Once upon a time, it was a favorite holiday activity to load the family into the car and scour the local neighborhoods in search of the biggest and brightest light displays. Today – the search is a lot easier, because Missouri tourism attractions have done all the prep work for you. Best of all – Christmas lights displays are family-friendly and a safe holiday experience that gets you out of the house for a much needed dose of seasonal cheer.

For example, Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville hosts an annual Holiday Lights event Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 27-Dec. 30, at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tune in your radio to the festive music and view the show from the comfort of your own vehicle. Drive alongside rolling pastures, illuminated like never before. Witness groups of geldings as you drive past the Clydesdale travel trucks, dazzling with lights. Then, continue on to the Clydesdale pens to view mares and foals, as well as the brightly-lit barn and wagon displays. It's the holiday event you won't want to miss! Reservations are required.

New this year, enjoy holiday fun at Grant's Farm's Drive-Thru Experience Nov. 27-Dec. 31. Tune in your radio and enjoy the show with loved ones from the comfort of your own vehicle. You'll kick off your scenic drive with a view of Inspiration Hill: complete with the World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Next, you'll enter the Tiergarten dressed up as Gingerbread Village to view a wide range of animals from Cheviot sheep to yak, camels and llamas. Guests may purchase a Family "Fa-La-La" Bundle, which includes a photo, beverages, snacks and merchandise for the kids. The experience will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

The Family Center in St. Charles is offering an immersive, drive-thru holiday experience: Lot of Lights. This amazing display of more than 1.5 million lights features holograms, lasers and projection mapping. It is a wonderful way for families to come together and share a magical experience safely and participate in the joy of the holiday season. The spectacle opens at 5:30 p.m. daily, Nov. 27-Jan. 2.

You may think this is really not the season for gardens – but that couldn't be further from the truth. Experience Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis and the Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens near Kansas City.

Celebrate the season with more than a million dazzling lights, s'mores, festive drinks and great photo opportunities at the Missouri Botanical Garden, daily Nov. 11-Jan. 2.

Powell Gardens' Festival of Lights: Enchantment event offers a dazzling wonderland of color installed in special moments along a mile-long accessible walk. There are plenty of Instagram and holiday card-worthy photo stops. Don't miss the brand new Enchanted Tiki Bar and Santa's Workshop. The event is open 4 p.m.-10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 13-Jan. 3.

Make your holiday celebration a little bit wilder this year, with a visit to Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo. Whimsical animal-themed displays grace the zoo grounds, along with fire pits where you can warm your paws and toast a s'more. There are no ticket purchases at the door – advance reservations are required Admission includes a ride on the Conservation Carousel. The festival runs Nov. 27-Jan. 2.

Two of the big theme parks are getting into the holiday spirit, too.

• Holiday in the Park at Six Flags in Eureka offers Kitty's Christmas show, a Gingerbread Village filled with lights, candy elements and fun photo opportunities, and "A Christmas Scarol" one-man puppet show. Plus, you'll find your old favorites from seasonal treats to holiday lights, select dates Nov. 27-Jan. 3.
• An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson started early, with the event running Nov. 7-Dec. 30, Wednesday-Sunday One of the nation's top five Christmas festivals, An Old Time Christmas features more than 6.5 million lights! If that's not dazzling enough, try 30+ live shows daily on outdoor stages, and family-style holiday feast and treats.

And finally, there's the granddaddy of them all: the Kansas City Plaza Lights at Country Club Plaza ... a local tradition for 90 years. The 15-block holiday spectacle is lit up every day, 5 p.m.-3 a.m., Nov. 26-Jan. 10.

Just remember, many events are limiting attendance due to Covid-19 restrictions – so make your reservations early and check ahead for changing conditions… so your holidays can be merry and light!

Here's a list of Missouri light displays to help make your holidays bright: