Decadence Colorado
Denver, CO
Dec 30 to 31, 2026
Confirmed$158 to $384 pp
Dubstep, House, Trance
Christmas markets and holiday lights in the US, 2026
31 Christmas markets and holiday light shows across the US, each with its 2026 dates and opening hours checked with the organizer or the city's official guide. 10 are free to walk into. Most open around November 20; the earliest opened on October 28.
31Markets and light shows
10Free to enter
11 of 16Light shows with timed tickets
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
New York, NY · Christmas market
Oct 28 to Jan 3
Holiday Shops open daily, Monday to Friday 11 AM to 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM; many shops stay open later at peak times.
The Rink is open daily 8 AM to 10 PM, extended to midnight from November 19 to January 3.
Rink admission is free. Skate rentals cost $18.72 to $64.48 including fees; Express Lane with rental skates is $87.52.
Skating sessions are booked by time slot; own-skate tickets are released daily one week ahead, one slot per skater per day.
Holiday Shops by Urbanspace fill custom-designed kiosks along the park's allees, plazas and terraces with artisans from New York City and around the world. The centerpiece is a 17,000 square foot rink with free-admission skating, plus a tree lighting on December 1.
Getting there and parking
Take the B, D, F or M train to 42nd Street/Bryant Park, or the 7 train to 5th Avenue; the park sits behind the New York Public Library between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Snowport Holiday Market
Boston, MA · Christmas market
Nov 6 to Dec 27
Open seven days a week: Monday to Thursday 3 PM to 8 PM (11 AM to 8 PM from December 7), Friday 11 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM.
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; closes at 6 PM on Christmas Eve.
General admission is free every day through the general admission line. Optional weekend Fast Pass timed entry costs $15 per adult ($20 on the day), $7 per veteran and $7 per child ages 6 to 17.
Fast Pass timed entry is sold on weekends only (Saturday and Sunday) through the Seaport Insider app; general admission needs no ticket.
An open-air market of 125+ makers with themed cocktail bars (The Jingle Bar, The Dizzy Dreidel, Betty's Bar, The Blizzard Bar), daily LEGO crafting, free curling lanes on Harbor Way and Monday live music with Berklee College of Music artists.
Getting there and parking
Parking is available at the One Seaport Garage, 111 Harbor Way Garage and Seaport South Garage.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Grand Central Holiday Fair
New York, NY · Christmas market
Nov 9 to Dec 24
November 9 to December 16, Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM; closed Thanksgiving Day.
December 17 to 23, 10 AM to 8 PM. Christmas Eve 10 AM to 6 PM.
Prices on the official site
An indoor artisan market of 6,000 square feet beneath the chandeliers of Vanderbilt Hall, with handcrafted jewelry, pottery, artwork and gifts. This year it is presented by Hennessy, with personalized keepsakes and rotating artisan demonstrations such as calligraphy and engraving.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem
Bethlehem, PA · Christmas market
Nov 13 to Dec 20
Weekends only: November 13 to 15, 20 to 22 and 27 to 29, and December 3 to 6, 10 to 13 and 17 to 20.
Thursday and Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM; Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM. Cashless.
Thursday and Friday $14 all-in; Saturday and Sunday $16.50 all-in; children 5 and under free. Entry is free on Fridays from 5 to 8 PM.
Billed by ArtsQuest as one of the largest and most-attended Christmas markets in the nation, a German-inspired market of dozens of artisan vendors on the SteelStacks campus, with rentable igloos and a combo ticket with the Illumination lights at Jefferson Park.
Getting there and parking
Free public parking is available next to the market on a first-come, first-served basis; the Polk Street Garage across from the SteelStacks lots offers a special all-day rate during the market.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
A Longwood Christmas
Kennett Square, PA · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 10
Daily 10 AM to 11 PM; outdoor lights begin to come on at 10 AM and are best viewed after dusk.
Prices on the official site
Timed admission tickets are required and often sell out; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 20 through January 3, and every day from December 18 through January 3, are peak days.
This year's theme is a cosmic Christmas: rotating trees swathed with stars, the Music Room recreated as an astronomer's observatory, the Exhibition Hall turned into a spherical galaxy, a tunnel lit by nearly 20,000 bulbs and fountains set to Christmas music in the Open Air Theatre.
