Clifton Mill Christmas Lights

Clifton Mill Christmas Lights are a sight like nothing you have seen before. Millions of lights illuminate historic Clifton Mill to create the most perfect Ohio Christmas lights display. 

About Clifton Mill Christmas Lights

Clifton Mill Christmas Lights is definitely one of the best light displays in the state and Midwest region! Clifton Mill and the surrounding gorge, bank, trees, and bridges are illuminated with millions of lights. 

The lights tradition at Clifton Mill has been going strong for over 35 years! Traditionally, Clifton Mill Christmas lights start from after Thanksgiving to the end of December.

You will be mesmerized by the 4 million lights on display. There is even a 10-foot waterfall of twinkling lights. While there you can visit the miniature village they have set up where you can peek into Santa’s workshop where you can see him hard at work!

Hungry? Grab a snack while viewing all the Ohio Christmas lights! You can generally find things like hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, soup, hot chocolate and some sweets!

Clifton Mill Christmas Lights Fun Facts

• Clifton Mill won the $50,000 grand prize on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2018!
• Clifton Mill was once again nominated for USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards for 2022, and also a contender for Best Public Holiday Lights Display! Very impressive!
• It takes six men most of three months to put up the Christmas lights at Clifton Mill!

Food at Clifton Mill

You can find a delicious selection of snack foods. Things like popcorn, giant pretzels, nachos, hotdogs, as well as more choices! Inside they accept cash and credit.

Outside there is a Hot Chocolate Shack, this is a cash-only purchase.

The Mill and Covered Bridge Lights Show

The bridge is covered in lights of various colors and there are also pseudo trees flanking the bridge. Every hour, all the lights at Clifton Mill go out, leaving visitors in complete darkness.

A medley of orchestral Christmas songs begins and some lights on the bridge come on, then off again. As the music builds, more lights on the bridge go on and off in synchronization with the music. The lights on the pseudo trees change color and create a swirling effect.

When the music ends, the lights all go off again, and very quickly all four million lights come back on simultaneously. A spectacle you will never forget!

Photo credits: Cindy Gordon of VisitOhioToday.com

More Attractions

You can see the life-sized manger scene as well as a huge miniature animated town display. Oh, yes, Santa is there too! He is busy working in his workshop but it takes time to wave at everyone through the window. If you are lucky, he’ll pop out of the chimney and talk with you! He did that twice when we were there in 2022!

Personal Review of Clifton Mill Christmas Lights

Clifton Mill Christmas Lights was spectacular! I (Cindy) went with one of my kiddos in December 2022! This was our first time visiting during the holiday season. We have previously seen the mill in all its beauty during the summer months! We arrived around 5:30, the gates open at 5. I would suggest you get there between 5 and 5:30 as it fills up quickly with other onlookers.  There are no lights on until 6 pm. It is beautiful to see the dark night transform into a bright Christmas scene! Totally spectacular! Plan to be there 1-2 hours to view everything. 

There are port-a-potties onsite, the inside bathrooms are closed. Inside you can still shop and purchase food!  It seems that pretzels and popcorn were the popular items I can attest that the popcorn was delicious!  Outside you can find a hot chocolate shack! 

There is a covered bridge light show that happens every ½ hour, so be sure to watch for that. If you don’t have a good view the first time around, just wait a half hour!

They had a life-sized manger scene and a beautiful miniature lighted town on display.  Santa (the real live one) was in his workshop waving to children and adults through the window, then he’d go up through the chimney and talk to children from the top of the chimney!

The Christmas spirit was in full effect, you could feel it!

Parking: the road is closed in front of the mill. Just follow the signs that say free parking, It will lead you to a parking lot across the water from the mill. From there you’ll access the site via the beautiful covered bridge!

Where is Clifton Mill Located?

• Address: 75 Water Street, Clifton, Ohio 45316
• Phone: 937-767-5501 | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Location Map for Clifton Mill

Let’s Go to Clifton Mill Christmas Lights

Have you visited the Clifton Mill Christmas Lights in previous years or even this year? We would love to know! Leave a comment below to share your thoughts and tips from your visit!

If you want to visit at any other time of the year, see our Clifton Mill article.

For more festive season fun, check out Polar Express and Christmas Train Rides, Drive Through Christmas Lights in Ohio, Xmas Tree Farms, and Ohio Sledding Hills.

A HUGE thanks to reader KB for sharing her pictures from a visit to see the Clifton Mill Christmas Lights! We love the kids peeking in to see Santa!