Three Spectacular Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Display in Southeast Michigan

Photo by Heather Raulerson

It isn’t hard to find Christmas Lights around the United States if you want to see them. Driving down the road, you will see inflatable Santa’s, Frosty’s, lit reindeer, and a colorful string of lights on the houses and trees. But, if you want to see a dazzling array of Christmas Lights, check out these marvelous Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Displays in Southeast Michigan.

Rochester’s Big, Bright Light Show

The Big, Bright Light Show is the largest Christmas Light display in Michigan, with over one million lights decorating almost every building in downtown Rochester. This sparkling display was created to resemble the previous Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each shop in the downtown area has a particular color of lights covering the front facade. From reds, blues, greens, gold, white, and a rainbow of other colors, you can drive by and decide which one is your favorite color. You can also choose to walk around downtown to view the lovely window displays. Don’t forget to check out the window display at the Home Bakery. They tend to win the Holiday Window Contest every year, and when you see it, you will see why.

Important things to note: Traffic is heavy right before the lights turn on and during the light show. You will encounter stop and go traffic entering the downtown area. Please bring your patience when looking at the lights. The light show turns on every night from 5 p.m. to midnight until January 3. Additionally, the lights will be on Friday through Sunday in January until the 17th. There is no fee to drive through the downtown and admire the light show.

The Big, Bright Light Show is one holiday light display that I love seeing every year.

Wayne County Lightfest

Photo by Heather Raulerson

The Wayne County Lightfest is the longest light display in Michigan. During a four-mile stretch through Hines Park, you can marvel at the 50 animated Christmas and Holiday displays showcasing over 100,000 lights. Before you enter the Lightfest, you will be in two lanes of traffic in which there are small light displays on both sides of the road. Once you go through the entrance to the Wayne County Lightfest, it will combine into one. The majority of the displays are animated. You will see bells ringing, trains and cars moving, and elves moving packages, among many other changing displays. So, if you want to capture the magic, make sure to have video capability on your phone. If you are interested in taking pictures, it will be challenging as you are not supposed to stop or pull over. Although we saw quite a few cars stopping, people were getting out of their vehicles to get closer to the displays.

Important things to note: Traffic is extremely heavy at the entrance. Be prepared for stop and go traffic for quite a bit before you even enter the light show. The entry is at 7651 N. Merriman Rd., between Ann Arbor Trail and Warren Ave in Westland. The light show turns on Wednesday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight until December 31. The cost to enter the light display on Hines Drive is $5 Cash.

With the spacing of the light displays, it does make it a long drive. It took us about an hour and a half to get through the Lightfest. By the end, you are tired of the traffic, but you are stuck on the one-way drive until the very end. There are no early exits along the road.

DTE’s Magic of Lights

Photo by Heather Raulerson

The Magic of Lights is a dazzling 1.5-mile route through the DTE Energy Music Theatre’s parking lot. When you enter the light display, you have the option to turn on a radio station to hear Christmas music while you drive through the spectacular display. The route winds around many of your favorite holiday themes, from the twelve days of Christmas, colorful ornaments, Santa and his elves. There are even some modern displays of a Santa Evel Knievel jumping over Candy Canes and the always present light tunnel. The Magic of Lights is a condensed concentration of lights that will only take approximately 30 minutes. But in that short half-hour, expect much laughter trying to remember the twelve days of Christmas song and reconnecting with your family and friends while enjoying the colorful and glimmering lights.

Important things to note: Traffic is reportedly heavy on the weekends. The entrance is at 33 Bob Seger Drive at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston. The light show turns on every day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday and stays open until 11 p.m. on the weekends until January 2. The cost to enter the light display varies whether you get a weekday pass or any day pass. Prices range from $25-$35. The price is per car, not person, so pack up the car with the whole family.

The Magic of Lights is a holiday tradition that I know that I will continue every year.

During this trying time of maintaining social distancing, drive-thru Christmas Light Displays is a fabulous way to enjoy the holiday season stress-free. All you have to do is hop in your car, purchase a ticket, and then drive through some spectacular holiday light displays in Southeast Michigan. So, go ahead and start your holiday season with a wonderful evening out with any of these striking light extravaganzas. Happy Holidays!