Experience the Magic of Lights — Family Travel Pursuits

Are you looking for a dose of holiday spirit? Well, look no further because we’ve got the perfect solution for you. The Magic of Lights show at Jones Beach State Park is just what you need to kick off the most wonderful time of the year.

You’ll drive through a dazzling display of over two million LED lights while everyone’s favorite holiday tunes play. As you cruise through the West End of Jones Beach State Park, you’ll see everything from giant elves to Santa doing the limbo.

The best part is you get to enjoy all the wonder and cheer from the cozy comfort of your own car. So gather up the family, get your ticket, and experience a spectacle of holiday lights. The Magic of Lights is sure to ignite all the holiday feels and leave you beaming with delight.

8 Tips for Your Visit to the Magic of Lights

Buy your tickets in advance. If you purchase them early enough in the season you may get a discount
Plan to go during the week. Tickets purchased for weeknights are often less expensive
Crowds will be lighter during the week and further out from Christmas
The entrance to the light show can get jammed on busier nights and entering the event will move slowly.
Check the Magic of Lights website to see what attractions are available for your visit so that you can plan accordingly
Dress for the weather. If you plan to visit the Toyota Holiday Village you will likely feel the chill when you step out of the warmth of your car
Expect the experience to take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half if you stop off at the Holiday Village
You can take a photo with Santa. Plan to pack your patience, this is the longest line at the Holiday Village

The Magic of Lights at Jones Beach: Our Holiday Tradition

The Magic of Lights is a cherished holiday tradition for many New York families and is a personal favorite of ours.

As you make your way through the display, over two million LED lights sparkle against the night sky. Massive arches, dancing trees, and animated displays bring the season to life.

Prehistoric Christmas Light Display at Magic of Lights, Jones Beach State Park

Your littles will delight at seeing familiar characters like Santa, his elves, and of course, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The show is also synced to popular Christmas music, so be sure to turn on your radio and tune into 90.5 FM!

The Magic of Lights runs from mid-November through late December. The light show starts at dusk and runs through 10pm on weekdays and 11pm on the weekends. Be sure to bundle-up and make a stop at the Toyota Holiday Village just before you exit the show.

What to Expect at the Magical of Lights Show This Year

This year's light show has new characters in lights and new adaptations of some of our favorite holiday scenes. This drive thru experience will take about 30 minutes to complete if you don't make a stop at the Toyota Holiday Village.

Canopy of Lights Display at Magic of Lights, Jones Beach State Park

The price per ticket varies depending on what day of the week you'd like to visit. The weekday price per car is $35 and the weekend price is $40. Remember that you only need to purchase one ticket for the car and not for each person in the vehicle.

Be sure to check the Magic of Lights website for the pricing and a full rundown of what to expect at the Toyota Holiday Village.

The Rules of the Road

If this is your first time, you'll need to understand the rules of the road to this event. Here are the most important things to know:

Turn of Your Headlights

For the best experience for yourself and those around you, remember to turn off your headlights. Your eyes will adjust to the darkness and the vibrant colors will pop even more. Since your lights will be off, this brings us to the next point.

Drive Slowly!

Take your time driving through the light displays. Go slowly so you can fully enjoy each section. Don't worry about traffic building up behind you, most visitors expect a leisurely pace.

Tune your Radio

Make sure that you are tuned in to the FM station that plays the holiday music that accompanies the show. You'll need to tune your radio to 90.5 FM to hear some of your favorite holiday tunes. We suggest you tune in while you're waiting to enter the gate.

New Lights and Scenes

This year we were pleased to see refreshed adaptations of some of our favorite holiday scenes and most notably Barbie had her own display. After all, we are in the Barbie era! Our favorite scene is the 12 Days of Christmas and it was really nice to see that the LED displays had been updated.

Barbie Light Display at Magic of Lights, Jones Beach State Park

The Toyota Holiday Village

The Toyota Holiday Village is the perfect spot to step out of the car and stretch your legs after driving through the lights display. In the village you will find places to sit while you enjoy a snack from the concession stand, an assortment of merch and there’s even a fire pit to roast s’mores out back.

Toyota Holiday Village at Magic of Lights, Jones Beach State Park

Food

You can find an assortment of small bites at the Holiday Village. Everything from cotton candy to pretzels are available at the food stand. Items start at around five dollars and go up to $12 for a S'mores Kit and $20 for a family pack of 12 warm cookies.

Toyota Holiday Village Menu at Magic of Lights, Jones Beach State Park

Merchandise

The merch for purchase ranges from ceramic ornaments, to light up necklaces and plushes. You'll find the merchandise inside the Holiday village on the other side of the food counter. Prices range from $5 for a light-up necklace to $50 for an event themed blanket.

Attractions

This year's attractions include the snow dogs that are available for a visit on select days throughout the run. There's also a location to craft and send a letter to Santa; and speaking of Santa, you can have your photo taken with the big guy for $35 which includes your sitting fee, a framed 4x6 photo, and two selfie stations.

If Santa isn't your thing, then maybe the Grinch is more your speed. It's said that the Grinch is set to drop by December 24th - 30th.

Final Thoughts: Why this is one of Favorite Holiday Stops

This whimsical holiday light show has become such a beloved seasonal tradition for us, that we've only missed one year since we started visiting eight years ago. Each year, a visit to this attraction marks the official beginning of the holiday season for our family.

We love watching the lights dance across the landscape to holiday songs. Each one of us feels like a kid again as we all sing along to the songs on the radio and point out our favorite displays. For the time that we are at Jones Beach State Park taking in the lights, we are simply immersed in the joy of the moment and the season.

The show always ends all too soon, but the memories we've made will keep the spirit of the holidays alive throughout the season. We can recommend that you and your family experience the Magic of Lights show for yourself and discover why this Jones Beach spectacle has captivated the imaginations of both young and old.

Until next time, Enjoy the Journey!

Experience the Magic of Lights at Jones Beach: A Spectacular Holiday Show

8 Tips for Your Visit to the Magic of Lights

The Magic of Lights at Jones Beach: Our Holiday Tradition