Put a smile on a child’s face by driving to a local neighborhood to view the best places to see Christmas light displays in Reno, Nevada.
Update: How’s the year 2020 treating you? COVID-19 got you down this year? Yeah, me too. But don’t fret. Viewing lights is one of those events where you can keep the windows up, social distance and enjoy an annual festive time of the year in the safety and comfort of your vehicle.
This article was updated on December 5, 2020 to add new places we’ve found since we originally posted this some years ago and to remove some that are no longer with us. Take a look below and you might find something new for your viewing of Christmas light displays in Reno, Nevada. – Enjoy.
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Holiday magic brings with it the opportunity to view neighborhood Christmas light displays with your children. Reno, Nevada is no different in offering many places where you can take your children to view Christmas lights. The twinkling of the reds and the blues, the yellows and the greens, the pinks and the purples, the snowmen, the stars, the snowflakes, and nativity scenes, all bring excitement and wonder to children peering through frosty and often fogged-up car windows.
Two locations in the Reno/ Sparks, Nevada area come to mind when thinking about taking our kids out to look at Christmas lights. Hidden Valley and the Lights of Tanea.
When I was a kid and through high school, I would make the annual trip out to Hidden Valley off of East McCarran Boulevard, past Rosewood Lakes Golf Course, to view the Hidden Valley Parade of Lights throughout the entire Hidden Valley neighborhood. In fact, when moving back to Reno, this memory came to mind as something that I could share with my kids and it put a smile on my face just knowing I could share a piece of my childhood with them. When we came home for Christmas last year, we took a trip out to Hidden Valley and shared with our kids many of the houses that put up Christmas light displays. However, during that visit last year, it seems as though many of the lights had disappeared from the front lawns and yards in that neighborhood. Even though there were many houses with lights, there were not as many as there once were when I was younger. In fact, the local fire department would park their truck at the entrance and hand out candy canes. No such luck last year. I can only hope that it once again becomes as big and beautiful as it once was for the sake of people like me who want to share this memory with their children. It’s a Reno tradition; at least by my standards.
Hidden Valley, Pembroke Drive, Reno, Nevada
Cyan Neighborhood, South Reno, Nevada
Cyan neighborhood in South Reno, Nevada
Nestled behind Depaoli Middle School to the east off of Echo Valley Parkway is the Cyan neighborhood, where we, at Windy Pinwheel are located. This neighborhood for the past several years has held a holiday lights contest and it sure doesn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a new spot in Reno, come check out the Cyan neighborhood off of South Meadows Parkway and Echo Valley for some more delighful Christmas light displays in Reno, Nevada.
Lights of Cyan, Reno, Nevada
Damonte Ranch Circle of Lights Celebration
Located at Damonte Ranch Park, you can walk the walkway around the park and view lights in the backyards of those who live around the park. Enjoy decorated fences, backyards and houses during this annual event.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has had its impact on this event and it was cancelled in the year 2020. We’ll see you again next year, Damonte Ranch Circle of Lights.
Circle of Lights Celebration at Damonte Ranch Park
Two Nightmare Before Christmas Displays in Double Diamond
In the Double Diamond neighborhood there was a Nightmare Before Christmas display that really knocked our socks off. There is a projector displaying Christmas movies on the garage and a very detailed and intricate display of all of your favorite scenes and characters from the Tim Burton classic, A Nightmare Before Christmas that you just can’t miss located at 10440 Canyon Country Court in Reno, Nevada.
Nightmare Before Christmas display in Double Diamond
Another Nightmare Before Christmas display in Double Diamond
Just when you thought one display was enough, another Nightmare Before Christmas light display can also be found at 10585 Hampton Creek Dr, Reno, NV 89521 complete with the trick-or-treat kids, Boogie and all of the great characters for this fantastic Tim Burton film.
A Bright Light in the Damonte Ranch Neighborhood
In the Damonte Ranch neighborhood there is a great house that spared no expense and quite honestly reminds me of the way Lights of Tanea lit up the street. This is one house that you just can’t miss located at 10878 Pebble Hill in Reno, Nevada.
