Christmas Lights on Long Island 2026: Jones Beach Light Show, Drive-Throughs and Free Displays

Seeing the Christmas lights on Long Island is a December tradition for a lot of families, and every year the same thing happens: the Jones Beach line backs up onto the parkway, the kids are hungry, and someone has to drive home. We’ve been driving Long Island families to the lights for years, so this guide covers what’s open in 2026, what’s free, and the vehicle rules nobody else mentions. Want to skip the driving? Get a free quote for a Christmas lights tour on Long Island or call (631) 887-5544.

Long Island Christmas Lights 2026 at a Glance

Jones Beach Light Show 2026 (Magic of Lights)

The Jones Beach light show is the big one. Magic of Lights at Jones Beach State Park runs from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

It’s a drive-through, and the route is about 2.5 miles of light tunnels, animated scenes and giant displays along the water. You tune your radio to the show’s station and stay in your vehicle the whole way. Headlights go off, or on dim if your car can’t turn them off.

Is the Jones Beach light show worth it? For families with young kids, yes. It’s one of the longest drive-throughs in the area, and you can do it in pajamas. The catch is the line. On busy weekends the wait to get in has backed up onto the Meadowbrook Parkway, and sometimes the wait is longer than the show.

Can you take a limo or party bus through the Jones Beach light show?

Yes, and this is the part almost no guide mentions. Magic of Lights sells different passes by vehicle type. Any vehicle with more than three rows of seats needs the Limo/Party Bus pass, and that pass is capped at 15 passengers. Full-size buses are only allowed at some Magic of Lights locations, so check before you plan a coach bus trip.

When you book with us for Jones Beach, we match the vehicle to that rule. A 12-passenger Sprinter limo is the sweet spot: big windows, everyone sits together, and it fits the pass.

Drive-Through Christmas Lights on Long Island

Nassau County Holiday Light Show at Nassau Coliseum (new for 2026)

New this year, a drive-through show in the Nassau Coliseum lot in Uniondale, on select dates from November 20 to December 31. It comes from the same producer as the Riverhead show.

Riverhead Holiday Light Show, Calverton

A drive-through synced to music, more than a mile long. Last season it ran on select nights from mid-November through December 31. Check the official site for the 2026 location and dates.

Good to know: the Riverhead show’s rules say no buses, limos or trailers, only cars and personal trucks. Since the Nassau Coliseum show has the same producer, expect the same rule there. For those two, drive your own car, or let us take your group to a different display.

Town of Islip Holiday Drive-Thru, Brookwood Hall

A free drive-thru on the grounds of Brookwood Hall in East Islip, run by the town on select December nights. It’s smaller and more relaxed than Jones Beach, and a nice first lights night for little kids.

Walk-Through Christmas Light Shows on Long Island

LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park

LuminoCity is back at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow from November 11, 2026 to January 3, 2027, its fifth year. Expect giant lantern sculptures and light tunnels, plus a new “Lumi Express” holiday train this season. It’s the largest walk-through in Nassau.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show, Bayport

If you remember driving through this one at Smith Point, it has changed. It’s now a walk-through at Camp Edey in Bayport, just under half a mile, with timed tickets. Last year it ran Thursday through Sunday from late November to just before Christmas. The 2026 dates are expected for December.

Christmas House Long Island, Hicksville

An indoor walk-through that takes about 45 minutes, with themed rooms packed with decorations. Good for a cold or rainy night. Last season ran from late November to January 2.

More walk-throughs

• Bonac Festival of Lights, now at Mulford Farm in East Hampton, on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Brookhaven Holiday Light Spectacular at the Holtsville Ecology Site, on December weekends.
• Huntington Holiday Spectacular on Wall Street in Huntington village, free.

