Whining With Wine

Best Christmas Lights Near St. Louis: 2026 Family Guide

The best Christmas lights near St. Louis run from a free walk down one decorated block to ticketed shows with more than a million bulbs. The right one depends on your kids’ ages, your budget, and how much cold you can stand.

This guide covers walk-through light shows, drive-through displays, and free options in the St. Louis area. For each one you’ll find the dates, cost, whether you need tickets, and which ages will like it best. Dates and prices are for the 2026 season where the venue has posted them. Where they haven’t, I’ve said so, so you aren’t surprised at the gate.

Jump to: Quick picks · Ticketed shows · Drive-through · Free options · Before you go · FAQ

Best Christmas lights near St. Louis: quick picks

Ticketed Christmas light shows near St. Louis

These are the big walk-through shows. They need a ticket, and the popular nights sell out, so buy ahead.

Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Ages 3 and up · $12 to $25 · Nov 14 to Jan 2

  • Best ages: Ages 3 and up will enjoy it most. It’s a big outdoor stroll, so babies are easiest in a carrier.
  • Cost: Prices change by date. On regular nights, nonmembers pay $24 for adults and $12 for kids 12 and under. Premium evenings are $25 and $12. Family Nights are $22 for adults and $6 for kids. Members pay less.
  • Tickets: Buy a date-specific ticket online. The best rate is for tickets bought before 4:30 pm on the day you go.
  • Dates and hours: November 14 to January 2, most nights 5 to 9:30 pm, with some nights running 4:30 to 10 pm. Closed November 23, November 26, and December 24. Last entry is 8:15 pm on nights that close at 9:30.
  • What to do: More than two million lights, musical light shows, projections, photo spots, holiday treats, and fire pits you can rent. November 20 is an adults-only night (21 and over).
  • Heads up: Most of it is outdoors, so dress in layers. The pricing calendar doesn’t make it clear which dates are Family Nights, so check the calendar before you pick a night.
  • Address: 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis
  • Website: missouribotanicalgarden.org (search Garden Glow)

Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo

All ages · $19 (kids under 2 free) · Select nights, Nov 27 to Dec 30

  • Best ages: All ages. Toddlers and preschoolers tend to love it, and kids under 2 are free.
  • Cost: $19 general admission and $16 for zoo members. Children ages 0 to 23 months are free. The VR experience is $5 extra. Parking is free.
  • Tickets: Buy ahead. There is no timed entry, but tickets have sold out in the past.
  • Dates and hours: Select nights from November 27 to December 30, 2026, 5 to 8:30 pm. Last entry is 8 pm. Santa visits run nightly through December 23.
  • What to do: More than a million lights, visits with Santa, a 4D Rudolph show, fire pits for s’mores, and specialty hot chocolate. Several indoor spots are open too, including the Insectarium, the Aqua Tunnel, Penguin and Puffin Coast, and the carousel.
  • Heads up: Free parking in the Forest Park lots is first come, first served, with free street parking if they fill. Stroller and wheelchair rentals cost extra. The zoo posts weather cancellations by 3 pm and refunds tickets. December 7 is a sensory-friendly night.
  • Address: 1 Government Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis
  • Website: stlzoo.org/events/wildlights

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park

All ages · From about $20 (confirm 2026 price) · Nov 25 to Jan 2

  • Best ages: All ages. Walking works for kids who can handle a cold stroll. Car and carriage options suit babies and toddlers.
  • Cost: St. Louis Magazine listed tickets starting at $20 last season. I couldn’t confirm 2026 pricing, so check before you go. Walking tickets, car passes, and carriage rides have been sold separately.
  • Tickets: Tickets are sold in advance online through St. Louis County Parks. Last season you could also pay cash at the park.
  • Dates and hours: November 25 to January 2. Last season ran 5 to 9 pm and was closed on a few nights, including Christmas Eve, so check the calendar.
  • What to do: More than a million lights and 100-plus winter scenes across 75 acres. You can see it on foot, by car, or by carriage.
  • Heads up: Prices and ticket types vary, so read the details before you buy. Dress warmly if you’re walking.
  • Address: 9551 Litzsinger Road, St. Louis County
  • Website: St. Louis County Parks, Tilles Park

Holiday Lights at Grant’s Farm

All ages · About $12 per person (2025) · Dates not posted yet

  • Best ages: All ages. Children 3 and under are free.
  • Cost: Last season the walk-through was $12 per person, with parking at $16 per vehicle. I couldn’t find 2026 prices, so confirm before you book. Drive-through tickets and special packages are priced separately.
  • Tickets: Reservations are recommended. Buy online through Grant’s Farm.
  • Dates and hours: 2026 dates weren’t posted when I checked. Last season ran select nights from November 22 to December 30, 5 to 10 pm, with last entry at 9 pm.
  • What to do: Four ways to go: a drive-through, a walk-through (you take the tram to the lit Bauernhof courtyard), breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, or a private fire pit. Expect animals, Clydesdale photos, and a 50-foot LED tree.
  • Heads up: Dates fill up on popular nights, so book early once they’re posted.
  • Address: 10501 Gravois Road, St. Louis
  • Website: grantsfarm.com

Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch

Check age policy · Ticketed · Details not posted yet

  • Best ages: Check the age policy before you buy. Guests 21 and up get a complimentary beer, so it works as a date night as much as a family outing.
  • Cost: Prices weren’t posted when I checked. The site said details were coming soon.
  • Tickets: Tickets are required and sold for set entry times (in past years, 5, 6, and 7 pm). They tend to sell out, so buy early.
  • Dates and hours: 2026 dates weren’t announced yet. This is the 40th season, and past seasons ran select nights from late November into December.
  • What to do: A 10-minute light show, a Budweiser Clydesdale parade, a light-up dance floor, and Clydesdale photo ops.
  • Heads up: Check whether kids are welcome on your night before you buy tickets.
  • Address: 1200 Lynch Street, St. Louis
  • Website: budweisertours.com/brewerylights

Drive-through Christmas lights near St. Louis

Stay buckled in, keep the heat on, and let the kids go in pajamas. These are the easiest option for babies and toddlers.

WonderLight’s Christmas at World Wide Technology Raceway

All ages · From about $30 per car · Nov 13 to Jan 3

  • Best ages: All ages. A good pick for babies and toddlers, since everyone stays buckled in the car.
  • Cost: Starts at about $30 per car. Older listings show weekday pricing that can differ, so check 2026 pricing when you buy.
  • Tickets: Buy online in advance. In past years they did not sell tickets on site.
  • Dates and hours: Nightly from November 13 to January 3, 2026 to 2027, roughly 5 to 10 pm, including holidays.
  • What to do: A roughly two-mile drive-through with lights synced to Christmas music on your car radio (tune to 89.5 FM) and tunnels of light.
  • Heads up: It runs rain or shine. Charge your phone and bring snacks for the car.
  • Address: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois
  • Website: Downstate Illinois visitors guide

Santa’s Magical Kingdom in Eureka

All ages · About $35 per car · Nov 20 to Jan 3

  • Best ages: All ages. Easy for babies and toddlers because you can stay in the car.
  • Cost: About $35 per family car last season. I couldn’t confirm the 2026 price.
  • Tickets: Check the website for tickets. There is also an open-air wagon ride option.
  • Dates and hours: Open nightly from November 20 to January 3, including holidays. Last season: Friday and Saturday 5:30 to 11 pm, Sunday through Thursday 5:30 to 10:30 pm.
  • What to do: A drive-through across 35 acres with animated scenes, special effects, and a mailbox for letters to Santa. Kringle’s General Store is on site.
  • Heads up: It’s a bit of a drive from the city. Fill up and use the bathroom first.
  • Address: Jellystone Park, 5300 Fox Creek Road (Eureka and Pacific area)
  • Website: Explore St. Louis holiday lights guide

Holiday Night Lights Drive-Thru in Wentzville

All ages · $15 per vehicle in advance · Nov 27 to Dec 30

  • Best ages: All ages. It’s a one-mile loop, so it’s over quickly, which works well for toddlers.
  • Cost: $15 per vehicle (up to 6 passengers) if you buy ahead. $20 per vehicle at the gate. Extra passengers are $1 each.
  • Tickets: Buy online ahead of time through the City of Wentzville ticket page to save $5.
  • Dates and hours: Nightly from November 27 to December 30, 5 to 9:30 pm. Closed December 13 and 14 (walk-through event) and December 25. On December 6 the lights come on around 7 pm.
  • What to do: A one-mile drive-through loop with new scenes this year. On Saturdays you can stop at the Kolb Building to visit Santa.
  • Heads up: Vehicles longer than 30 feet aren’t allowed because of tight turns.
  • Address: Rotary Park, 2577 W. Meyer Road, Wentzville
  • Website: wentzvillemo.gov

Celebration of Lights in O’Fallon

All ages · About $16 per car (2024) · Late Nov to Dec 30 (confirm)

  • Best ages: All ages. Stay in the car with little ones or join a walking night with older kids.
  • Cost: The most recent price I could verify was $16 per car, $35 per van, and $45 per bus (2024). Confirm 2026 pricing.
  • Tickets: Buy in advance online. Tickets have been non-refundable.
  • Dates and hours: 2026 dates weren’t posted when I checked. Last season ran November 28 to December 30, 6 to 9 pm, closed December 25, with a few nights closed to cars.
  • What to do: A drive-through display at Fort Zumwalt Park. The park also hosts three walking nights each year (the Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll) with fireworks and a visit from Santa.
  • Heads up: Some nights are closed to vehicles, so check the calendar before you go.
  • Address: Fort Zumwalt Park, 1000 Jessup Lane, O’Fallon, MO
  • Website: ofallon.mo.us/celebration-of-light

