Christmas lights in Carmel, Indiana

We track 11 displays in Carmel — the 3rd-densest city for lights in Indiana. Every one of them is free to visit.

When to go

Displays here switch on around sunset. In Carmel that means about 5:20 PM in early December and 5:20 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:51 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Carmel typically drop to around 24°F.

DateSunsetFully dark
Dec 15:20 PM5:50 PM
Dec 155:20 PM5:51 PM
Dec 255:25 PM5:55 PM

The Carmel lights loop — 11 stops

We ordered every display in Carmel into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 21.4 miles and 95 minutes of driving, before you count time spent parked and looking. Start wherever is closest to you and follow it round.

  1. Charing Cross Road Lights — 12435 Charing Cross Road
  2. Christmas Projection Show on Lake Point Drive — 5238 Lake Point Drive
  3. Oldfield Drive Light Show — 11347 Oldfield Drive
  4. Lights On Greenspire — 4824 Greenspire Drive
  5. 116th Street Lights — 3803 E 116th Street
  6. Paradise Light Show — 10431 White Oak Dr
  7. Beacon Blvd Lights — 14615 Beacon Blvd
  8. Magnificent Monon — Monon Greenway, Carter Green to Main St.
  9. Cottonwood Light Displays — 1169 Cottonwood Court
  10. Lights on Puffin — 5163 Puffin Place
  11. Branford Street Lights — 12533 Branford Street

Driving estimate assumes a 25 mph average on residential streets plus four minutes stopped per display. Straight-line distances with a road-network allowance — treat it as a planning figure, not a satnav route.

All 11 displays in Carmel

Magnificent Monon

Monon Greenway, Carter Green to Main St. · Carmel, Indiana

Nightly from November 22, 2025 through the holiday season · Nightly

Freeattractionlighted arches along the Monon Greenwaywalkable route near City Center and the Arts & Design District

Carmel lights the Monon Greenway from Carter Green to Main Street with holiday displays and arches, free to stroll nightly. The route threads past City Center, Midtown and the Arts & Design District, putting cocoa and dinner stops steps away.

17 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Oldfield Drive Light Show

11347 Oldfield Drive · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · Mon-Thu 6-9 PM

Freeresidentialfirst-year synchronized showtune to 103.9 FM

A first-year synchronized show in Carmel broadcasting its soundtrack on 103.9 FM, with posted weeknight hours.

24 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

116th Street Lights

3803 E 116th Street · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentiallightsinflatables

A Carmel home on 116th Street decorated with lights and holiday inflatables.

24 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Branford Street Lights

12533 Branford Street · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentialthousands of lightsanimatronicslife-size figurines

A Carmel display combining thousands of lights with animatronics and life-size holiday figurines.

8 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Christmas Projection Show on Lake Point Drive

5238 Lake Point Drive · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentialsynchronized projection showabout a 5-minute program

A Carmel home running a synchronized projection-and-light show lasting a little over five minutes per loop.

24 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Cottonwood Light Displays

1169 Cottonwood Court · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentialstatic displayslots of lights

A Carmel court home with static displays and a heavy count of lights.

21 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Lights On Greenspire

4824 Greenspire Drive · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · 5-9 PM nightly

Freeresidentialsynchronized light show

A synchronized Carmel light show running nightly from 5 to 9 PM.

24 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Lights on Puffin

5163 Puffin Place · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · 6-10 PM nightly

Freeresidentialsynchronized light show

A synchronized light show in Carmel that runs nightly from 6 to 10 PM.

27 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Paradise Light Show

10431 White Oak Dr · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentiallights programmed to musicnew props each year

A Carmel show with lights programmed to music, refreshed with new props for the season.

17 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Beacon Blvd Lights

14615 Beacon Blvd · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentialextensive light display

An extensive residential light display on Beacon Boulevard in Carmel.

17 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Charing Cross Road Lights

12435 Charing Cross Road · Carmel, Indiana

typically late Nov – early Jan (check before visiting) · typically dusk – 10 PM

Freeresidentialcolorful merry-and-bright theme

A Carmel home whose display leans into a colorful merry-and-bright theme.

24 other displays within 5 miles

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

Nearby towns

Westfield5 displays · 5 miNoblesville7 displays · 7 miFishers39 displays · 7 miZionsville1 display · 8 miMcCordsville4 displays · 11 miSheridan1 display · 13 mi

Know a display we're missing in Carmel?Add it to the guide.