Best of Holiday Lights in Queens
Athens Square Park 30th St & 30th Ave
Athens Square Park is an idyllic and enlightening paradise in the midst of the animation of Astoria. Complete with Greek statues, benches, and stone chess boards, it now also brightens up the neighborhood with a Christmas tree to inspire locals. Courtesy of Greek-American and Italian-business owners, with the support of Athens Square Inc., the cohort is made up of Sacco & Fillas, The Rock Health and Fitness, NY Spacefinders, Alma Bank and Farenga Funeral Homes.
The tree stands 27-feet tall in the center stage with multi-colored lights and a star that will shine bright in the midst of our latest snowfall.
Athens Square Park Christmas Tree Lighting
Photo via Redken Saloon on Instagram
Magic of Lights at Jones Beach Bay Pkwy, Point Lookout, NY 11569
The Magic of Lights, presented by NY Community Bank, is a 2.5 mile drive-through holiday light experience. It features LED technology and digital animations, including the drive-through Blizzard Tunnel as well as other returning favorites including 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland and The Night Before Christmas. The Toyota Mega Tree Spectacular, spanning 240 feet of LED Christmas trees, also returns.
Set in the remote and natural splendor of Jones Beach, these lights bring a pleasant chill and thrill to the scenery.
Magic of Lights runs from 5PM to 10pm, Sunday through Thursday, and until 11pm on Friday and Saturday.
Magic of Lights at Jones Beach State Park
Photo via NY Bucket List on Instagram
The Modaferri House in Howard Beach, Queens 97-03 165th Ave
After losing a brother on 9/11 and several other family members that same year, Tony Modaferri took his holiday decorations to the next level to bring cheer into his home — and ended up becoming a local destination. This year, Tony will be competing to keep his place as the best decorated house in Howard Beach because of an ongoing “light fight.”
The light fight was the idea of PJ Marcel and his Howard Beach Dads Facebook group because they wanted to bring some cheer into the whole neighborhood. With some competitors set on winning the Christmas crown with 90,000 lights, Modaferri may have experience up his sleeve but it’s worth checking out the whole neighborhood.
Lights are on at the Modaferri house between 5PM and 10PM.
Modaferri House in Howard Beach
Photo via Jeff Bachner for New York Daily News
Mure House in Far Rockaway, Queens 144-03 Neponsit Ave
Joe Mure’s home, nicknamed “The Little North Pole,” not only offers holiday lighting but raises awareness and money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It is crowded with figurines ranging from 20-feet tall toy soldiers guarding the front door to a life-sized carousel to a menorah and dreidel for those who don’t celebrate Christmas. They don’t want anyone to feel excluded.
“I just felt like this year was so important to light up the house for the children. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, but I wanted to put a smile on children’s faces and bring them back to some sort of normalcy for the Christmas season,” Mure says in an interview with New York Daily News.
There is a light show timed to music on the radio channel 87.9 FM every 30 minutes after 5 p.m.
Mure House in Far Rockaway
Photo via Jeffrey Bachner for New York Daily News