Lights on the Lake: A Colorful Holiday Tradition in Liverpool, NY

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DATES FOR 2024: Lights on the Lake will take place from November 18, 2024 to January 13, 2025.

last updated: 11/2024

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that in December we’re only just getting started with central New York’s loooooong winter. It’s all the more reason I’m grateful for the many wonderful light displays that brighten up the dark days around this time.

The upstate lights that over the past few years have become an annual family tradition for us are Lights on the Lake right on the shore of Onondaga Lake in Liverpool, a suburb to the northwest of Syracuse.

The show bills itself as “CNY’s #1 Holiday Tradition.” I’d say it’s definitely a contender, given that it’s been around for three decades and is one of the best holiday activities in Syracuse, especially for kids.

I’m certainly glad to have these fun drive-through Christmas lights near me, and so are others: some 40,000 vehicles visit Lights on the Lake every season.

The first version of the Christmas light show in 1990 was half a mile long and consisted of white lights under the name “Holiday in Lights.” It had already expanded to two miles by the next year and has stayed that way ever since. Today, you can see the magical effect of over 600,000 colorful lights in more than 300 displays.

The whole thing is very friendly and cheerful!

The Lights on the Lake experience

For us, the holiday Lights on the Lake are about an hour away, so the visit is always a whole event. We plan it so we arrive right around 5 pm, when the show opens, to avoid long lines. After the 20 to 30-minute drive-through, we let the kids run around a bit and have dinner at a restaurant or the Destiny USA food court before heading back home — if we’re lucky, in time for bedtime.)

Last year’s visit took place on a slightly rainy day, but we couldn’t do much about that because we had to pre-book the tickets (more about that below in the logistics section). Next time, though, I’ll check the weather forecast for Syracuse while planning. It’s easier to see the lights through a clear windshield, and we like to open the windows for a better view, so the warmer, the better. (I did like, though, how the lights were reflected in some big puddles, turning them into a kind of lake of lights.)

For the full effect, the official recommendation is to tune your radio to Sunny 102.1, which plays non-stop holiday music — but also some commercials. So consider bringing your own favorite CDs (is that still a thing?) or playlist.

And if your car allows it, turn off your headlights, so you can see the light displays with as little distraction as possible.

After you show your ticket at the entry booth, you drive slowly along the lakeside road through the hundreds of displays. It’s hard to take it all in at once, because even at the slow pace dictated by the long snake of cars, there’s a lot going on.

Lights on the Lake consists of eight sections, connected by colorful arches (there are 32 in total): Under the Sea, Santa’s Workshop, Holiday Traditions, Wide World of Sports, Land of Oz, Fantasy Forest, North Pole Station (the most recent addition from 2018), and the Fairytale Magic Grand Finale.

You’ll see everything from pole-fishing penguins to a family of gingerbread people. There are Santas and snowpeople galore, and many elves happily at work prepping Christmas. 

Many displays are dynamic, lighting up in such a way that it looks like a rabbit is jumping across the way, or a band is marching.

Even some of the houses abutting the Onondaga Lake Park get in on the action and add some pretty decorations in their yards.

My favorite part is the fairytale finale, with a magical forest full of mushrooms, friendly dragons, and a giant castle — an impressive end to a fun Syracuse Lights on the Lake.

Lights on the Lake logistics

• Hours: Lights on the Lake hours are 5-10 pm (letting all cars finish the drive-through).
• Ticketing: All tickets now have to be purchased online and in advance for a specific date. You can print the ticket or show it on your phone. 2024 season prices per car are Monday through Thursday $10 and Friday through Sunday $20. The show is open on all holidays (every single day during the season, in fact), so you could spend Thanksgiving or Christmas by the lake.
• Special events: Keep an eye out for special events in November and January, such as Charity Nights ($5), Doggy Drive-Through, and Salute the Troops Night (FREE with military ID), which are discounted. If you’re a runner, there’s also the Lights on the Lake 5K Run early one morning to see the lights before sunrise.
• Wait times: Lines to get in can be as long as two hours on busy days, according to the website. I asked about slower days and was told to aim for a weekday, especially Wednesday and Thursday. (Our early December, rainy Monday visit had no line to speak of).
• Visiting with kids: Consider coming prepared for the wait with snacks, a portable potty, and entertainment. (There’s a booklet online with information and some coloring pages and games for the kids). There are port-a-johns near the entrance and exit, but there can be lines. At the very end of the drive, there’s a slightly lit parking lot where you can get everyone properly situated in their seats and take care of any other needs.

Here’s a video, in case you’re curious. (I recommend not watching too much, though, so some of the displays stay a surprise for your first visit.)

If you enjoy holiday lights and are near Tompkins County, make sure to also check out the fun show at 411 Peru Road in Groton.

Have you been to Lights on the Lake? What are your favorite displays? Let us know in the comments below!

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