Driving around town to find the best light display has always been one of my favorite Christmas traditions. My parents drove us around every year of my childhood and my husband and I have been doing the same with our kids for the last 15 years. Always – always – with The Carpenters playing in the background (my Christmas playlist is long, but Karen Carpenter will always take the top spot). Holiday decorations have changed (a lot!) since the ’80s and the Knoxville area has some amazing light displays that you just shouldn’t miss!
Below is a list of some of our favorites and a link to a map so you can plan out your holiday tour for all the Knoxville Christmas lights. If you know of other locations, please leave a comment – we’ll be adding to this list throughout December!
My family also added a new tradition a few years ago: a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt. We’re slightly competitive and had a blast trying to check off all of the items on our list. I’m sharing this Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt printable with you and hope that you enjoy adding this fun tradition to your holiday season!
Knoxville Christmas Lights and Surrounding Areas
Download your free printable – and enjoy!
Boyd Family Christmas Light Show
1936 Winter Winds Lane Knoxville
West Knoxville Light Show
11617 Foxford Drive Knoxville
West Hills Christmas Light Show
7008 Hampshire Dr Knoxville
Hardin Valley Light Show
1712 Golden Nugget Lane Knoxville
Johnson Christmas Lights
4901 Fragrant Cloud Lane Knoxville
Loveday Christmas Light Show
5801 Zachary Rd Corryton
Listen to the Lights!
929 Oak Haven Road Knoxville
Villa Gardens Light Show
5610 Villa Road Knoxville
Gray Eagle Lane (off of Bob Gray Road) Knoxville-Many houses decorated in this neighborhood. Be prepared to wait in a line to get through the neighborhood.
Loudon County
10875 US-11, Lenoir City
If you’ve ever driven down Kingston Pike past Watt Road, into Lenoir City, you’ve seen this one! Gorgeous display.
Blount County
Bacon Lights
924 Montgomery Lane, Maryville
Listen to the Lights Maryville
2959 W Hills Dr. Maryville
Candy Cane Lane
Remington Park Drive Maryville
Blount County Courthouse
Festival of Trees
Ferrell Family Christmas
2231 Richwood Dr. Maryville, TN 37803
Anderson County
Secret City’s Atomic Lights
108 Capital Circle Oak Ridge
Recommendations from readers:
11617 Foxford Drive (same neighborhood as West Knoxville Light Show)
8506 Farmington Drive, Knoxville 37923
508 Running Brook Drive Strawberry Plains 37871 (thousands of lights and blow mold displays)
808 Commonwealth Drive Strawberry Plains 37871 (lights and trees set to synchronized music)
A Quails Bend Lane Christmas Light Show
8825 Quails Bend Ln, Knoxville 37932
East Emory Road (7512 Majors Rd Corryton, TN)
Public Christmas Light Locations
Anakeesta Enchanted Winter Wonderland
576 Parkway Gatlinburg, TN
November 19 – February 17
Anakeesta transforms into a woodland winter wonderland! Make your winter vacation plans special this Season with twinkling lights, holiday sights, and warm cocoa around the fire – discover it all during Anakeesta’s Enchanted Winter celebration! Immerse yourself in an enchanting 1000′ tunnel of twinkling arctic lights as you stroll from Firefly Village to Vista Garden.
Zoo Knoxville Zoo Lights
3540 Line Drive, Kodak, TN 37764
11/27/20-1/03/21 5:00PM-9:00PM, Closed Dec. 24th, 25th, 31st and Jan. 1st.
