Gather up the blankets, grab the hot cocoa, and pile into the car for some good old-fashioned holiday fun! These hot spots for Christmas lights in Knoxville TN are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Even better, a Christmas lights driving tour is also super inexpensive. For just the cost of gas (in most cases), you and your family can make awesome holiday memories that will last for years to come!
Check out our complete Knoxville Christmas guide here.
Where to Christmas Lights in Knoxville
1. Christmas in Chilhowee
Start Date is November 17, 2023
Chilhowee Park, Knoxville
FREE
When it comes to drive-through Christmas lights, Knoxville TN doesn’t have many in-town options. Christmas in Chilhowee offers a small driving tour with a variety of non-animated light displays, including a colorful drive-through tunnel.
The park is hosting a fun kick-off event on November 17, 2022. The event will feature Santa photos, games, an outdoor holiday movie, delicious treats, and more!
2. All is Bright
Start Day is November 17, 2023
The Pinnacle at Turkey Creek, Knoxville
FREE
The Pinnacle will have a variety of sparkling light displays to adorn Turkey Creek throughout the holiday season. The All is Bright tree lighting ceremony will kick off the season on November 17.
3. Light the Park
November 22, 2023 – January 1, 2023
Founders Park, Farragut
FREE
The glittering displays of Light the Park will be shining brightly throughout the season. There are a variety of events scheduled throughout the season including giveaways, tasty food trucks, caroling, and more!
4. Peppermint Trail
November 24, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Downtown Knoxville
FREE
Enjoy the holiday lights along the streets of downtown Knoxville as you follow the always-popular Peppermint Trail. In addition to the city lights, all local businesses along the trail will be decked out in their most stunning holiday decor.
Shops and restaurants on the trail will also feature peppermint-themed food and gifts for purchase. You can follow the trail by looking for peppermint decals along the sidewalks.
5. Light up Lakeshore
November 26 – December 2023
Lakeshore Park, Knoxville
FREE
There will be around 40 decorated trees at Light Up Lakeshore this year. There will also be a fun kick-off event on November 26th with children’s activities, a tree lighting ceremony, and more!
6. Holiday Festival of Lights
December 1 – 31, 2023
The Cove at Concord Park, Knoxville
FREE
The Holiday Festival of Lights is a walk-through light display that boasts thousands of gorgeous lights. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and kick-off events on December 1st.
7. Christmas in the Cave
December 1-3, 8-10, & 15-17, 2023
Cherokee Caverns, Knoxville
$15 Per Person Ages 4 and Up
Christmas in the Cave is one of the most unique Christmas light displays in Knoxville. The event takes place in an underground cavern and features thousands of glittering Christmas lights.
There will also be a variety of holiday characters scattered throughout for cute photo ops. To extend the fun, there will also be food trucks and craft vendors on-site.
Residential Light Displays
8. Gray Eagle Lights
Gray Eagle Lane (off Bob Gray Road), Knoxville
Though not animated, this whole neighborhood street is decked out in over-the-top holiday decor that will make your jaw drop. Expect to wait in line to get into the neighborhood. It’s worth it.
One of the most popular houses on the street is the Marlow Christmas House. Here light lovers can enjoy hundreds of character displays and over 10,000 lights.
9. Johnson Family Christmas Lights
4901 Fragrant Cloud Lane, Knoxville
Another fabulous animated light show. You can find the corresponding music on 91.5 FM.
10. Boyd Family Christmas Light Show
1936 Winter Winds Lane, Knoxville
The Boyd Family Christmas light show is animated and synchronized with music.
11. Christmas on Conner
3008 Conner Drive, Knoxville
At Christmas on Conner, visitors can enjoy over 7,500 Christmas lights. Tune in to 91.5 FM to enjoy the show.
12. Listen to the Lights
929 Oak Haven Road, Knoxville
The tunes for Listen to the Lights can be found on 93.7 FM.
