UPDATED FOR 2025
Out of oodles of holiday traditions associated with this time of year, none may be as beloved as loading the family into the car in search of the best neighborhood light displays and shows. But where can you find the best neighborhood Christmas lights in Virginia for 2025?
We spoke with local expert Holly Zell, the owner of the resourceful website, Holly’s Tacky Christmas Lights, to get her take on the best of the best in Fairfax County. Going to see Christmas lights is perfect for a date night on a couples getaway in winter or a great way to stay in the Holiday spirit with the family. Here are the top light shows for Fairfax County in 2025 to add to your must-do list, in no particular order. (Keep in mind that with a later Thanksgiving date, the light season this year is a bit shorter.)
Editors note: We, like Holly, lovingly refer to these displays as "tacky" in the most endearing sense of the word - truly these displays are pieces of art and are testaments to the owners' hard work and dedication in an otherwise very busy season! Also, as a reminder – these are private properties, so please respect the owners’ homes and stay out of the light display and yard when visiting and do not block driveways.
10108 Marshall Pond Rd, Burke
2025 STATUS: Currently on through January 1, usually through 10-11pm. Lights always on, though rain may have other plans.
Map: 10108 Marshall Pond Rd, Burke
Marissa Strang for Visit Fairfax
This massive display, dubbed Marshall Pond Christmas Village, is thanks to seven different homes in a cul-de-sac/pipestem. All families are on their own light-up schedule. Pay a visit to “Santa’s Village” upon arrival at the homes numbered 10100-10112. (The neighborhood no longer uses its previous Facebook page.) And while you're in the area, be sure to check the surrounding neighborhoods, as many other neighbors have gotten into the Christmas spirit!
NOTE: Be sure to park at the top of Marshall Pond Road and walk from there to enjoy the displays. Please do not drive down the pipestem.
3912 Lincolnshire Street, Annandale
2025 STATUS: Coming soon! Usually on through January 1, typically 4:45pm-10/10:30pm. Lights will be off during any wet/humid/snow conditions. Tune to 88.3 FM.
Map: 3912 Lincolnshire Street, Annandale
Marissa Strang for Visit Fairfax
Multi-color LED lights and figurines cover every square inch of the property, backed by music and animation. See if the kiddos can spot Santa and his reindeer amidst the lights! Gazers can tune to 88.3 FM to listen to the show.
Tip: You may walk up the driveway to the fence or up the steps in front of the house. Also keep on the lookout for neighbors who have lit their homes to make Lincolnshire St glow!
7302 Rhondda Dr, Lorton
2025 STATUS: Currently on! Usually through January 5, 5:30-9:30pm weekdays and 5:30-10:30pm Fri/Sat. Inflatables are down during wind and come inside on New Years. Lights remain on through early January.
Map: 7302 Rhondda Dr, Lorton
One of the only townhomes on the list, this home makes incredible use of its small space with layers and layers of colors, a Letters to Santa mailbox, and full-size homemade props of the Bumble, Grinch and Taz (on weekends, weather permitting). Stop by to take a selfie with them and drop your letter to Santa! Each letter left may just get a special response from Santa himself!
7815 Birnam Wood Dr, McLean
2025 STATUS: Starting December 7 through January 1, 6-9pm weekdays, 6-10pm weekends. Lights are off in rain and wind.
Map: 7815 Birnam Wood Dr, McLean
This McLean spectacle is thanks to a mother-son decorating effort and features a glowing, multi-colored, striped house with an ever-changing array of unique inflatables. The roof, nearby giant trees, and the yard itself are covered in lights. After viewing this home, don't miss the son's own home, The Horn Quartet Christmas, in Ashburn at 21260 Rosetta Place. In fact, that property will be featured on The Great Christmas Light Fight in 2025, airing live on ABC December 11, 2025 at 10pm (and Hulu the next day!).
