Safe & Seasonal: Holiday Light Displays in Almost Heaven
Everyone is looking for the perfect way to enjoy the season while staying socially distanced. Look no further than these 9 holiday light displays sure to spark festive feelings.
1. Winter Festival of Lights
Oglebay Resort
The Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling is one of the nation’s largest, spanning 300 acres along a 6-mile drive. The festival’s 80 displays include a 300-foot-long Rainbow Tunnel, Peanuts characters and Cinderella.
Even the Good Zoo gets into the spirit with a dazzling show of more than 35,500 LED lights choreographed to holiday music. The lights festival has been recognized by the American Bus Association as a top travel destination, and also has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “Extreme Christmas Celebrations.”
2. Holiday of Lights
Bluefield
Holiday of Lights, featuring more than 1 million lights covering 110 acres at Bluefield City Park, is billed as one of the largest light shows in the two Virginias. Every year, new pieces are added, and the legacy lights get an updated look. Driving through the mega light up candy canes lining the driving path, your holiday magic is sure to come alive.
3. Christmas at the Fair
Lewisburg
Brand new for this season, the State Fair of West Virginia is presenting Christmas at the Fair. Each Thursday-Sunday of December you can safely drive through this sparkling new light display. Don’t forget to tune in to the fairground’s coordinated holiday music station to hear the sounds of the season.
4. Celebration of Lights
Fairmont
Fairmont’s Celebration of Lights features 1.3 miles of dazzling Christmas displays at Morris Park. Take in the stillness of the snowy winter nights with a special walker night each Wednesday this season. Don’t want to make the trek on foot? No worries, the light shows are open each Thursday-Sunday for drive-through fun.
5. Christmas Fantasy Light Show
Point Pleasant
Krodel Park’s annual drive-through Christmas Fantasy Light Show features unique animated light displays of seasonal favorites like Santa’s workshop and is sprinkled with local folklore, like Point Pleasant’s famous Mothman. Enjoy these sparkling scenes each evening of December from the comfort of your car!
6. Yuletide in the Park
Hurricane
The drive-through animated lights display at Yuletide in the Park at Valley Park in Hurricane has beautiful lights in festive themes. Load up the family and head to this park for an exciting evening throughout the month of December.
7. Winter Wonderland
Fayette County Park
Winter Wonderland at Fayette County Park in Beckwith is one of the area’s longest-running holiday celebrations. What began as the combined displays of 2 local families has blossomed into thousands of lights covering the majority of the park. You may even catch a glimpse of Santa Claus on your drive through the park!
8. Christmas in the Park
Chief Logan State Park
Christmas in the Park showcases hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights on a 2 to 3-mile drive through Chief Logan State Park. This festive drive is a fan-favorite with many, lighting up the hills of Southern West Virginia. 
9. Holiday in the Park
Parkersburg
Parkersburg’s annual Holiday in the Park links 2 city parks – Parkersburg City Park and Southwood Park – in this festive drive-through exhibit featuring animated and stationary light displays from a golfing Santa to a lake monster.
Want to create more family traditions? Check out our full 2020 Winter Bucket List to inspire your own!
Travelers are encouraged to check the status of individual businesses and to review all Travel Responsibly guidelines before taking a trip.
This post was last updated on March 15, 2022