13. A Quail Bends Lane Christmas –
8825 Quails Bend Ln, Knoxville
You can grab a sneak peek of this animated display on their webpage.
14. Lori’s Lights
8506 Farmington Drive, Knoxville, TN
Enjoy a great light show synced to music from the comfort of your car. Tune your radio to 98.9 FM to enjoy the show.
15. Concord Lights
520 Vivian Leee Lane, Knoxville
A fun synchronized display with lights, projectors, and free-standing decor.
16. Bison Drive
2433 Bison Dr. Knoxville, TN
Tune in to the station is 98.1 to enjoy the show.
17. Inflatable Paradise
1712 Golden Nugget Lane, Knoxville
This fun yard has a light projector and tons of inflatables.
18. Kiser Family Christmas
19. Sterchi Hills Neighborhood
The Sterchi Hills neighborhood tends to have many homes that are decorated. Though there are no guarantees from year to year, you should be able to see many gorgeous houses as you drive throughout the area.
20. West Hills Christmas Light Show
7008 Hampshire Dr, Knoxville
The West Hills Light Show is taking a break in 2023 but will be back in action next year. At that time, you’ll still be able to tune your radio to 107.1 to enjoy the full show!
Christmas Lights Near Knoxville TN?
Although they are slightly further out, these light displays are large-scale and close enough to Knoxville to make it worth the drive.
21. Smoky Mountain Christmas
November 4, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Dollywood, Sevierville
Cost: starting at $89/adults, $79/kids (includes full-day park admission)
Each winter, Dollywood is transformed by hundreds of stunning light displays, featuring millions of glittering lights. The displays depict a variety of winter and Christmas themes, including polar bears, penguins, a large-scale light show featuring a 50-foot Christmas tree with digital animations, and much more!
22. Enchanted Christmas
November 10 – December 31, 2023
Anakeesta, Gatlinburg, TN
$35/adult, $23/child
This season Anakeesta will be transformed into a stunning winter wonderland featuring a variety of stunning light displays, family-fun activities, music, and more!
23. Winterfest
November 10, 2023 – February 19, 2024
Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg
FREE
Each winter, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg are washed in a rainbow of twinkling light displays. Many of the lights will be visible from your car as you drive around. Others you can enjoy as you meander through local shops and businesses.
Throughout Winterfest, you will also be able to catch carolers and other performers throughout the streets of downtown Gatlinburg.
24. Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
November 10, 2023 – January 1, 2024
Gaylord Opryland, Nashville
If you are looking for an immersive Christmas experience, a trip to Gaylord Opryland is just the ticket. Just a short drive away in Nashville, this over-the-top Christmas wonderland has too many attractions to count.
Not only is the whole hotel covered in stunning Christmas lights and decor, but they also have ice tubing, ice skating, ice bumper cars, an elf scavenger hunt, an indoor water park, carriage rides, character meet-and-greets, and so much more!
25. Muddy Creek Lights
Opens November 17, 2023
LoCo Drive-in Theatre, Loudon
$20
Muddy Creek Lights and the Loco Drive-in are teaming up to offer a fun animated light show with 2 Christmas movies, food trucks, and more!
26. Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Soaky Mountain Waterpark, Sevierville
$40 Per Car
This popular drive-thru Christmas lights display is set to a festive classical music soundtrack, featuring all of your holiday favorites. In addition to the light show, you can also visit Santa’s village with a petting zoo, games, and more!
27. Pinnacle Speedway in Lights
November 17, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol
$25 Per Car
This is one of the most popular light displays in all of East TN. Guests will drive around a real NASCAR track to view a stunning display of still and animated Christmas lights.
In the center of the track, you’ll find the Christmas village. Here you can meet with Santa, purchase tasty treats, and shop at local artisan vendor booths.
28. Holiday Lights Train
December 26, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Tennessee Valley Railroad, Chattanooga
$24/Adults, $15/Kids
On the Holiday Lights Train guests will enjoy a scenic after-dark ride through a variety of stunning holiday lights. You can also add on a holiday treat box for $13.