General Admission: $15, $2 off for zoo members, Children under 2 are free
See Knoxville’s newest light spectacular! Light up your nights this winter when you experience the all-new outdoor lantern light-up at Zoo Knoxville. In addition to dozens of glowing lanterns, see an enchanted forest of multi-color trees, enjoy holiday refreshments like hot chocolate and delightful holiday treats. See website for more details.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
3540 Line Drive (Smokies Stadium)
November 13 – January 3; open from dusk until 10pm
Christmas in Chilhowee {CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 FOR 2020}
3301 E. Magnolia Avenue
Campbell Station Park
405 N. Campbell Station Road
November 24 – January 1st
Holiday Festival of Lights at the Cove
11808 S. Northshore Drive
December 17 – 30
City of Knoxville’s Neighborhood Holiday Trails
The city of Knoxville is hosting a holiday extravaganza of lights! More than a dozen neighborhoods have decorated their homes and yards for the Neighborhood Holiday Trails, a citywide, pandemic-friendly celebration. For complete list of participating neighborhoods, click here.
East Tennessee Pediatric Dentistry Light Show
1103 Callahan Drive
Begins Thanksgiving Night
Peppermint Trail Downtown
Various downtown locations
November 27 – January 3
What’s at the end of a Peppermint Trail? Holiday magic you have to see to believe! Follow the peppermints along the sidewalks in Downtown Knoxville to discover specials featuring the favorite red-and-white holiday candy. Restaurants, coffee shops, and bars will have candy cane coffees, desserts, and cocktails, while boutiques will sell peppermint t-shirts and fun gifts. A little Elf also told us there will be visits from Santa, cookie decorating classes, and more pepperminty-events! Santa’s team also decked out downtown storefronts, windows, doors, patios, trees and parks with 200,000+ lights and garland.
Come back to this site often, as we add peppermint specials and events throughout the season. And follow the trail of 70+ peppermints on the sidewalks of Downtown Knoxville to see what peppermint surprises you’ll discover.
Here’s a link to a google map of the above list – we’ll add to it and to this list as we find out about more light displays.
Other Christmas round ups you don’t want to miss:
Knoxville Family Christmas and Holiday Events
Santa Sightings in Knoxville
Knoxville Christmas Tree Farms
December Family Events Calendar
More Holiday Posts
The Ultimate Non-Toy Gift Guide
About Raven
Hi, I’m Raven! In 2020 my husband and I celebrated 20 years of marriage, my son graduated from high school and moved into his college dorm, and my daughter started driving… So that perfectly sums up Mom Life for me right now. I’m a right brain living in a left brain world – I work full-time in Finance but do design work on the side. I love dogs, Dolly, sweet tea, and all things pretty. And if you need to find me during the holidays, chances are good I’m curled up with a Hallmark movie.
Listen to the Lights Maryville. That’s the Facebook page Name. 2959 W Hills Dr. Maryville, Tennessee 37803. Tune to 91.7 FM.
Another is Maryville Christmas Lights. Facebook page name. 924 Montgomery Lane (at the corner of Montgomery lane and Sandy Springs Road)
Tune to 92.5 FM to hear the music!
DO NOT attempt to watch the show from your car. The songs will play every half hour starting at 6, and the last show of the evening will begin at 8:30, except for Friday-Tuesday (December 21-25) before Christmas, which the show will play every half hour starting at 6, and the last show beginning at 10:30.
The Loveday Christmas light show has moved to 5801 Zachary rd. in Corryton TN.
Thank you so much for this information!
Please add our house to the lighting list. We have always had a friendly competition with the house on Foxford Drive. 11617. Were at 11625. Same side 3 down. Always have lights, inflatables, Holograms, and music!
We would love to have some homes in our neighborhood added to the list. Our neighbors really go all out so please come see us in Strawberry Plains!
508 Running Brook Drive Strawberry Plains 37871 (thousands of lights and blow mold displays)
808 Commonwealth Drive Strawberry Plains 37871 (lights and trees set to synchronized music)
Also check out others in the subdivision while you are here!
Check out A Quails Bend Lane Christmas
4420 landon drive 37921 that house is very well decorated and the lawn! Also has the lights dancing to the music!
We also have a Christmas light show that is synchronized to music at 2433 Bison Dr. knoxville tn 37920. We donate to st. Judes every year and have got over $150 this year so far please spread the word