Getting there and parking
Longwood Gardens is on US Route 1, about 3 miles northeast of Kennett Square; OurBus runs direct coaches from New York City and Philadelphia to the entrance (gardens admission sold separately). Parking is free in all lots; at peak times an on-site grass overflow lot or an off-site paved lot is used, with transportation to the Visitor Center.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
Wheaton, MD · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Nightly from 5 PM by timed entry; closed November 23 to 26, December 24 and 25, and January 1.
The gardens close at 4 PM and reopen at 5 PM for ticket holders.
Sunday to Thursday $13.99 and Friday and Saturday $16.99 per person, each including a $1.99 service fee; ages 4 and under free.
Timed entry tickets for a set day and arrival time must be bought online in advance; none are sold at the gate, and re-entry is not allowed.
A half-mile paved walk-through trail of lights with one-of-a-kind displays of flowers, plants, insects and animals across the flowerbeds and grounds of a horticultural garden; paths suit wheelchairs and strollers.
Getting there and parking
Take a bus from Glenmont Metro station to Randolph and Heurich Roads, then walk about 0.3 mile to the main entrance at 1800 Glenallan Avenue. Parking is available at the main entrance, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, and the Conservatory entrance, 1500 Glenallan Avenue; tickets are scanned on entering the lot.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
Washington, DC · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Monday to Saturday 5 PM to 9 PM; Sundays 5 PM to 8 PM; last entry 30 minutes before close.
General admission $10; children 2 and under free. Adults-Only Night (Dec 16, ages 21 and up) $19. Parking passes $30 in advance or $40 on the day.
Illuminated pathways through the zoo with an animal lantern trail through ocean, desert, grassland, rainforest and polar habitats, live music and holiday trivia on select December nights, and decade-themed carolers each Saturday in December.
Getting there and parking
The main pedestrian entrance is about halfway between the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan and Cleveland Park Metro stations, each about a half mile away; the D70 Metrobus stops at the main entrance on Connecticut Avenue. Special event parking passes cost $30 bought in advance or $40 on the day; member benefits and daily passes do not apply, and spots often sell out.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights
Bronx, NY · Holiday lights
Nov 21 to Jan 3
Select nights only: November 21 to 22 and 27 to 29; December 3 to 6, 10 to 13, 17 to 23 and 26 to 31; January 2 to 3.
Holiday Lights runs 1 PM to 9 PM with last entry at 8 PM; lights go on and lantern trails open at 4:30 PM.
Date-specific tickets: adult $37.95, child (3 to 12) $22.95, senior $32.95; Deal Days (Dec 3, 10 and 17) adult $29.95, child $14.95, senior $24.95. Any-Night tickets: adult $42.95, child $27.95, senior $37.95. Children 2 and under free.
Tickets are sold online only and must be bought in advance, either for a specific date or as an Any-Night ticket; none are sold on site.
Six lantern trails (Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Ocean and the Forest of Color) with hundreds of animal lanterns, a holiday tree with synchronized musical light shows, light tunnels and ice carving; new for 2026, the Children's Zoo Farmyard opens for the event.
Getting there and parking
The BxM11 express bus runs from Madison Avenue (26th to 99th Streets) directly to the Bronx River entrance; for an ADA-accessible route take the 2 train to Pelham Parkway. Entry is only at the Bronx River and Southern Boulevard gates. Parking is $22 per car via the Southern Boulevard and Bronx River Parkway entrances, first come, first served and not guaranteed.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Christmas Village in Baltimore
Baltimore, MD · Christmas market
Nov 21 to Dec 27
Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 12 PM to 8 PM; Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 9 PM; closed Mondays and Tuesdays except December 21 and 22 (12 PM to 8 PM).
Closed November 25 and Christmas Day; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 12 PM to 5 PM.
The outdoor market is always free; on select weekend days a $5 season pass is required for guests 18 and over to enter the heated festival tent, and guests under 18 are free.
A German-style market inspired by Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt, with over 70 vendors in wooden booths, a Gluhwein Pyramid, a carousel and Ferris wheel, a heated festival tent and a beer garden on the Inner Harbor waterfront.