Christmas Lights Route Map
More East TN Family Fun
Erica has lived in East TN for over 9 years. She enjoys exploring this gorgeous region with her husband and 3 lively children. As a former teacher turned homeschool mom, she loves finding fun and affordable activities the entire family will love, especially if they cultivate a love for learning!
I need the map of Christmas lights that you promised with my subscription right away.
Thanks
Did you check to see if it went to your spam folder? My records show that you got the email but have not opened it yet. If it is in your spam folder, make sure you add us as an approved sender, so that doesn’t happen in the future. Hope that helps.
I got an email to confirm my subscription but have not located any links to download the maps. It is possible that the message was in the spam folder & I inadvertently deleted it. Would you mind resending it please – thanks
I just re-sent the email. Don’t forget to check your spam folder just in case: 🙂
We have an amazing bright light display in Oak Ridge, Tn. Over 24,000 LED’s this year.
It’s at 104 Colby Road. The Emory Valley Subdivision
Buzz and Cindi Gordon
Thanks. I will add it!
if you could please add my display too it is synchronized to music at 2433 Bison Dr Knoxville Tn 37920 tune to station is 98.1
Hi! Just subscribed and looking for the map email? Checked junk mail and don’t see there either?
Thanks,
Dana
I just re-sent it to you. 🙂
Love to see The Joy of Christmas in the Lights!
me too!
Lori’s Lights
8506 Farmington Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37923
A great light show synced to music from the comfort of your car. Tune radio to 98.9 to enjoy the show.
Thanks so much!
Please resend. Accidentally deleted, Thank you.
I re-sent it. Hope you got it. 🙂
Hi! My parents in Oak Ridge did a great display this year! 105A Whippoorwill Dr, Oak Ridge 37830
There were no lights at sterchi hills
I just drove through the Sterchi Hills neighborhood this weekend and there were many houses decorated. They are all just regular light displays though, not an animated display.
We just drove through Sterchi Hills this past Friday and saw a lot of pretty houses. They are not animated displays though, just traditional static displays.
The Branch Family Light Show located at 929 Oak Haven Rd; Knoxville, Tn 37932
“Listen to the Lights” is a synchronized light show where visitors tune to 93.7FM and listen to the lights “dance” to music from the safety of their car. Visitors can follow on Facebook by searching @BranchLights to stay updated on the latest info.
I will add this address in this year. Thanks for sharing!
Musical Christmas light show at our home in Concord.
520 Vivian Lee Ln.
Video if lights at 520 Vivian Lee Ln
Concord, TN
https://youtu.be/3RigTJ2Wxxs
Thanks for adding this lights display. It is lovely!
We have a projection mapping show on our house with music at 7013 Yellow Oak Ln in Karns right behind the Karns Library. Look up Karns Projection House on YouTube or Google Maps.
Check out 6700 Timber Run Lane in the Powell Area [Sterchi Hills].
Lots of decorated houses in the sub-division and most of Timber Run is decorated.
PLUS…
Synchronized lights at the end of the street.
Tune to 87.9 FM to hear the music.
https://www.facebook.com/1348976208/videos/pcb.10230287452434073/534502365367418
https://www.facebook.com/1348976208/videos/pcb.10230287452434073/1226508657934394
Hear is the song list:
Griswold Greatest Show Intro
Beauty and the Beast
Grinch
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Frosty The Snowman
Santa Claus is Comin to Town
The Chipmunk Christmas Song
Holly Jolly Christmas
Grandma Go Runover By A Reindeer
Little Saint Nick
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Home For the Holidays
Happy Holiday
J I N G L E Bells – Frank Sinatra
Christmas in Dixie
Holiday Road
Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran and Elton John
Holiday Rock
You Make It Feel Like Christmas
Winter Wonderland – Sam Felt
Favorite Time of the Year – Carrie Underwood
Crazy For Christmas
What Christmas Means to Me – Ce Lo
We Wish You A Merry Christmas – Home Alone