We track 1 display in Wilmington. Every one of them is free to visit.
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Wilmington that means about 5:02 PM in early December and 5:03 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:31 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Wilmington typically drop to around 38°F.
| Date | Sunset | Fully dark |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | 5:02 PM | 5:29 PM |
| Dec 15 | 5:03 PM | 5:31 PM |
| Dec 25 | 5:08 PM | 5:36 PM |
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Wilmington cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 1 public car park and 2 public toilets. Only 20 cafés or takeaways nearby, so bring a flask if you want one.
Freeattractiongarden stroll with lightsholiday flowerslive musicworking model train
Airlie Gardens' Enchanted Airlie is a strolling light experience through the historic Wilmington gardens, mixing holiday blooms and festive lights with live music and a working model train.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Know a display we're missing in Wilmington?Add it to the guide.