Christmas Lights Spectacles
Enhance your holiday spirit with the Southern Lights
By candlelight or electric light celebrate some of the regions' best-loved Christmas events
Arkansas
Blythesville
Lights of the Delta
Ongoing til December 31
Admission required
Six million lights twinkle over 40 acres of moving displays, stars, animals, angels, trees and other holiday standards. The newest display celebrates John Grisham’s book, “A Painted House”, which is set in 50’s rural Arkansas. Come, enjoy, and be glad the electric bill is not yours!
Florida
Ft Lauderdale
35th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Parade of Boats
December 16
Free except for reserved Grandstand viewing
Palm trees sway in readiness for Santa with this favorite. This year’s theme is Broadway on the Water allows over 100 boats, yachts and super showboats to emblazon the Intercoastal Waterway from Ft Lauderdale to Pompano Beach.
Kentucky
Bardstown
My Old Kentucky Home Candlelight Tours
December 8 & 9
Located in a state park of the same name, My Old Kentucky Home (yes, it provided the inspiration for the song) is really named Federal Hill. Its lavish 19th century holiday finery and candlelight tours are an annual tradition for many residents and visitors of the Louisville area.
Admissions required –Group rates available
http://parks.ky.gov/stateparks
Louisiana
Natchitoches
80th Annual Festival of Lights
Ongoing til January 6, 2007
Join over 1/2 million visitors who descend on this quaint town during the holiday season. Spanning from the town center to along the banks of Cane River, customs from the original Creoles to today are cause for on-going merriment. Every Saturday night fireworks enhance the festive spirit.
Mississippi
Canton
City of Lights
Ongoing til December 23, 2006
Admission required
Carousels, decorated cabins, miniature trains gingerbread houses and horse and buggy rides are only some of the reasons Canton’s City of Lights so special. Throw in animated figures and live entertainment and its holiday heaven!
Virginia
Lorton
A Plantation Christmas @Gunston Hall Plantation
December 8 – 9
A line of lanterns light the way to the 18th century home of George Mason, an important statesman in American’s early history. Costumed guides bring traditions from the Revolutionary and Federal periods alive while you tour the candlelit mansion, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, sip hot cider or sample open hearth cooking. For those wanting to include the buffet advance reservations are required.
Admission fees are required.
