Reno’s most mesmerizing holiday light displays
From elaborate homes to entire neighborhoods and more, these holiday light displays bring Reno to life each winter (and will fill you with holly-jolly cheer).
Reno’s not known for getting feet upon feet of snow in the winter, though it does see some flurries here and there, but you don’t need snowfall to experience winter-wonderland magic. After all, downtown Reno’s home to a large Christmas tree that’s ceremoniously lit each winter, and it’s already glowing for the 2024 holiday season, so if you haven’t spent an evening admiring the lights and sipping on a steaming cup of hot chocolate, this is your sign.
If seeing the tree in Believe Plaza isn’t enough, don’t fret—Reno is full of holiday light displays that will keep you dazzled all season long. From houses you can drive by to fully immersive experiences, here are the city’s best holiday light displays.
1. Southwest Reno’s premier cul-de-sac
Each year, the 1100 block of Alpine Circle. blazes with a combination of iridescent white and multi-color lights, with the full cul-de-sac becoming the area’s very own North Pole, thanks to the homeowners’ stunning decorations and attention to detail. Of course, no North Pole would be complete without the man with the bag himself, Santa Claus, which is why the beloved bearded man visits the cul-de-sac sometimes, giving anyone with the courage to approach him a delicious candy cane. Oh, and as if this weren’t great enough, the cul-de-sac accepts food donations for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. ‘Tis the giving season!
2. Somersett Neighborhood of Lights
If seeing just one house doesn’t sound magical enough, that’s okay. We get it. In that case, you need to witness the Somersett Neighborhood of Lights, which is exactly as it sounds. Houses in this neighborhood sign up to go all out with their light displays, creating a drive-through experience that’s truly one of a kind.
Note: Because this is a sign-up event, some houses in the neighborhood may choose not to decorate, whether generally or taking a year off, but the majority of the houses do because this is a known and beloved tradition. The houses are even competing in a light, friendly contest, encouraging them to go all out even more.
3. Hidden Valley Parade of Lights
Each year, the Hidden Valley Community Alliance hosts the Parade of Lights, which brings the area together for a holiday season full of colorful glee. Like the Somersett Neighborhood of Lights, the Hidden Valley Parade of Lights is part fun and part cheeky contest, with the alliance releasing a top-10 list each holiday season.
Wondering which houses to look out for? The top three of last year’s parade were 113 Mia Vista Ct., 4930 West Hidden Valley Dr., and 5665 East Hidden Valley Dr., respectively. There’s even an online map that will guide you to last year’s top 10.
4. Hear Santa sing at this house
We sing about Santa (you’ll never guess who he was caught kissing underneath the mistletoe), but we rarely hear the jolly man sing back to us. Well, if you live near Reno, that can easily change. The house located at 4435 Dancing Moon Court sets up its lighted singing Santa each winter, and if you head here, you can hear it sing “A Soldier’s Silent Night” while viewing all of the lights bringing the property to life. There’s plenty to feast the eyes—and ears—on.
5. The house that brings Disney’s creepiest project to the holidays
The house at 10440 Canyon Country Ct. in Reno heavily decorates for Halloween each year, which is why its Facebook page goes by the name Britt’s Wicked Manor. However, the holiday fun doesn’t end there, as the property becomes the ultimate winter destination, too, becoming known in the area as the South Reno “Nightmare Before Christmas” House, according to News 4-Fox 11. Here, passersby are greeted by a ginormous Jack Skellington and an hour-and-a-half-long light show. Oh, and there’s no shortage of other illuminated decor, including lollipops, greenery, and so much more. You might want to bring your popcorn for this one!
6. 1675 Gulch Way
Yes, this is just a single house, but every year, this property is lassoed with enough lights to cover several traditional homes. More specifically, this house, situated in Reno’s Double Diamond neighborhood) is known to have upwards of 40,000 lights strewn across its ives and trees—and even lining parts of the sidewalk in front of the house. In addition to the plethora of lights, you’ll find inflatable decor and other decorations, including a standing Yoda holding a Christmas tree ornament.
Overall, this house is too cute to miss, and you’re bound to pass other lit-up houses on the way, making the trip there extra worth it.
7. 290 Omni Drive
If you thought 40,000 lights were a lot, then you need to witness the 60,000 lights that bring 290 Omni Drive to life each winter. That’s not all that makes this stop on your holiday light tour special, either. The house’s lights don’t just twinkle; they’re synchronized to a specific eight-track holiday playlist that you don’t even have to exit your car (brr!) to hear. Simply tune your car radio to FM 89.9, and some classic holiday music will fill your ears with sweet, sweet joy—and the light display’s movements will make a lot more sense.
Note: This entry is in the neighboring town of Sparks, but it’s so close to Reno that we’re counting it.
8. Lights of Tanea
Starting on Friday, December 6, the annual tradition known as Lights of Tanea will bring holiday cheer to everyone who chooses to come see it. Each year, Lights of Tanea is held at 16180 Tanea Dr., and it’s a breathtaking show like none other on this list.
You’ve seen synchronized light displays, but this one is an entire production, including video streaming on the house’s garage. Simply turn your car radio to 106.1 FM to sync up with the house, and you’ll be rockin’ around the tree-shaped air freshener in no time. As the home’s owner captioned a recent Facebook post, “THIS show needs headlights off.”
9. The house lit up like a million stars
Traditional holiday music is all well and good, but sometimes folks yearn for a perfect mashup of gleaming holiday lights and non-traditional music. This is where the house at 7540 Gold Dr. comes in handy.
Located in the neighborhood directly south of North Valleys High School, this house brings intergalactic magic to its light show every year by incorporating music from the “Star Wars” series into it. You’ll even see “Star Wars” decorations, such as a lit-up Millennium Falcon surrounded by more traditional reindeer and snowmen in the middle of the yard. To be transported to the cosmos, simply tune your car radio to 89.9 FM.
10. 2380 Solitude Dr. (and the house parallel to it)
When winter swirls in with its frosty windshields and chilly breezes, Solitude Dr. does anything but drive people apart—it brings them together. More specifically, the house at 2380 becomes an elaborate playpen of holiday lights and decor every winter, and if that weren’t enough, the house parallel to it on the opposite side of the street becomes ablaze in a holiday glow, too, making this the best kind of twofer.
This South Reno house is a favorite because of its brilliantly synced music, which you can hear at 94.9 FM. In fact, while there are many light shows synced to music on this list, this is one of the most intricate displays you’ll find. According to some viewers, the movements feel professionally engineered, making this one house that’s more of an immersive experience than simply a short drive-by ooh-and-ahh fest.
11. The Elf House
When talking about the best holiday light displays in Reno, we’d be remiss not to mention The Elf House. Now, due to personal circumstances and some stolen decor, The Elf House won’t be putting up its normal display for the 2024 season, but the family at 4018 White Rock Ct. promised in a recent Facebook post to swoop in à la Santa Claus with an abundance of holiday joy next year.
Still, we had to include them for future reference because their displays are so bright and bubbly that they’re truly infectious; you can’t help but smile when you see their technicolor lights and huge gingerbread-man decorations. When they’re back for the 2025 holiday season, consider this a must-stop house.
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