Getting there and parking
Buses stop at the Baltimore Visitor Center and across the street at Light St. and Lee St.; Charles Center Metro and Camden Station (Light Rail and MARC) are about an 11 to 12 minute walk, and the free Charm City Circulator serves the Inner Harbor. Visitors get a $15 all-day rate at Harbor Court Garage (30 E Lee St, activated by a QR code at the market) or $10 for up to 6 hours at Lockwood Place Garage (124 Market Pl) reserved through SpotHero or ParkWhiz.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Christmas Village in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Christmas market
Nov 21 to Dec 27
Sunday to Thursday 12 PM to 8 PM; Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 9 PM; Thanksgiving Day 9 AM to 5 PM; Christmas Eve 12 PM to 5 PM; closed November 23 to 25 and Christmas Day.
Admission to the whole event area is free; food, drink, shopping and rides are pay as you go.
An open-air market modeled on traditional German Christmas markets, with over 120 vendors at LOVE Park and City Hall, European food, a two-tiered carousel in the City Hall Courtyard and a 30-foot Christmas Pyramid lit by 3,000 lights.
Getting there and parking
SEPTA is the official transportation partner: take Regional Rail to Suburban Station, the B, L or T to 15th St/City Hall Station, or bus routes 2, 17, 33, 38, 44, 48, 124 or 125. Visitors get a discounted rate of $26.75 Monday to Friday and $25.68 Saturday and Sunday at the LOVE Park Garage, 15th and Sansom Garage and Sonesta Garage when registering on the iParkit app with code CHRISTMAS2026; SpotHero also offers advance booking.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
New York, NY · Christmas market
Dec 1 to Dec 31
Monday to Thursday 11 AM to 7 PM; Friday to Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM.
Prices on the official site
Billed by Urbanspace as internationally known as one of the most elegant places for holiday shopping, with views of Central Park and over 100 artisan booths of art, jewelry, home goods and food from local artisans and designers.
Getting there and parking
The market sits in the heart of Columbus Circle, with access to the 1, A, B, C and D subway lines.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Midwest and Mountain West
Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver, CO · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 10
Nightly 4:30 PM to 9 PM, closed Thanksgiving (Nov.
26) and Christmas Day. Sensory-Friendly Night Tuesday, Dec. 1, 5 PM to 8 PM. A holiday bar runs on select evenings Dec. 20 to Jan. 4, excluding Dec. 25.
$19 to $45 ($16 to $38 for members), priced by date and time on anticipated demand; children 2 and younger free. Sensory-Friendly Night $22 to $27 ($18 to $23 members).
Tickets are for a set date and entry time, sold only through Denver Botanic Gardens; date changes are possible up to 72 hours before entry for a $5 fee (waived for members), with no refunds for a lower priced date.
Billed by the Gardens as consistently lauded as one of the top holiday light shows in the nation, Blossoms of Light turns the York Street winter gardens into an all-LED illuminated wonderland of displays and immersive installations. Holiday treats and warm drinks are sold at Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro, and The Shop at the Gardens stays open during the event.
Getting there and parking
RTD routes #24 (York and Josephine Streets) and #10 (12th Avenue) serve the Gardens, and bike racks are available at the York Street main entrance. Free parking is available in the Gardens' parking structure between York and Josephine streets but is limited and fills quickly; nearby neighborhood streets have residential permit restrictions, so check signs, and the Gardens is not responsible for tickets or towing.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Christkindlmarket Chicago
Chicago, IL · Christmas market
Nov 20 to Dec 24
Daley Plaza, November 20 to December 24, open daily: Fridays and Saturdays 11 AM to 9 PM, Sundays through Thursdays 11 AM to 8 PM; Thanksgiving (Nov.
26) and Christmas Eve 11 AM to 4 PM. Wrigleyville (Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St), November 20 to December 31, open daily: Monday through Thursday 3 PM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM; Thanksgiving 11 AM to 4 PM; Dec. 21 to 23 and Dec. 28 to 30 11 AM to 9 PM; Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve 11 AM to 4 PM; closed Christmas Day. Aurora (RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway), November 20 to December 24, Thursdays to Sundays: Thursday 11 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM; also open Wednesday Nov. 25 11 AM to 7 PM and Dec. 21 to 23 11 AM to 7 PM; Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 11 AM to 4 PM.
Free admission; some special events are ticketed.
A German-style outdoor Christmas market hosted at Daley Plaza since 1996 by German American Events, a subsidiary of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, with international and local vendors, live entertainment and imported German Glühwein. The organizer bills it as the most authentic traditional holiday market of its kind outside of Europe.
