Looking for some opportunities for family fun this holiday season, without any large crowds? Nothing spreads holiday cheer quite like some twinkling Christmas lights! We've got the info you need to enjoy some bright and cheery holiday fun! Light displays are a great way to enjoy the season and jump start your holiday cheer. I can remember as a child piling into the family car to go look at the Christmas lights, and today's kids will enjoy having those memories just as much. Dine in or pick up some carryout from a local eatery to enjoy along the way, on your way home or at a local park if the weather's mild. 

 

Enjoy the holiday lights at Jimmy Nash City Park in Martinsville, through Jan. 1.

Festival of Lights at Jimmy Nash Park
November 26 - January 1, Martinsville

The Festival of Lights is a Martinsville tradition, and the perfect way to end the evening after a visit to the Martinsville Candy Kitchen for holiday candy canes! (See the Martinsville Candy Kitchen Facebook page for specific candy cane pour times, but they almost always make them on Friday evenings in December and up to three times each Saturday in November and December.) Drive through the lower loop of Jimmy Nash City Park in Martinsville to see this year's light display.
BONUS: Local radio station WCBK is hosting a Christmas Parade on November 26, so if you can make it to the park for the official lighting on that evening, you can also enjoy the Christmas Parade, which will travel east on Washington Street, then north on Home Avenue to the Park just prior to the lighting event.   

The Cuppa's Christmas Challenge light trail highlights holiday displays in the Martinsville area. Download the map and hit the trail in the month of December!

Cuppa's Christmas Challenge Light Tour
December 1-31, Martinsville

Cuppa Jejo is a locally owned mobile catering company specializing in gourmet coffee. Each year, they sponsor a fun Christmas Lights Trail called Cuppa's Christmas Challenge. Maps will be released on December 1 and those visiting the trail are encouraged to vote for the People's Choice Award and look for the "Secret Jejo Elf" - there's one hidden in each display. Register to receive this year's map via email at cuppajejo.com/christmaschallenge.

 

Mooresville lights their community Christmas Tree in Bicentennial Park on the eve of the annual Victorian Christmas Celebration.

Downtown Mooresville Christmas Tree Lighting
December 2, Mooresville

On the Friday evening before the Mooresville Victorian Christmas Celebration, the community comes together downtown at Bicentennial Park for the Downtown Mooresville Christmas Tree Lighting event! This fun event will feature more than just lighting up the tree - Santa Claus will be there to take your holiday gift requests along with other Christmas characters to interact with, festive music and even food trucks. Come out and enjoy the seasonal cheer. The festivities typically begin around 5 pm, and the big tree is lit up at 7 pm.  

 

Mooresville's Christmas Light Tour is a safe, no-contact way to enjoy some holiday cheer!

Mooresville Christmas Lights Tour 
December 2-31, Mooresville 
mooresvillelights.com

The Mooresville Christmas Lights Tour is now in its third year, and it's quickly becoming a popular tradition. Beginning on December 3, get your tour map at a participating businesses or by download (we'll add it to our calendar listing). Navigate the self-guided trail to enjoy a wide variety of Christmas lights displays in and around Mooresville. Be sure to vote for your favorite display using the code printed on the yard sign at each location. Each time you vote, you'll be making a small donation to local area non-profit organizations. Those small donations add up and you can feel good about spreading some holiday cheer and doing some good at the same time! 
BONUS: Be sure to keep an eye out for Santa along the way. He's been known to hang out at stop #10 to hand out candy canes from time to time, weather permitting. 

 

Check out the Holiday Window Display contest in Downtown Martinsville, courtesy of the Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Spectacular!

Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Spectacular & Tree Lighting
Dec. 4, Downtown Martinsville
& Downtown Martinsville Window Display Contest
throughout the holidays, Downtown Martinsville 

The Bobby Helms Jingle Bell Rock Christmas Spectacular and Tree Lighting takes place in downtown Martinsville on Sunday, Dec. 4 (get the event details), but if you've been downtown lately, you'll notice festive holiday window displays all around the square (and beyond)! Each business has created a window display in their own signature style. You can vote for your favorites until Dec. 3 by donating at your favorite businesses (proceeds go to the Red Barn Food Pantry and Wellspring Food Pantry) - look for the wrapped donation boxes. The window displays will remain throughout the holiday season, so if your family is out looking at holiday lights and decorations, be sure your route takes you through downtown Martinsville!