Way of Lights in Belleville

All ages · Free to drive through · Nov 20 to Dec 31

  • Best ages: All ages. Preschoolers and up will follow the nativity story best.
  • Cost: Free to drive through. Camel rides, pony rides, food, drinks, and some activities cost a small fee.
  • Tickets: No tickets needed.
  • Dates and hours: November 20 to December 31, 2026, 5 to 9 pm. The page didn’t list closed nights. Last season it was closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
  • What to do: A drive-through display that follows Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem with life-size nativity scenes. The visitors center has a gift shop, a food stand, an Arctic exhibit, choir performances, a LEGO display, and a kids’ Christmas area.
  • Heads up: The theme is religious, so know what to expect. Confirm closed nights at snows.org.
  • Address: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 South DeMazenod Drive, Belleville, IL
  • Website: Downstate Illinois event page

Free Christmas lights near St. Louis

These cost nothing to see. Way of Lights in Belleville is also free to drive through, so check the drive-through section too.

Candy Cane Lane in St. Louis Hills

All ages · Free (donations welcome) · Around Thanksgiving weekend to New Year’s

  • Best ages: All ages. Walk it with kids who like to look around, or drive it so napping babies can stay asleep.
  • Cost: Free. Donations go to local charities.
  • Tickets: No tickets needed.
  • Dates and hours: After dark. Last season it ran November 27 to January 1. It usually starts around Thanksgiving weekend, but I couldn’t confirm the 2026 dates.
  • What to do: Neighbors decorate the whole block with lights and displays. Driving through takes about 10 minutes, and organizers encourage visitors to walk.
  • Heads up: Traffic backs up, especially on weekends. Park nearby and walk if you can, and remember it’s a residential street.
  • Address: 6500 block of Murdoch Avenue, St. Louis Hills
  • Website: St. Louis Magazine on Candy Cane Lane

Citygarden Holiday Lights

All ages · Free · Lights through mid-February (last year)

  • Best ages: All ages. Kids like the lit sculptures and the light shows.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Tickets: No tickets needed.
  • Dates and hours: 2026 dates weren’t posted when I checked. Last season the lights ran nightly through February 16, with pop-up vendors on Friday nights, 5 to 8 pm, from late November to early January.
  • What to do: Lit sculptures through the two-block downtown garden and a Spray Plaza with LED light shows.
  • Heads up: This is an easy, short stop. Pair it with dinner downtown.
  • Address: Citygarden, 801 Market Street, downtown St. Louis
  • Website: Explore St. Louis holiday lights guide

Before you go

  • Buy tickets early. The zoo, the botanical garden, and Brewery Lights have sold out on popular nights.
  • Go on a weeknight if you can. Lines and traffic are lighter, and the Friday and Saturday before Christmas are the busiest.
  • Dress in layers. Hats, gloves, and warm socks make a big difference at walk-through shows.
  • Bring snacks and a thermos. Most drive-throughs have little or no food, and hot chocolate lines at the big shows get long.
  • Put the kids in pajamas for drive-throughs. They’ll fall asleep on the way home, and you can carry them straight to bed.
  • Check the weather the day of. Some venues cancel for rain or wind, and the zoo posts cancellations by 3 pm.

What to Bring for Christmas Lights with Kids

Christmas light necklaces

Insulated thermos

fun for kids and helps you find themin a crowd! to keep hot chocolate warm

Rechargable hand warmers

Disposable hand warmers

Christmas lights near St. Louis: FAQ

What is the best Christmas lights display near St. Louis for toddlers?

A drive-through is the easiest, since toddlers can stay warm and nap in the car. If you want to walk, Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo has Santa visits and indoor spots to warm up.

Which Christmas lights near St. Louis are free?

Candy Cane Lane in St. Louis Hills, the Way of Lights drive-through in Belleville, and Citygarden downtown are all free. Donations are welcome at Candy Cane Lane.

Do I need tickets to see Christmas lights near St. Louis?

For the zoo, the botanical garden, Tilles Park, Grant’s Farm, Brewery Lights, and WonderLight’s, yes. Candy Cane Lane, Way of Lights, and Citygarden don’t need tickets.

When do the Christmas lights start near St. Louis?

The earliest shows open in mid-November. Garden Glow starts November 14 and WonderLight’s starts November 13. Most others open the weekend of Thanksgiving, and many run through early January.

Are there drive-through Christmas lights near St. Louis?

Yes. WonderLight’s Christmas, Santa’s Magical Kingdom, Holiday Night Lights in Wentzville, Celebration of Lights in O’Fallon, and Way of Lights in Belleville are all drive-throughs.

Dates, hours, and prices change from year to year. Always check the venue’s website before you go, especially for the items where I’ve noted that 2026 details weren’t posted yet.