As central Iowa slips closer to winter, one of the area's favorite traditions lights up the skies at night -- festive lights festooning houses decorated with inflatables, holiday-themed décor, and trees. Clark Griswold would be proud.
While you could randomly drive around the metro to find the best lights, we compiled a guide with points from Ankeny to Norwalk to Indianola. This guide covers neighborhoods that get together to decorate homes, churches with lighted displays, and professional light displays from cities, charitable organizations and communities.
Here is our interactive map of holiday lights that you can click on to see addresses and what to expect.
1023 N.W. 32nd St.: This house comes with Christmas lights that blink and change in time with songs such as "Little Drummer Boy" or "Dueling Jingle Bells." Visitors can tune their radios to 94.7 FM to enjoy the show.
4118 S.W. Snyder Blvd.: This synchronized light show has been an Ankeny favorite since 2014.
705 N.E. Canterbury Drive: This light show includes 7,000 bulbs synchronized to four holiday songs.
S.E. Richland Court: Richland Court in Ankeny turns into Gingerbread Lane, with each home decorated and festooned with signs telling the story of the gingerbread boy. Bring canned goods that are donated to Food Bank of Iowa every weekend.
1832 S.E. Hillside Drive: Tune to FM 95.5 to enjoy a variety of family-friendly songs sequenced with the lights on this home in Ankeny.
S.E. Rio Circle: The homes on this cul-de-sac in Ankeny south of Southeast Eighth Street tell the story of Frosty the Snowman through lights.
1335 N.E. Milan Ave.: The animated displays at this Ankeny home change every year. Previous displays included Frosty the Snowman, a flying cardinal, a skiing snowman, a Times Square ball drop, and Iowa State basketball and football players. This year expect 20,000 color changing lights synchronized to holiday music favorites. Tune your radio to 95.5 FM to hear the music and control the show with your smartphone when at the display.
Prairie Ridge Church, 825 N.W. 36th St.: This synchronized light display sits in front of Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny.
Uptown Ankeny, 601 S.W. Third St.: Discover 50-plus animated displays sponsored by local businesses in the six blocks surrounding Uptown Ankeny. Don't miss the 25-foot-tall show tree. Open through Dec. 31.
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1107 11th Ave. S.E.: Around 21,000 LED lights are synchronized to music in a show that runs about 25 minutes at this home.
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Ashby and Wallace Avenue just east and west of Beaver Avenue: More than 50 homes in this Beaverdale neighborhood decorate for the holiday. Look for a sign with a local radio station set to Christmas music to get in the holiday mood and ways to donate to Food Bank of Iowa. Lights are on from 6 to 9 p.m.
Brook Run Drive: More than 50 homes in this east side neighborhood feature a themed tree. Visitors can enter through three entrances to see a synchronized light show on Springwood Lane, a tribute to Candy Land, and Santa's Seaside Crossing.
4840 Beaver Ave.: Find a home decorated with lights and displays along Beaver Avenue.
Dogtown along University Avenue: The Dogtown Lights display takes over this Drake neighborhood.
First Church of the Open Bible, 2200 Beaver Ave.: A synchronized music and light display blinks at this church in Beaverdale. Tune into the radio station advertised on signs around the light display for music.
Jolly Holiday Lights, Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E. Grand Ave.: This holiday display at the Iowa State Fairgrounds benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tickets start at $20 per car and $50 for a bus or limo. Open 5:30 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. on weekends from Friday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Jan. 4.
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1801 N.W. Morningside Drive: Flashing holiday lights set to music bring visitors to this home in Grimes.
East Franklin Street: Houses up and down this street are decorated for the holidays.
7234 N.W. 86th St.: This home features a long driveway that is lighted on both sides. The house and barn have light on roof, along with Santa, reindeer and sleigh.
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Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road: Find more than one mile of lights synchronized to music at Santa's Rock n Lights. Des Moines' light experience with the largest variety of displays including color changing light technology, larger than life light sculptures such as a dinosaur, 700 feet of tunnels, and traditional lights. Prices start at $29.99 for a car with six people.
Charles Gabus Tree Memorial Park, 3600 86th St.: More than 50,000 lights are located at the Charles Gabus Tree Memorial Park next to the Urbandale Public Library for the Miracle on 86th in Urbandale. Open from Nov. 26 through Jan. 6, 2025.
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3608 Ashworth Road: See more than 50,000 lights decorating this home on Ashworth Road in West Des Moines. Kids can drop off letters to Santa while adults can leave canned goods for donations.
1121 62nd St.: Tune into 89.5 FM and watch thousands of lights perform a bright and magical light show.
Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy.: This Lutheran church in West Des Moines has pretty blue lights surrounding it.
Valley Junction: The shopping district is lit up with 100,000 lights from Nov. 21 through Jan. 1, 2025. Head to Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue to start the ogling.
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Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].