groves of massive live oaks are bedecked with hundreds of thousands of lights, and trolley tours take visitors around the property to view the displays. Driving and walking paths are also available, and specific nights are set aside for cyclists who prefer to pedal their way around the park.
The month-long celebration is an important fundraiser with proceeds going to the park’s upkeep, and thousands of visitors converge on City Park to take in a little holiday spirit. Kids enjoy visiting Storyland and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, so it’s fun for the whole family!
Grab some bites after the lights at Ralph’s on the Park.
They love their Saints in New Orleans! Image: City Park Conservancy
Firepits are set up around the park for your s’more-making pleasure. Image: City Park Conservancy
Hanukkah is also a part of the Celebration in the Oaks. Image: City Park Conservancy
Lights Under Louisville | Louisville, KY
Through January 1, 2023
Louisville’s Mega Caverns are a fascinating place to visit any time of the year, but during the holiday season, they’re even more colorful. At Lights Under Louisville, visitors can actually drive their cars through the cave to take in more than 40 holiday-themed displays tucked among the cave formations. The cavern also features laser displays, drive-through tunnels, huge light projections, and almost one thousand lighted characters peeking from behind stalagmites.
The entire scene is accompanied by a soundtrack of holiday music, and you can skip to the front of the line if you purchase a Priority Pass in advance.
Lights Under Louisville delivers an underground spectacle to remember. Image: Lights Under Louisville
Nearly one thousand characters light the way. Image: Lights Under Louisville
The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights | Bristol, TN
Through January 7, 2023
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to drive your own vehicle on a real NASCAR track, head to Bristol for The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights. In addition to a Christmas Village in the infield area of the track, visitors can actually take a lap around the half-mile oval as they make a four-mile drive through dozens of gayly-lit holiday displays.
Visit Santa’s RV, Polar Land, Victorian Village, and a nativity scene along the drive, and your ticket also includes a (slow) pass down the drag strip that’s adjacent to the Speedway. There’s also an ice skating rink for stretching your legs after the drive through the winter wonderland.
Take a memorable, joy-filled lap at The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights. Image: Bristol Motor Speedway
Annual Louisiana River Parish Bonfires | LaPlace, LA
December 9 – 24, 2022
As far back as the early 18th century, German and French settlers in the parishes along the Mississippi River in Louisiana would light bonfires on top of levees on Christmas Eve to help guide Papa Nöel (the Cajun Santa Claus) on his trip to visit houses to deliver presents to the children. More practically, the pyres were probably also lit to help guide ships traveling down the river to help them steer clear of the high walls of earthen dams that lined their course. (But we prefer the holiday story!)
In modern times, The Lighting of the Bonfires has become a tradition where families, friends, and church groups come together to construct more than 200 creative structures up and down the levees, some as tall as a house. At dusk, they douse them with flammable liquids and set them ablaze as the crowds cheer and enjoy steaming bowls of gumbo.
Even before the fires are lit, visitors can stroll on top of the levees to admire the fleeting artwork of these talented groups of craftsmen. Fireworks complete the gala scene on Christmas Eve. The Festival of the Bonfires runs earlier in the month, from December 9 through 11, with great food, live music, and a single bonfire lighting each night as a prelude to the big conflagrations of Christmas Eve.
Grab some bites after the lights at Nobile’s Restaurant & Bar.
Attendees climb the levees to check out the wooden structures and watch fireworks. Image: Louisiana’s River Parishes
Some of the elaborate constructions are almost too cute to burn. Almost! Image: Louisiana’s River Parishes
They pull out all the stops for the fireworks in the River Parishes. Image: Louisiana’s River Parishes
Keep your eyes on the skies if you want to sneak a peek at Papa Nöel. Image: Louisiana’s River Parishes
Holiday Regatta of Lights | St. Augustine, FL
December 10, 2022
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in America, but it has embraced modern lighting technology for its gala Holiday Regatta of Lights, a boat parade along Matanzas Bay. A nod to the maritime roots of the community, the Regatta features everything from small boats to huge schooners adorned with colorful illuminations.
Visitors can watch from the seawall along the bayfront or from the patios of the many seaside restaurants and bars that throw festive gatherings for the event. Participants compete for jury prizes for the best theme, most colorful, best in class, and best overall, but there are no losers at this spectacular spectacle!
Grab some bites after the lights at Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille.
The seawall is an ideal viewing site for the Holiday Regatta. Image: Visit St Augustine
They might even have more fun on the ship than onshore at the Holiday Regatta of Lights! Image: Visit St Augustine
Tampa Riverwalk Holiday Spectacular Boat Parade | Tampa, FL
December 17, 2022
If you’ve ever tried to drive anywhere in Tampa, you know that Tampa Bay is a massive body of water that can turn a short drive into a long detour, but that’s fine with residents. They embrace the bay’s importance to the city’s character, and many of them own pretty impressive boats to navigate the waters.
The downtown Riverwalk stretches more than two-and-a-half miles along the Hillsborough River that feeds into the bay, and it’s a gathering point and entertainment center for the city. On the Saturday before Christmas, thousands of residents and visitors amass along the Riverwalk to watch the largest holiday boat parade in the region, with dozens of decorated boats sailing from the tip of Davis Islands to Sparkman Wharf, where judges award prizes to the most impressive displays. Lighted trees, gingerbread men, and toy trains also float in the harbor, contributing even more color to the holiday spectacular.
Grab some bites after the lights at Watervüe Grille.
Those are some pretty impressive boats in Tampa Bay! Image: Instagram/@tampariverwalk
Boats of all sizes are welcome at the Holiday Spectacular Boat Parade. Image: Instagram/@tampariverwalk
Happy Holidays!
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