Best winter illumination destinations in North America

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One iconic city centre display remains one of the most recognisable winter illuminations anywhere, drawing crowds from across the country each December. A major waterfall further north adds an entirely different version, with coloured lights projected after dark.

The destinations on this list range from iconic city centre displays with decades of tradition behind them to natural landmarks transformed by seasonal lighting installations. Both draw considerably larger crowds on weekends than weekday evenings.

Visiting on weekday evenings tends to mean a noticeably better view at the continent's most famous displays. Local visitor bureaus typically publish detailed viewing guides each year, covering the best vantage points. Dressing warmly also matters considerably given how cold these evenings typically get. Most displays stay lit until late evening.