Flying Reindeer in the Damonte Ranch Neighborhood
Pebble Hill Drive in Reno, Nevada
Vidette Lights
Located at 5146 Vidette Meadows Drive in Sparks Nevada Vidette Lights is a Christmas light display that is a 4 minute show that runs every 30 minutes beginning at 5:00 pm and ending at 9:30 pm. This first year features an introduction by the Griswold Family followed by Carol of the Bells (Dubstep) by Capital Kings which are played on 100.5 FM. This year the show will run from December 13th to December 31.
Vidette Lights, Sparks, Nevada
Annual Carson Valley Parade of Lights
Location: On Highway 395 from Eddy Street to Minden Park
Unfortunately, this event was cancelled for the year 2020 as well. Maybe we’ll get to see it once again next year in 2021.
Annual Carson Valley Parade of Lights
Lights of Omni
Lights of Omni boasts 8 Christmas song synchronized to the illumination of 60,000 LED lights. Listen while in your car via the radio at FM 89.9. Located at 290 Omni Drive in Sparks, Nevada.
Lights of Omni, Sparks, Nevada
Lights of Tanea on YouTube
In the spirit of giving, The Lights of Tanea helps spread awareness about Multiple Sclerosis and helps the community by accepting donations from the public on their website and in person in addition to providing a unique entertainment experience.
http://on.fb.me/SOIJG1
The following charities benefit from public donations through the Lights of Tanea:
- Multiple Sclerosis Great Basin Sierra Chapter – via monetary donations
- Friends of M.S. – via clothing Items
- Evelyn Mount – via non-perishable food items
The Lights of Tanea, located in south Reno at 16180 Tanea Drive, Reno, Nevada 89511, is a light show that is synchronized to music, if you tune in on your radio to 97.7 FM. This Christmas light show boasts that it is “[t]he Biggest Little Light Show in Reno started in 2006” and “[t]he show has always added to its size… and brings new technology” to the show year after year.
Lights of Tanea, Reno, Nevada
Update for 2020
As we reported in 2017, it is with sadness that we report that we have found that the Lights of Tanea are no longer appearing in Reno and not anytime in the foreseeable future. As of December 5, 2020, it looks like they are not coming back again this year. Although, in the past it was a great show, the owner of that property is focusing on his business and cannot devote the time it takes to maintain that show any longer.
Thanks for the great memories!
Reno Dads Blog
If you’re looking for more Christmas light displays in Reno, NV, Reno Dads Blog has a good map showcasing where you might find some good ones. They also are inviting site visitors who might know where some good light displays are located to share and they will update the map.
Special thanks to my personal friend, Mike McDowell for putting that map together. We all win when we know where the best lights can be found.
Here is more coverage about where to best view Christmas lights in Reno, Nevada:
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- ActiveRain.com: Lights are Shining in Reno
- Reno Gazette-Journal (RGJ.com): Interactive map of Reno/Sparks, Nevada homes
- About.com: Christmas Lights Displays in Reno
- New To Reno coverage of the best Christmas light displays in Reno, Nevada
- Nevada Moms:The Ultimate List of Christmas Light Hotspots in Reno, Sparks, & Carson City (UPDATED 2020)
- This is Reno: Let Virginia City’s Christmas on the Comstock brighten your 2020 (sponsored)
These are only a few of the locations we want to share with our children this year. What are some other locations that are great for viewing Christmas lights in the Reno/Sparks, Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Fernley, Fallon, Nevada area? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Maybe, by this time next year we can be a resource for all things Northern Nevada when it comes to finding out about where to see the best Christmas light shows in the area. We need your help to cover this vast area. Where are the best Christmas light displays near you?
Finally, do you have lights up at your house? Please stop by our Facebook Fan Page and share a picture of with us. Nothing gets us in the mood more than seeing Christmas light displays and the spirit of us joining in a community of togetherness. Isn’t that what the season is all about?
Happy Holidays
Christmas Light Displays in Reno, Nevada
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