Dates and details (Choose Chicago)Hotels nearby
Getting there and parking
Many CTA train stations and bus stops are within steps of Daley Plaza, and the market is a short walk from all downtown Metra terminals: Union Station, LaSalle Street Station, Millennium Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center. The organizer recommends booking parking in advance through SpotHero; the closest Millennium Garages are Grant Park North and Millennium Park.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Denver Christkindlmarket
Denver, CO · Christmas market
Nov 20 to Dec 23
Monday to Thursday 1 PM to 9 PM; Friday to Sunday and the last week (Dec.
17 to 23) 11 AM to 9 PM; Festival Hall open until 10 PM with vendors closing at 9 PM; Thanksgiving Day 11 AM to 4 PM.
Free and open to the public; table reservations in the Bank of America Festival Hall and glass ornament workshops are booked separately.
An authentic German-style holiday market produced by the German American Chamber of Commerce Colorado Chapter, with local and European craft and food vendors and a free live entertainment calendar. For 2026 the organizer lists a 42 ft carousel plus glass ornament making and glass blowing workshops.
Getting there and parking
Four RTD light rail stations sit within walking distance on the edges of campus: Colfax at Auraria (9 min walk), Ball Arena/Elitch Gardens (10 min), Auraria West Campus (12 min) and Union Station (15 min); buses #43 and #6 also stop nearby, and rideshares drop off in front of the Kings Center, a 3 minute walk away. Auraria Campus garages have the highest daily rates and fill quickly; the organizer recommends the Holly, Cherry or Elm surface lots for lower rates, and the Tivoli Garage on the north end of the market costs more.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
European Christmas Market
St. Paul, MN · Christmas market
Nov 20 to Dec 20
Five weekends: Nov.
20 to 22, Nov. 27 to 29, Dec. 4 to 6, Dec. 11 to 13 and Dec. 18 to 20. Fridays 3 PM to 9 PM (Friday Nov. 27 opens at 1 PM), Saturdays 11 AM to 9 PM, Sundays 11 AM to 6 PM, with an 'After Hours' last call from 9 PM to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays in the heated warming tents.
Free admission.
An outdoor, open-air market billed by its organizer as the largest and most authentic traditional outdoor holiday market in Minnesota, with 80+ vendors selling European food, Glühwein and crafts sourced from Europe, made locally or fair trade. Live music, dance performances, Santa and reindeer visits and a new Kid Zone round it out, with three large tents for warming up.
Getting there and parking
Free Metro Transit passes are offered for each market day on the organizer's Plan Your Visit page; groups arriving by bus use the upper-level bus slips at Union Depot's bus terminal with 7 days' advance notice to the Market Director. Union Depot lots C and D at 392 E Kellogg Blvd are closest, at an event rate of $10 to $14, and Lot C can be reserved in advance through SpotHero; the Kellogg and 3rd Street bridge is temporarily closed, but all four Union Depot lots remain reachable from eastbound Kellogg Boulevard. A park and ride option runs from Saint Paul College, 235 Marshall Ave ($5 per day), with MOOV Rideshare shuttles about every 15 minutes.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Powell, OH · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Wildlights runs Sunday through Thursday 5 PM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday 5 PM to 10 PM, with the zoo itself open noon to 5 PM; the zoo is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Wildlights is included with regular zoo admission. Online prices start at $34.95 for ages 10 to 59, $32.95 for ages 60+ and $27.95 for ages 3 to 9 (Franklin County, Ohio residents from $24.95, $23.95 and $18.95); under 3 free. Parking is $12.
Billed by the zoo as one of Ohio's favorite holiday traditions, with millions of LED lights, two animated Holiday Magic light shows around Conservation Lake, illuminated animal sculptures and new attractions for 2026 including Pixel Passage and a Starlight Constellation Quest. Train, Yule Tide boat and carousel rides are included with admission, and reindeer, Santa and a LEGO fan build display add to the evening.
Getting there and parking
The zoo expects heavier than normal road traffic during Wildlights and suggests visiting Monday through Thursday for smaller crowds, arriving before 4 PM to see animals such as the gorillas and orangutans before they settle for the night. Parking is $12, bought online or at the parking booths on arrival; zoo members park free.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago, IL · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Nightly 4:30 PM to 9 PM, last entry 8 PM.
