Christmas lights have always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas, next to Santa of course!
When I was a kid my family would pick a Friday before Christmas to pile in the car and drive around, silently in awe of the beauty of the lights. We’d blast Christmas songs from the radio and imagine the lights were dancing to the music.
But light displays have improved tremendously since then. Now, we don’t need to pretend–there are plenty of light shows that don’t just play music, they are synchronized to it. And remarkably, many of them are free because they are located in residential areas.
So grab the kids, some blankets, and your favorite hot cocoa and enjoy a night of light set to music. When you’re done, check out our list of where to see the best Christmas light houses.
Commercial Synchronized Christmas Light Displays
Christmas Nights of Lights Drive Thru
Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. We suggest entering through 42nd Street, gate 12.
This synchronized light show runs November 13- January 3, 2021, dusk-10 pm nightly with extended weekend hours. Admission is $7 per person or the carload special of up to 7 passengers for $30. Cash and major credit cards are accepted at the gate. Group rates are available!
Residential Synchronized Christmas Light Displays – Indianapolis
East Side Lights
7519 Davis Lane, Indianapolis
Over 5000 lights spread across 256 Channels, including 8 RGB Floodlights, and 200 RGB Pixels that play 13 songs which lasts about 25-28 minutes.
Yellowstone Lights
6733 Yellowstone Parkway, Indianapolis
Synchronized musical and light display. Tune in to 98.9 FM.
Neighbor of Southside Christmas
7104 Bel Moore Circle, Indianapolis
Synchronized lights. Same neighborhood as the former Southside Christmas and many lights were given to them from SSC. Tune in t0 88.9 FM.
Burzell Court Light Show
9534 Burzell Court, Indianapolis
Synchronized musical light display with a beautifully lighted tree
Residential Synchronized Christmas Light Displays – North Side
Arbor Grove Synchronized Light Show
15744 Symphony Boulevard, Noblesville
Musical light show runs sunset-10:30 pm every night. On even numbered days the following songs play in show about 17 minutes in length: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, All I want for Christmas is You, Carol of the Bells, Let it Go, Christmas Eve/Sarajevo. On odd numbered days the following songs play in a show about 10 minutes in length: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree, Hey Come Look at My House, Nutcracker, Mr. Grinch, The Christmas Can Can.
Bretscher Family Light Show
7596 Wheatgrass Lane, Noblesville
Musical light show, including a song from Frozen 2. Show runs 5:30-10 pm every night
Noblesville Holiday Lights on Myers Lake Drive
119 Myers Lake Drive, Noblesville
Beautiful light show synchronized to music. The holiday light show runs from 5:45-10 pm, Sunday through Thursday and from 5:45-11 pm on Friday &Saturday. Visitors can tune to 100.1 FM to hear the music.
Deer Path Lights
12477 Old Pond Road, Noblesville
Musical light show that is synchronized to a handful of songs. Tune in to 89.7 FM on your radio.
Welchel Drive Synchronized Light Show
15661 Whelchel Drive, Fishers
Tune your radio to 88.3 FM. The show runs daily, 5-10 pm.
Avalon East Drive Synchronized Light Show
14125 Avalon E Drive, Fishers
Lots of lights, custom created light show synchronized to music. Tune in to 100.1 FM for a 7 minute synchronized light show. Hours are Friday & Saturday 6-11 pm and Sunday-Thursday 6-10 pm.
Picket Fence Light Show
10889 Picket Fence Place, Fishers
Over 10,000 lights synced to music. Visit Monday-Thursday, 6-9 pm, Friday & Saturday, 6-10 pm. Tune in to 100.1 FM on your car radio.
Hawthorne Lights
963 Hawthorne Drive, Carmel
This synchronized light show plays every night from 6-9 pm and begins on the hour, repeating every 20 minutes. Tune to 100.1 FM.
Residential Synchronized Christmas Light Displays – West Side
Brownsburg Town Hall Lights
61 North Green Street, Brownsburg
Lights adorn the town hall and are synchronized to music played on your personal car radio.
The Koffman House
5185 County Road 600 E., Brownsburg
Tune into 98.1 FM for a synchronized light show.
Other Popular Indiana Holiday Light Displays
Mulberry Lights
700 W Mulberry Jefferson Road, Mulberry
Way north about 45 minutes from downtown Indy. One of the best synchronized light shows around and it’s free!