602 Birch St, SW, Vienna
2025 STATUS: Currently on through December 30. 5:30pm-9pm Mon-Thurs, 5:30pm-10pm Fri-Sun. Show is off for rain, extreme cold.
Map: 602 Birch St, SW, Vienna
This unique full-home projection show offers a different take on your traditional light show. The one-of-a-kind, fully custom show is synced to holiday music (tune to 89.7 FM) and offers a world of enchantment, with surprise guests, a winter wonderland setting, and a magical musical medley. An entirely new magical projection experience is in store for 2025 visitors. But in the meantime, check out the 2024 show on the family's YouTube channel.
NOTE: Please wait your turn to get in to view this unique display and turn off your headlights while viewing. Follow the Paradise Family "Light" Show on their Facebook page here.
10203 Lawyers Rd, Vienna
2025 STATUS: Currently on through January 6. 5pm - 11pm. Lights might go off during rain.
Map: 10203 Lawyers Rd, Vienna
Stunning layers of multicolored lights and large decorated trees make up much of this beautiful display. Be on the lookout for the “zoo” of approximately 100 lighted animal figures of all types (can you count the number of polar bears?) and a flowing waterfall scene.
Tip: Park on Galloping Way and carefully cross Lawyers Rd for the best views.
1801 Beulah Rd, Vienna
2025 STATUS: Currently on, through early January.
Map: 1801 Beulah Rd, Vienna
Located adjacent to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (which has its own incredible light show during the season), this Vienna home joins the fun with a massive array of lights, wireframe scenes, and groupings of fabulously colored trees throughout its large yard. At street level, there's even a special mailbox to drop Letters for Santa.
2733/2738 Oakton Park Ct, Vienna
2025 STATUS: Currently on, through January 4, 5:30pm-10:30pm. Lights off during rain. Inflatables off during high winds.
Map: 2733 Oakton Park Ct, Vienna
Image courtesy Oakton Park Lights family
This small cul-de-sac in Oakton glows during the season thanks to this bright and cheery cluster of home displays. Trees are wrapped in candy-cane-colored lights, a stunning lighted archway covers the driveway, and snowmen and friends are positioned throughout the yard. Four of the homes on this cul-de-sac are overdecorated, so be sure to enjoy them all! Follow the Oakton Park Lights Facebook page for the latest info. Oakton Park Lights collects donations to help food-insecure families within the community. One hundred percent of the donations is divided evenly between One Neighborhood Foundation and Rustic Love. These two nonprofits work tirelessly to support the community, so please consider donating if you enjoy the lights!
NOTE: Please do not block access to driveways or for other viewers in this small cul-de-sac. Parking is recommended on Courthouse Rd in the white-striped area or on a neighboring street if you would like to take more time to enjoy the displays.
2528 Drexel St, Vienna
2025 STATUS: Currently on through December 31. 5:30pm-9:30pm Sun-Thurs and 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat (regardless of the weather). Tune to 90.3 FM to hear the music or listen from speakers in front of house, if walking.
Map: 2528 Drexel St, Vienna
The Ni Family has been putting on a fabulous Christmas show at their home in Vienna, where they sync their lights to a playlist of fun holiday movie clips, popular songs, and other favorites. In the family's 9th year, they are featuring a new Jukebox Mode user-interactive light show through December 9 (and again from 12/26-31) that will rotate between four pre-selected playlists. Then, starting December 10 through 23, a new 2025 sequence will play, with special Christmas-only playlists on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Tune to 90.3 FM to hear the music or park nearby to walk over and hear the songs from the outdoor speakers. Get the full playlist and live updates on how to access the Jukebox Mode on the family's Facebook page.
10800 Stanhope Pl, Fairfax
2025 STATUS: Currently on, through January 4, from dusk-11pm. Lights off during heavy rain. Tune to 89.7 FM.
Map: 10800 Stanhope Pl, Fairfax
This neighborhood effort has nearly an entire block lit up for the holidays! Enjoy a drive by this cluster of homes, some that are animated to music and others that make neighborly use of tree lights. Several homes are synced together with music; some homes have various themes, and several offer community service collections for food drives or diabetes research. Some surrounding cul-de-sacs are also lit up. Lots to see in this area of the neighborhood!