Closed Thanksgiving (Nov. 26), Tuesdays Dec. 1, 8 and 15, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; open New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Ticketed special events on Nov. 19 (Member Preview), Nov. 24 (Sensory-Friendly Night) and Dec. 10 (Adults Night Out, 21+, 6:30 PM to 10 PM).
Fixed Date tickets $7 to $12 in advance depending on the date, or $20 on the day; Flexible Admission $20 for any night; admission is free with a reservation on Mondays except Dec. 21 and 28. Every guest, including infants, needs a ticket.
Fixed Date tickets are for one night and cannot be changed; Free Admission Monday tickets are released one week ahead at 11 AM CT; tickets are nonrefundable.
Billed as the city's favorite holiday tradition, ZooLights fills Lincoln Park Zoo with over 3 million lights and hundreds of LED displays, a light tunnel, a Ferris wheel with skyline views, a South Lawn light show and fire pits for s'mores. Friday and Saturday ice carving, Sunday carolers and themed nights such as a Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker Night add to the run.
Getting there and parking
On busy nights traffic can become congested and parking difficult to find, so the zoo strongly encourages guests to use public transportation or rideshare services. Limited paid parking is in the zoo lot on Cannon Drive and is not included with entry; staff close the lot temporarily when full, so Friday and Saturday visitors should plan parking in advance.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Carmel Christkindlmarkt
Carmel, IN · Christmas market
Nov 21 to Dec 24
Wednesday and Thursday 4 PM to 9 PM; Friday and Saturday noon to 9 PM; Sunday noon to 8 PM; closed Mondays and Tuesdays except Dec.
21 and 22 (noon to 9 PM); Wednesday Nov. 25 and Dec. 23 noon to 9 PM; Christmas Eve noon to 4 PM; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Free admission; ice skating is a separate 90 minute ticket.
Ice skating at the market is sold as 90 minute sessions.
A traditional German Christmas market with dozens of festive huts, visiting German artisans at work, German food and Glühwein, a Kids Corner, a Play House and an ice rink in the heart of the market. The organizer describes it as one of the most celebrated holiday markets, citing national travel honors.
Getting there and parking
Parking in Carmel is free: park in a downtown garage and walk to the market along the Monon Trail, lit with holiday lights in November and December, or park free at 535 College Drive and ride the free weekend shuttle, which runs about every 15 minutes during market hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Free parking in downtown Carmel garages, with walks of roughly 0.6 to 0.8 mile along the Monon Trail; accessible parking is at the Tarkington Garage on 3rd Avenue SW, and there is no southbound traffic on 3rd Avenue SW near the market.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Milwaukee Krampusnacht
Milwaukee, WI · Krampus night
Dec 6
Sunday, December 6, 2 PM to 9 PM; Kid's Krampus Hour 3 PM to 5 PM.
A 21+ pre-party, The Naughty List, runs the evening of Saturday, December 5 at Best Place Great Hall.
General admission $15 (it was $10 until Oct. 15); Kid's Krampus Hour $15 for one adult and one child, including craft supplies and a treat stocking; Saturday's 21+ Naughty List pre-party $25 (includes Sunday admission), or $50 with a limited Captain Pabst seance.
A general admission ticket is required for most event spaces; Kid's Krampus Hour tickets are limited.
Billed as the original Milwaukee Krampus celebration, it fills the historic castle-like Pabst buildings and neighboring businesses with a Krampus parade, vendor floors, live music, a Mari Lwyd rap battle, sideshow performances, a Krampus Market Square, a white elephant exchange and a toy drive. Costumes in Krampus and winter folklore themes are encouraged.
Getting there and parking
Rideshare drop off and pick up is at the Eleven Twenty-Five building (1125 N. 9th St.) or Pilot Project (1128 N. 9th St.), since Juneau Avenue between 9th and 11th Streets is closed for the event; public transit details are on the Brewery District's website. The Brewery Garage at 1213 N. 9th St. is in the event zone, with a discounted $10 plus tax rate when booked in advance before midnight Dec. 5 using code KRAMPUS (otherwise the $15 event rate); another garage is at 9th and State St., and street parking is free on Sundays but fills quickly.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
South and West
Holiday at the Arboretum: The 12 Days of Christmas
Dallas, TX · Holiday lights
Nov 11 to Jan 3
Daytime admission 9 AM to 4 PM; Holiday at Night 5 PM to 10 PM (online only), with a Night Owl entry 8:30 PM to 10 PM; Holiday Cheer pricing on November 26, December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.
