December is packed full of events, parties, and shopping...why not enjoy a drive through the country-side for a Christmas Lights show! Johnston County is lucky to have two locations where you can visit to see a wide variety of outdoor light shows and displays this holiday season. Meadow Lights in Meadow, NC is a gorgeous display of thousands of lights that continues to amaze audiences with familiar scenes; while every year they seem to add new displays. Lights on the Neuse, in Clayton, NC, allows you to experience holiday scenes on a hayride around the farm and end the evening around the campfire with s'mores! Kids and adults will have a wonderful time...remember to bundle up!
MEADOW LIGHTS
4546 Godwin Lake Rd.
Benson, NC 27504
919-669-5969
Meadow Lights is the perfect holiday attraction for the family.
The Meadow Lights is one of the largest and oldest Christmas Lights Shows in Eastern NC, starting when the owner wanted to decorate his home and yard for his children to enjoy. These decorations grew and grew over the years, and soon others in the community started to enjoy the lights also. As the community got involved, so did the number of people wanting to see them. Today, there is over 30 acres of lights and people from all over the state come to experience them. To get the full experience families of all ages can take a train ride through the lights and see all the animations up close. Before you leave you have to stop at The Old Country Store where Santa and every type of candy, preserves, drinks, and much more are waiting for you. This year don't miss out on the carousel rides. If you haven't been to the Meadow Lights, head out there this year and you won't be disappointed. Who knows - it might even become a family tradition for years to come!
LIGHTS ON THE NEUSE
1620 Loop Rd.
Clayton, NC 27527
919-553-0016
Take a stroll through the enchanting 3D Christmas house at Lights on the Neuse
Located in Clayton, NC, Lights on the Neuse allows families and friends to get together to celebrate the magic of Christmas. The main attraction is the Christmas Hayride, a one-mile long, 30-minute old-time tractor-pulled hayride through a beautiful Lights Extravaganza, filled with Christmas music and holiday magic. While you're there take a tour of The Christmas Barn to see an enchanting 3D Christmas house and buy some old-fashioned Christmas candy, hot chocolate, or a wonderful s'mores kit that you purchase and cook at the picnic area. Don't forget to bring your camera to get a picture with Santa! Call or visit their website for ticket information and details.
Tis the season all around the county for Christmas Parades and Christmas Tree Lighting Events in every town. For a full list and schedule of holiday events visit our website at www.johnstoncountync.org/events/ and enjoy the magic of Christmas with friends and family.
Read All About Us!
For more than ten years, the staff of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau has been curating unique content about the people, places, food, attractions, and shopping throughout Johnston County to share with you, our visitors! Keep in touch and read our weekly blog posts -- and we hope you visit us soon! #visitjoco
Donna Bailey-Taylor
Donna Bailey-Taylor started as the Director of the Visitors Bureau in August 1996, and continues to love her job and promoting the county. Donna has deep roots in the county as her father's family is from Benson and her mother was born in Clayton. Donna has big dreams for the county in the area of tourism development, hoping the Mountains to the Sea Trail will be completed between Clayton and Smithfield and the new Visitor Center/Museum at Bentonville Battlefield will happen. There are many tourism development projects in the works and it's an exciting time for tourism growth in the county. Keep in touch via Donna's blog!