Free Christmas Lights on Long Island (and the Best Houses)

Some of the best lights on Long Island cost nothing:

• Long Beach Boardwalk lights, plus the Kennedy Plaza tree. Last year they ran from early December to January 2, 5 to 9 p.m.
• Brookwood Hall drive-thru in East Islip, free from the Town of Islip.
• Lights on Liberty Street in Deer Park, a famous family display that was on TV’s The Great Christmas Light Fight and collects donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It’s on a residential street, so a sedan or SUV works better than a big vehicle.
• Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, with its free animated holiday display.

For neighborhood houses, use LI Lights Map. It maps hundreds of decorated homes across Nassau and Suffolk by town. Pick five or six close together and you have a route.

Seeing the Christmas Lights by Limo, Sprinter or Party Bus

A Long Island holiday lights tour by limo turns a stressful drive into the main event. Here’s a route families love:

1. 4:30 p.m. Pickup at home, hot cocoa in hand.
2. 5:00 p.m. Jones Beach Magic of Lights, right when it opens, before the line builds.
3. 6:30 p.m. Dinner on the South Shore.
4. 8:00 p.m. Two or three standout houses from LI Lights Map, or the Long Beach boardwalk.
5. 9:00 p.m. Home, kids asleep in the back.

Pick the vehicle by group size: a luxury SUV for up to 6, the Sprinter limo for up to 12, and the Escalade stretch limo for a celebration. For an office party or a big family night, a party bus works great for walk-throughs and the boardwalk.

Want more? Our Christmas holiday light tour limo guide has more Long Island ideas, our Dyker Heights lights tour covers Brooklyn’s famous blocks, and our NYC Christmas lights tour guide covers Manhattan. If you’re going to the Rockettes too, see our Radio City Christmas Spectacular trip guide.

Tips to Skip the Traffic

• Go on a weeknight. Monday through Thursday is much calmer than Friday or Saturday.
• Go early in the season. Late November and the first week of December beat the week before Christmas.
• Arrive right at opening for drive-throughs. The line grows fast after 6 p.m.
• Buy timed tickets ahead for walk-throughs like LuminoCity and the Girl Scouts show.
• Bring snacks and use the restroom first. Drive-throughs don’t let you get out.
• Check the weather. Some shows close in heavy rain or wind.

Christmas Lights on Long Island: FAQ

When does the Jones Beach light show start in 2026?

Magic of Lights at Jones Beach runs from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. It’s open 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

How long does it take to go through the Jones Beach light show?

The route is about 2.5 miles. The drive itself is short, but on busy weekend nights the line to get in can take longer than the show. Go early on a weeknight.

Can you take a limo or party bus through the Jones Beach light show?

Yes. Magic of Lights sells a Limo/Party Bus pass for vehicles with more than three rows of seats, capped at 15 passengers. Full-size buses are only allowed at some locations, so check first.

Is the Jones Beach light show worth it?

For most families, yes. It’s one of the longest drive-through shows in the area. Pick a weeknight early in the season to avoid long lines.

What is the biggest Christmas light show on Long Island?

Magic of Lights at Jones Beach is the biggest drive-through. LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park is the biggest walk-through.

Are there free Christmas lights on Long Island?

Yes. The Town of Islip drive-thru at Brookwood Hall, the Long Beach Boardwalk lights, Huntington’s Wall Street display and many neighborhood houses listed on LI Lights Map are free.

Is the Girl Scouts light show still at Smith Point?

No. The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Holiday Light Show is now a walk-through at Camp Edey in Bayport.

Can a limo go through the Riverhead Holiday Light Show?

No. The Riverhead show’s rules don’t allow buses, limos or trailers, only cars and personal trucks.

What’s the best night to see Christmas lights on Long Island?

A Monday to Thursday night in late November or early December, arriving right when the show opens.

Last updated: November 12, 2026. Dates and vehicle rules come from Magic of Lights Jones Beach, the Magic of Lights FAQ, the Holiday Light Show FAQ and LuminoCity. Where 2026 dates weren’t out yet, we list last season’s and will update this page.