Southern IN Christmas Display Listed Among Nation’s Best–KY & TN Also Make the Cut

Some things never go out of style, despite what rapidly-improving technology and talk of how younger generations feel about everything might lead us to believe.

Yep, piling into the car, SUV, van, or whatever to drive around town gazing at Christmas lights just never goes out of fashion. I hope it never does. Additionally, I like what big EVENTS all these neighborhood displays have become. Yes, I'm looking at YOU, Stone Gate.

The Nation's Best Commercial Drive-Through Holiday Light Displays

Speaking of which, let's get some of these extraordinary residential displays on a national list somewhere. I mean, I love the one we're focusing on here, but families across the country go bananas at Christmastime, and they all deserve national recognition.

Now, as for the aforementioned collection of Christmas light displays, we have a couple such displays of local interest that made it into a piece from renowned luxury and lifestyle publication Condé Nast Traveler. These are all commercial displays, hence the call for non-commercial recognition.

Santa Claus Land of Lights - Santa Claus IN

But hey, we have a local icon on the Condé Nast list, and that would be the Santa Claus Land of Lights in Santa Claus, Indiana.

I'm not exactly sure what year it was when the Santa Claus Land of Lights premiered, but it quickly became a holiday tradition for families across Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.

Lights Under Louisville

And it seems Condé Nast Traveler knows a great drive-through display when it sees one. That's why Lights Under Louisville also made the cut:

Winterfest - Pigeon Forge TN

The publication also threw the spotlight onto the Pigeon Forge Winterfest, one of the many holiday highlights the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer:

Now, if you take those two and add in the other 19 from the Condé Nast Traveler list, you have the makings of a pretty spectacular holiday getaway. Of course, you might need to catch a plane and rent a car, but I think it would be worth it.

Here are a few more highlights--within RELATIVELY reasonable driving distance--from Condé Nast Traveler's choices:

Rotary Lights - La Crosse WI

Let It Shine - Chicago

Fantasy in Lights - Pine Mountain GA

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you if you plan to hit all of these. Kudos on your ambition and, of course, safe travels.

As for western Kentuckians and southern Hoosiers, the Santa Claus Land of Lights opens Friday November 24th and will run through Saturday, December 23rd.