How to Find the BEST Christmas Lights

In 1882, Edward Johnson was the first to light his Christmas tree electrically at a time when most people used candles. Mr. Johnson was a colleague of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the incandescent lightbulb. But it wasn’t until the 1920s that electric Christmas lights became popular.

Bringing an evergreen tree inside and decorating it with colorful ornaments brightens the dull, gray winter. Christmas lights make the tree sparkle and shine. Its glowing light offers hope.

The tradition of not only displaying lights indoors and out, but finding dazzling displays to visit is one families look forward to each year. When our two daughters were growing up, I remember driving around trying to find displays we could enjoy. Bringing or coming home to hot cocoa makes this event even more special.

Now there are more resources than ever to help you know exactly where to look for Christmas light displays. Besides local newspapers and radio stations, check tourism websites and social media. Plus, see following for a website and a mobile app featuring maps and pertinent information. Make this the best Christmas light-hunting trip ever!

The Original Christmas Light Finder is a website where you can find displays on your computer or phone as well as add your own display to their free database. Find out more here.

Christmas Prism is a mobile app where you can search the map for your community to find light displays you can visit as well as post photos of your own display. Find out more here.

And a Giveaway!

Author Chelsea Tornetto’s fun, new book, The World’s BEST Christmas Light, combines secular and Christian Christmas traditions. I asked her how she thought of the idea.

“My family and I have always loved to drive around and look at Christmas lights. There’s always a lot of good-natured debate about which house or display is the best! So that’s actually where this story started. But, as I was looking for a way to wrap up the ending of the story, something nudged me to make the connection between Christmas lights and the TRUE light of Christmas.

“I wasn’t sure if I book about inflatable Santas and animated Christmas trains would sell in the Christian marketplace, but I think a lot of families are looking for ways to incorporate faith into popular, secular traditions, and this book does that really nicely. I hope an annual Christmas light drive becomes a tradition for lots of other families too!”

My review: This adorable board book actually lights up! The rhyme and rhythm make a for a joyous read. It starts,

“Jammies, slippers, cocoa cups,

Coats and blankets—bundle up!

Carols on the radio,

Down the driveway, here we go.

We hope, we pray tonight’s the night…

We’ll find the world’s best Christmas lights!”

The perfect read before or after your own trip to find the BEST Christmas lights! Maybe, like in the book, your final Christmas light of the night will be a nativity scene with the baby Jesus, the light of the world.

*NOTE: Because of the battery for the light-up board book, it includes a warning: Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Chelsea is offering a giveaway! And there’s only one task to do to enter, “like” my “Author Amy Houts” on Facebook. Enter below. The giveaway ends in a week, December 10, 2025.

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When you shoot Christmas lights photos, please tag my “Author Amy Houts” Facebook page here or @AmyHouts on Instagram, Bluesky, or Threads. I’d love to see them! May this be the start of a joyous holiday season!

Amy’s Book news! Four of my “Curious About” books release from Amicus books January 1, 2026! Curious about Presidents Day, Curious About Easter, Curious About Memorial Day, and Curious About Independence Day. Spark kids’ curiosity with questions and answers about each holidays significance, history, and celebrations. Packed with fascinating “Did You Know” facts and infographics for visual learners, this book is perfect for young readers eager to learn more. Watch for a giveaway in the January newsletter!

Amy Houts is the author of 100+ books for children. She writes for both faith-based, educational, and general market publishers. Amy’s faith-based books include bath books, Noah’s Ark and The Creation (Sunbeam/Bushel & Peck Books), God’s Earth is Something to Fight For (Sunbeam/Bushel & Peck Books), and God’s Protection Covers Me (Beaming Books). Amy’s educational books include 60 retold tales for the series, Compass Children’s Classics. Her 10 nonfiction science early readers were published by Highlights. To find out more, see: https://amyhouts.com and Linktr.ee/amyhouts.

Remember to enter the giveaway here!