Daytime adults $21.95 to $25.95 and children 3 to 12 $17.95 to $21.95; Holiday at Night $35 to $40 (members $20 to $25, walk-up adds $4); Night Owl $15; Holiday Cheer nights $12; children under 3 free; parking $15 per vehicle.
Daytime and Holiday at Night prices vary by date and are shown when a date is selected; Holiday at Night and Night Owl tickets are sold online only.
The final season of the 12 Days of Christmas glass-sided gazebos, in place since 2014, alongside a Christmas Village and holiday decor in the historic DeGolyer House.
Getting there and parking
Parking is $15 per vehicle plus tax and fees and can be bought online; the Entry 4 garage across Garland Road connects to the garden by an underground walkway, and parking on nearby residential streets is a tow-away zone.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens
Pine Mountain, GA · Holiday lights
Nov 13 to Jan 3
Prices on the official site
Tickets are sold for a specific day and hour-long time slot and are nonrefundable; guests may enter the queue lot or Trolley Loading any time during their slot, and a missed slot must be exchanged at Will Call. Children younger than 3 are admitted free, and each ticket includes same day Gardens admission.
A seven mile drive through 18 light scenes with what the organizer bills as more than 10 million lights, plus the walkable Callaway Christmas Village with Santa, a Christmas Market and a walkthrough light tunnel; it can also be seen by trolley tour, Pink Jeep tour or on a bicycle-only Bike Night.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Holiday LIGHTS at Cheekwood
Nashville, TN · Holiday lights
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Nightly with entry every 30 minutes from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM and closing at 10 PM; closed Thanksgiving Day and night, Christmas Day and night, and New Year's Day, but open New Year's night, January 1, 2027.
Adults $26 to $32 and youth 3 to 17 $20 to $26 depending on night and Gardens Only or Gardens + Mansion; members $17 to $23 and $13 to $19; Late Night LIGHTS (8:30 PM, select Monday to Thursday nights) $20; plus a $2 advance or $3 walk-up service fee per ticket.
Tickets must be reserved in advance for a date and entry time, including for children 2 and under; entry time only, guests may stay until 10 PM; one transfer to another date for $5 per ticket; sold out times are not sold on site.
More than a million lights along a one mile walking path, including the Peppermint Path, a Star Field and a 28 foot Pixel Pine, plus holiday lights on the TRAINS! exhibit and An Enchanted Noel, a French-inspired installation in the Historic Mansion by former Chief White House Floral Designer Laura Dowling.
Getting there and parking
Onsite parking is limited, so the organizer encourages rideshare, with Parking Lot A as the designated rideshare drop off and pick up area. Parking is $5 per car for nonmembers, first come, first served, with members parking one vehicle free; drivers are directed to the best available spot and may walk a distance to the start.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights
Natchitoches, LA · Holiday lights
Nov 21 to Jan 6
Over 300,000 lights and more than 100 set pieces are on display every night at dusk from November 21 to January 6; the daylong 100th Annual Christmas Festival with the Festival of Lights Parade at 1 PM and fireworks at 6 PM is Saturday, December 5; fireworks or drone shows over Cane River Lake run on most Saturdays.
Festival armbands are $20 per person, children 6 and under free; admission is charged only on Saturdays November 21 and 28 and December 5, 12 and 19 (after 1 PM except all day December 5), and there is no admission to the Riverbank Sunday through Friday. All sales are cashless.
The 2026 season is billed as the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, celebrated since 1927 in what the organizer calls the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, with fireworks choreographed to holiday music over Cane River Lake.
Getting there and parking
Natchitoches is in north central Louisiana; I-49 runs 5 miles west of the Historic District, so take Exit 138 off I-49.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
Cary, NC · Lantern festival
Nov 21 to Jan 10
Open daily 6 PM to 10 PM, closed Christmas Day; Twilight Session entry at 4:30 PM; Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve gates 6 PM to 9 PM with no Twilight Session.
Prices on the official site
Three ticket types: Any Night tickets for any evening, dated Evening Session tickets (6 PM to 9 PM), and limited dated Twilight Session tickets with 4:30 PM entry; children 2 and under are free, tickets are mobile only, and prices increase if bought on the day of attendance.
A walkthrough of more than 40 lantern groupings hand-assembled by visiting Chinese artisans, including a new 164 foot floating display on Symphony Lake, with nightly cultural performances on the main stage; produced by Tianyu Arts & Culture with the Town of Cary.