922 Cottage St, SW, Vienna
2025 STATUS: Currently on.
Map: 922 Cottage St, SW, Vienna
This out-of-this-world display encourages passersby to BELIEVE, with soaring displays of UFOs, Big Foot, Yetis, and many other mythical creatures.
13799 Necklace Ct, Chantilly
2025 STATUS: Currently on, 5-11pm daily. Rain or shine. Through early January.
Map: 13799 Necklace Ct, Chantilly
Image courtesy Lori Castle Poole
These owners have steadily expanded their display over the years into a beautiful array of scenes, from water creatures to patriotic wireframes and raining lights. Keep a look out for a virtual Santa to appear in the window above the garage from December 1 - 24.
6912 Ontario St, Springfield
2025 STATUS: Currently on through December 31. Dusk-11pm.
Map: 6912 Ontario St, Springfield
Tons of inflatables line the yard of this Springfield corner-lot home, encircled by multicolored lights, cloth-covered wireframes and various Christmas characters. Clinging Santas sit above the garage and multicolored lights cover the roof, bushes, and nearby shed. Lights on through New Years Eve.
6410 Glenbard Rd, Burke
2025 STATUS: Starting December 5 through January 4. 5-9pm weekdays, 5-10pm Friday/Saturdays. Lights off for extreme snow/wind.
Map: 6410 Glenbard Rd, Burke
This animated light show in Burke features a plethora of beautiful lighted trees and a journey to Jurassic Park with tons of dinosaurs, including a baby dino paddock. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a very wise Baby Yoda and a Pirate Santa.
6412 Joyce Rd, Alexandria
2025 STATUS: Coming soon! Lights are off for moderate-heavy rain and winds over 10mph.
Map: 6412 Joyce Rd, Alexandria
This Franconia-area home features an abundance of inflatables all contained in a multicolored, lighted fence. Use the driveway to explore the display and to find your favorite character. Keep tabs on their Facebook page for the latest updates.
13204 Stone Heather Dr, Herndon
2025 STATUS: Decorating in progress! Inflatables may be down in rain. Typically up through early January.
Map: 13204 Stone Heather Dr, Herndon
This festive home is located on the corner of a pipestem in Herndon, and the homeowners take full advantage of the corner lot space with countless inflatables and wire-frame figurines sprawling across the property. You can also hear music playing as you drive by. The homeowners also decorate for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Expect more and more things to be added as the owners switch from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Keep tabs on their Facebook page for updates.
There are many other homes to explore, and Holly has a great map to highlight the best of the best, some honorable mentions, and even locations outside of Fairfax County. Most importantly, keep in mind some of her best viewing tips:
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Respect the owners’ properties and please stay out of the yards and light displays. This also pertains to your safety and the safety of the owners’ homes. Similarly, don’t touch any of the displays and be considerate to the neighborhood and other light viewers around you.
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Rain, snow, and wind can all influence the light displays. Check Holly’s site or Facebook page for hours and weather closings.
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Overall, the best time of day for viewing lights is between 6pm and 8pm.
Want to make a night of it and have a Holiday Lights Show Tour of Fairfax County? Check out our video here for ideas on perfecting your new holiday tradition:
Looking for other winter activities in Fairfax County? Check out our indoor and outdoor winter activities, sledding, ice skating, and be sure to bookmark our winter guide for more seasonal fun!
Do you know of other spectacular light displays in Fairfax neighborhoods or at Fairfax County businesses? Tell us in the comments below or tag us on social media using #FXVA and @VisitFairfax.
*All photos credit to Holly Zell of FairfaxChristmasLights.com, unless otherwise noted.
