Christmas Lights in Skaneateles, NY

Popular picks this season include Holiday Nights at Rosamond Gifford Zoo (Dec 4 – Dec 19), Lights on the Lake (Nov 21 – Jan 4), Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles (Nov 27 – Dec 24) and World's Smallest Christmas Parade (Skaneateles) (Nov 27 – Nov 27). In all, 10 displays are mapped in and around Skaneateles, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.

Free options include Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, World's Smallest Christmas Parade (Skaneateles), Downtown Syracuse Holiday Lights (Clinton Square and Hanover Square) and Home for the Holidays Tree Lighting in Clinton Square. 7 of the 10 displays near Skaneateles are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.

Yes. Lights on the Lake (Per-vehicle ticket (2026 prices not yet posted)). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.

Yes. Holiday Nights at Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.

The earliest Skaneateles-area displays turn on Nov 21, and most are running by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Many stay lit through New Year's; check each display's page for its exact dates and nightly hours.