Two Christmas light displays in and around Albuquerque have 2026 dates: both walk-throughs. One is free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5:15 p.m. at Twinkle Light Parade. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.
Last checked · How we choose
Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden · ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, Albuquerque, NM
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
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Nob Hill · Central Ave. (Route 66), Nob Hill, Albuquerque, NM
Little-kid take: Opens at 5:15 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. River of Lights opens first, on Nov 28.
In early December the sun sets around 4:55 p.m. in ABQ (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
5:15 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:15pm
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5–10pm
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: River of Lights, Twinkle Light Parade
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| River of Lights | See ticket prices on the BioPark site; children 2 and under need a $0 reservation | children 2 and under need a $0 reservation | Walk-through |
| Twinkle Light Parade | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 3 Santa outings in and around ABQ: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in ABQ →
Yes. Twinkle Light Parade is free in 2026.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: River of Lights (See ticket prices on the BioPark site; children 2 and under need a $0 reservation). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (two here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Twinkle Light Parade at 5:15 p.m. and River of Lights at 10 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at River of Lights (children 2 and under need a $0 reservation). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in ABQ · Albuquerque city guide · Visiting ABQ
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in ABQ that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.