Best Christmas lights displays in Stuart, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie

Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·4 min read

Nothing beats driving around looking at Christmas lights during the holidays.

The longest-running public holiday light displays across the Treasure Coast include Christmas at Tara in Vero Beach, McKee's Festival of Lights in Vero Beach, the Holiday Lights Spectacular in Fort Pierce, Heathcote's Garden of Lights in Fort Pierce, the Winter Wonderland Light Show in Port St. Lucie and the Jensen Beach mansion.

Here's where to see the best Christmas lights in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

Christmas 2023: Land parades, boat parades in Stuart, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Christmas at Tara

  • Where: Grall Law Group, 7555 20th St., west of Vero Beach

  • When: Sunset to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, sunset to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, starting Nov. 27 through New Year’s Eve

  • Details: The drive-thru experience features about 500,000 miniature lights and 90 figures across the lawn. The drive is about a quarter-mile around the lake in front of the building. The time it takes depends on the number of vehicles in line. Stay in your vehicles.

  • Cost: Free

  • Website: gralllawgroup.com

McKee's Festival of Lights

  • Where: McKee Botanical Garden, 350 U.S. 1, Vero Beach

  • When: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 15-17, 19-22, 28-30 (last admission at 7:30 p.m.)

  • Details: The garden is illuminated with thousands of LED lights, lighted holiday displays and festive decorations. The event includes Santa visits, outdoor holiday movies, intermittent snow flurries, performances by local entertainers, treats for sale, a 1924 Wurlitzer Band Organ display Dec. 19-22, and a large-scale model train display Dec. 19-22 and Dec. 28-30.

  • Cost: $15 for adults, $13 for ages 13-17 and 65 and older, $10 for ages 2-12, free for McKee members and kids younger than 2

  • Website: mckeegarden.org

Seaglass Shimmers

  • Where: GHO’s Seaglass community, just west of S.R. A1A and Wabasso Boulevard, north of Vero Beach

  • When: 6-9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, Sunday from Dec. 8-24

  • Details: Drive-thru Christmas wonderland with over 150,000 lights and synchronized music.

  • Cost: Free

  • Website: facebook.com/ghohomes

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Holiday Lights Spectacular

  • Where: Marina Square on Melody Lane near the City Marina at 1 Avenue A, Fort Pierce

  • When: 6-9 p.m. nightly after Sights & Sounds on Second Christmas Parade Dec. 3 until first week of January

  • Details: Over 100,000 lights are synchronized to holiday music. Lights are wrapped around palm trees throughout Marina Square.

  • Cost: Free

  • Website: facebook.com/main.pierce

Heathcote's Garden of Lights

  • Where: Heathcote Botanical Gardens, 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce

  • When: 5:30-9 p.m. Nov. 24-25; Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 (last admission at 8:30 p.m.)

  • Details: Colorful light displays are featured throughout 5-acre gardens. Take a photo with Santa or Heathcote the Bear. Enjoy food trucks, live music and Santa's Workshop by the Treasure Coast Woodturners.

  • Cost: 10 for non-members, $5 for members, $3 for ages 6-12, free for kids younger ages 5 and younger

  • Website: heathcotebotanicalgardens.org

Golden Ponds Christmas Drive-Thru

  • Where: Golden Ponds Community, 1800 Golden Ponds Drive, Fort Pierce

  • When: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16

  • Details: Residents decorate their homes each year for this public drive-thru. Arrive early to get in line.

The longest-running public holiday light displays across the Treasure Coast include Heathcote's Garden of Lights in Fort Pierce.
The longest-running public holiday light displays across the Treasure Coast include Heathcote's Garden of Lights in Fort Pierce.

Winter Wonderland Light Show

  • Where: Port St. Lucie Community Center, 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd.

  • When: 6-9 p.m. nightly Dec. 1-31

  • Details: Ten oak trees and 10 palm trees are decorated with lights and set in harmony with holiday music.

  • Cost: Free

  • Website: cityofpsl.com/pslinlights

Holiday Lights at The Gardens

  • Where: Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, 2410 S.E. Westmoreland Blvd.

  • When: 5-9 p.m. Nov. 24-26, 29-30; Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-18, 22-23, 29-30

  • Details: Nearly 100,000 lights illuminate the gardens with giant nature scenes. Parking is limited.

  • Cost: Free

  • Website: cityofpsl.com/pslinlights

Jensen Beach mansion

  • Where: 4545 N.E. Ocean Blvd., about a half-mile north of Jensen Beach Causeway, on South Hutchinson Island

  • When: Sunset until about 11 p.m. nightly through first week of January

  • Cost: Free

  • Details: Drive by or walk around outside of 50,000-square-foot home; cars park on grass along both sides of State Road A1A

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Best Christmas lights displays in Stuart, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, PSL