Opening night Opens Nov 27·Save $5 per vehicle when you buy online online
Opening night Opens Nov 27·Save $5 per vehicle when you buy online online
2026 Guide · Updated Nov 11, 2026
8 holiday light shows near Canton, Akron and Stark County, compared side by side: drive-through or walk-through, how each one is priced, and when it is open this year.
8 holiday light shows near Canton, Akron and Stark County, compared side by side: drive-through or walk-through, how each one is priced, and when it is open this year.
Looking for the best Christmas lights in Northeast Ohio this year? We rounded up the light shows families around Canton, Akron and Stark County actually go to, with what each one is like, how it is priced and when it is open for 2026.
Full disclosure: this is the Merry Lights blog, so yes, we are on the list. We will tell you straight why families pick us, and we will give every other show a fair shake so you can plan your whole season.
| Show | Town | Type | How it's priced | 2026 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merry Lights | Louisville | Drive-through | Per vehicle, $20 to $24 online (up to 8 people) | Every night, Nov 27 to Dec 31, 6 to 11 PM |
| Elegant Illusions | Atwater | Drive-through | Per vehicle | Nov 19 to Dec 27, Thu to Sun (nightly Christmas week) |
| Joy of Christmas | Columbiana | Park light show | Admission, $30 season pass | Select nights from Nov 20, 6 to 9 PM |
| Medina County Fair Holiday Lights | Medina | Drive-through | Per vehicle | Select nights from late Nov |
| Stadium Park | Canton | Drive-through | Free | Daily from Nov 18 |
| Ohio Christmas Factory | Canton | Indoor walk-through | Per person | 15 select dates, Nov 27 to Dec 23 |
| Winter Wonderfest | Hartville | Outdoor walk-through | See their site | Select nights |
| Nature's A-Glow | Alliance | Walk-through garden | Per person | Select December nights |
Details checked Nov 11, 2026 from each show's official site or local tourism listings. Dates and prices can change, so confirm before you go.
Merry Lights is a drive-through Christmas light show at Cutty’s Sunset Camping Resort, 8050 Edison St NE in Louisville, about 30 minutes from Canton and 35 from Akron. Every display is handmade by a local family, so you won’t see the same store-bought pieces you have seen at every other show.
Tune to 96.9 FM and the lights move with the music as you drive right through tunnels of light. The drive takes about 20 to 30 minutes. At the end, step into Santa Land for photos with Santa, handmade crafts from local artists and free hot chocolate. It is all included with your ticket.
Why families pick Merry Lights:
A 1.5-mile drive-through at the Portage County Randolph Fairgrounds, 4215 Fairground Rd, with more than 50 holiday scenes and animatronics. For 2026 it runs Nov 19 to Dec 27, open Thursdays and Sundays 6 to 9 PM and Fridays and Saturdays 6 to 10 PM, plus every night of Christmas week.
Know before you go: it is closed Monday through Wednesday outside Christmas week. If your free night is a Tuesday, Merry Lights is open.
A volunteer-run tradition in Harvey S. Firestone Park, put on by the Columbiana Area Tourism Bureau. Expect around a million lights, handmade gingerbread houses and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus on select nights. It opens Nov 20 in 2026 and runs select nights from 6 to 9 PM. A 2026 season pass is $30.
Know before you go: it is open select nights only and closes at 9 PM, so check the calendar before you head out.
A long-running drive-through at the Medina County Fairgrounds, run by fair board volunteers, with more than 85 lighted displays. It runs select nights from late November through December. It is a better fit if you live on the Medina or west Akron side. Coming from the Cleveland area? See our guide to drive-through Christmas lights near Cleveland.
Know before you go: in past years it has been cash or check at the gate, so bring both.
The City of Canton’s free drive-through at Stadium Park has 50 or more light displays and is open daily starting Nov 18, 2026. It is a quick loop and a nice warm-up if you are already in Canton.
Make it a full night: do the Stadium Park loop, then drive about 30 minutes to Merry Lights. We are open until 11 PM. More on Christmas lights near Canton.
Built by the Factory of Terror team inside their building on Mahoning Road, with more than 50,000 square feet of heated, indoor holiday attractions. In 2026 it opens Nov 27 for 15 select dates through Dec 23.
Know before you go: tickets are per person, so a big family adds up fast. A good pick for a bitter cold night.
An outdoor walk-through light display at the Hartville MarketPlace, set up under and around the pavilions, with Santa strolling the grounds and Hartville Kitchen’s bakery next door. Check their site for 2026 nights and admission.
Make it a full night: Hartville is 8 minutes from Merry Lights. Walk Wonderfest, grab a pie, then finish with our drive-through.
A walk-through light display in the gardens at Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, with cozy bonfires and Santa visits. It runs select December nights from 5 to 9 PM and takes anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours to walk. Tickets are per person. Check their site for 2026 nights.
Make it a full night: Alliance is about 15 minutes from Merry Lights. Walk the gardens early, then drive our show, which runs until 11 PM.
We are biased, but families pick Merry Lights in Louisville for its handmade, one-of-a-kind displays, light tunnels synced to 96.9 FM and Santa Land with free hot chocolate. It is open every night from Nov 27 to Dec 31, 6 to 11 PM, for $20 to $24 per vehicle online.
Yes. The City of Canton runs a free drive-through at Stadium Park with 50 or more light displays, open daily starting Nov 18, 2026.
Drive-through shows usually charge per vehicle, while walk-through and indoor shows usually charge per person. Merry Lights is $20 per vehicle Monday to Thursday and $24 Friday to Sunday when you buy online, and one price covers up to 8 people.
Merry Lights is open every night from Nov 27 to Dec 31. Many other shows in the area run select nights only, such as Thursday to Sunday or specific dates, so check before you go.
The drive takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Plan extra time for Santa Land at the end for photos with Santa, local crafts and free hot chocolate.
Yes. Pets are welcome as long as they stay inside your vehicle.
Opening night Nov 27
Pick your night, buy online and save $5 per vehicle. One price covers everyone in the vehicle, up to 8 people.