Getting there and parking
The venue recommends taking US 1 to Exit 96, Ten Ten Road, then Penny Road to Ederlee Drive for the free parking lot, rather than the Tryon Road exit a GPS suggests. About 1,500 free spaces at Koka Booth Amphitheatre; preferred parking passes cost $10 in advance or $15 per car on the night.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix, AZ · Holiday lights
Nov 25 to Jan 15
Nightly 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM, November 25, 2026 to January 15, 2027; Monday through Wednesday are usually the least crowded nights.
General admission $35, members $30, children 2 and under free; on select Member Mondays members can buy up to six tickets at $10 each.
Tickets are good for one admission on any public night of the season (not a timed slot) and are nonrefundable; Sensory Friendly ZooLights on Tuesday, December 8 and Cruise ZooLights (drive through) on Sunday, January 17 need separate tickets.
Billed as five million lights across two miles of zoo trails, with a floating lake light show around a 50 foot LED tree, a 200 foot immersive light tunnel, a Glow Garden, a lit dinosaur trail and photos with Santa through December 23.
Getting there and parking
When the main lots are full, message boards direct drivers to the overflow lot at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at the southwest corner of Van Buren and Priest, about a 15 minute walk on a lit, paved path.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Village of Lights: Christmastown
Leavenworth, WA · Holiday lights
Nov 27 to Dec 24
Christmastown festivities run daily November 27 to December 24, with food vendors in Front Street Park 10 AM to 7 PM; the Festhalle is open noon to 4 PM Sunday through Thursday and noon to 6 PM Friday and Saturday; on Christmas Eve the Festhalle closes at 3 PM.
The village lights are on daily 6 AM to 11 PM from Thanksgiving through February.
Free to enjoy the lights, Gazebo music and Festhalle activities; ticketed Festhalle evening shows run $5 to $15 at the door (for example, the Merry Christmas From Leavenworth Concert is $5 and The Jewel Tones Motown Christmas Show is $15).
The Bavarian village is lit with what the organizer bills as over half a million lights, with free live music at the downtown Gazebo, strolling carolers December 1 to 23, and Santa, Mrs. Claus and Christmas characters downtown through December 24.
Getting there and parking
Leavenworth is reached via US Highway 2 through the Cascades, by Northwestern Stage Lines bus, Link Transit routes 22 and 122 from Wenatchee, or Amtrak at the unstaffed Icicle Station. Front Street is closed to vehicles; the city runs pay to park lots open 7 AM to 3 AM, including Aasgard at 1000 Front Street and Colchuck next to the Festhalle, plus the free Enchantments lot behind City Hall with a 3 hour limit.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Solvang Julefest
Solvang, CA · Christmas market
Nov 27 to Jan 3
Ten minute light and music shows run in Solvang Park every evening at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 PM from November 27 to January 3; the Makers Market runs Wednesdays December 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 3 PM to 7 PM; Santa's Village is open Saturdays and Sundays from November 28 to December 20, noon to 4 PM.
Prices on the official site
A month long Danish-style holiday celebration with nightly light and music shows in Solvang Park, a tree lighting on December 4, a parade on December 5 with more than 400 participants, and a European-style evening Makers Market on Wednesdays.
Getting there and parking
Solvang sits just east of US 101 on Highway 246; Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara connects with an Amtrak bus that stops at Solvang Park, 1630 Mission Drive. Parking is free throughout the village, with three public lots and daytime spaces for RVs and tour buses.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Ford Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony
San Antonio, TX · Holiday lights
Nov 27
Friday, November 27, 2026, starting 6 PM at the Tobin Center; the River Walk's 200,000 holiday lights then stay on from sundown to sunrise through early January.
Reserved parade seating runs about $15.76 (Parade Plaza) to $117.49 (Area L, Arneson River Theatre), with most areas $19.95 to $32.25 including fees; a free first-come viewing area is on the east side of the River Walk between Pecan Street and Richmond Avenue.
Seats are sold by area along the route, each with its own passing time from 6:05 PM to 7:50 PM; children 2 and older need a ticket, and tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged.
The 45th annual parade of illuminated floats on the river, themed "Holiday Wishes Come True" with the Witte Museum as Grand Marshal for its 100th birthday, switches on the River Walk's 200,000 holiday lights for the season.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Christmas in the Park San Jose
San Jose, CA · Holiday lights
Nov 27 to Jan 1
Daily noon to 10 PM from November 27 through January 1, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; opening night with the Community Tree Lighting is Friday, November 27 at 6 PM.
Admission is free; donations are welcome.
A free downtown tradition since 1980 that grew from Don Lima's Nativity scene, with over 40 musical and animated exhibits including the Lima Train, an enchanted forest of decorated trees, free photos with Santa and nightly entertainment.
Getting there and parking
The park is in the heart of downtown San Jose on Market Street between San Fernando and San Carlos streets, within walking distance of restaurants and hotels. Parking is not included with admission; the organizer recommends booking a spot near the plaza in advance through its parking partner SpotHero, as nearby spaces fill quickly.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Dickens on The Strand
Galveston, TX · Christmas market
Dec 4 to Dec 6
Friday, December 4, 5 PM to 9 PM; Saturday, December 5, 10 AM to 9 PM; Sunday, December 6, noon to 6 PM.
Open rain or shine.
Friday evening admission is free; Saturday and Sunday admission is $20 for adults and $13 for youth 7 to 12, children 6 and under free, with prices rising $5 on November 20; a two day VIP pass is $100 for adults and $40 for youth; gate admission is half off in Victorian costume.
Galveston Historical Foundation's 53rd annual festival recreates 19th century Victorian London with parades, entertainment on four stages and costumed vendors selling from street stalls and rolling carts.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Austin Trail of Lights
Austin, TX · Holiday lights
Dec 10 to Dec 23
Nightly December 10 to 23, 7 PM to 10 PM for general admission, with 6 PM early entry for ZIP and Platinum pass holders; a Night Lights Preview Party fundraiser is Friday, December 4.
General admission is free December 10, 11 and 13 to 17 and $8 (plus fees) for ages 12 and up on December 12 and 18 to 23; ZIP passes are $20 to $25, Platinum passes $95, prepaid parking passes $25 to $35, and shuttle passes $10 including general admission.
Admission is by night, not timed slot: general admission enters at 7 PM, ZIP and Platinum at 6 PM; all Zilker Park parking must be bought online in advance and is not sold onsite.
Austin's holiday tradition since a 1965 "Yule Fest", now more than 2 million lights, 90 lighted holiday trees and more than 70 displays and lighted tunnels along a 1 mile path in Zilker Park, with free photos with Santa.
Getting there and parking
Shuttles run from the Toney Burger Activity Center in South Austin on December 12 and 18 to 23; CapMetro bus lines 3, 30 and 803 and the 550 rail also serve the park, and ride share drop off is at 2107 Veterans Drive. Close-in parking requires a prepaid pass bought online in advance ($25 to $35; lots open 5:30 PM); parking in surrounding neighborhoods is prohibited, and shuttle riders park free at the Toney Burger Activity Center.
Checked Nov 8, 2026
Also on Froligo this season
New Year's Eve festivals
Multi-day festivals that run into the new year, each with its own Froligo page
Decadence Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
Dec 30 to 31, 2026
Confirmed$160 pp
House, Techno, Dubstep
Countdown NYE
San Bernardino, CA
Dec 31 to Jan 1, 2027
Confirmed$165 pp
House, Techno, Trance
Lights All Night
Dallas, TX
Dec 30 to 31, 2026
Confirmed$111 to $217 pp
House, Techno, Drum & Bass
HiJinx Festival
Philadelphia, PA
Dec 30 to 31, 2026
Dates announced$239 to $309 pp
Bass, Dubstep, House
Get next year's list first
Dates for 2027 land through the autumn. Froligo Pulse sends one email when the 2027 list is out. Free, no account.
Froligo PulseQuick answers
When do Christmas markets open in the US?
Most of the 31 on this page open around November 20. The earliest opened on October 28, and several run into early January.
Which Christmas markets are free?
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, Snowport Holiday Market, Christkindlmarket Chicago, Denver Christkindlmarket, European Christmas Market, Carmel Christkindlmarkt, Christmas Village in Baltimore and Christmas Village in Philadelphia are free to walk into. Food, drinks, rides and skate rentals cost extra.
Do I need tickets for holiday lights?
11 of the 16 light shows here sell timed-entry tickets, and popular nights sell out, so book ahead. The rest are walk-up or free.