Two Christmas light displays in and around Birmingham have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 1 walk-through. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at Glow Wild. 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.
Birmingham Zoo · Birmingham, AL
Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problem
Alabama Adventure · Bessemer, AL
Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. Glow Wild opens first, on Nov 20. Glow Wild and Magic of Lights Birmingham run into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 4:40 p.m. in Birmingham (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
5 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5 p.m.
5:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:30 p.m.
Pick: Magic of Lights Birmingham
Pick: Glow Wild
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glow Wild | Advance: adult $25, child 2–12 $16; walk-up $27/$17 (tax included); members less | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Magic of Lights Birmingham | November-only $18.50 per car online ($22 gate); Santa Saver any-day $25.99 online until Nov 19; weekday $23.99 | See the venue | Drive-thru |
See all 5 Santa outings in and around Birmingham: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Birmingham →
None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Glow Wild (Advance: adult $25, child 2–12 $16; walk-up $27/$17 (tax included); members less); Magic of Lights Birmingham (November-only $18.50 per car online ($22 gate); Santa Saver any-day $25.99 online until Nov 19; weekday $23.99). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 2 displays can be driven: Magic of Lights Birmingham. Walk-throughs (one here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Glow Wild at 5 p.m. and Magic of Lights Birmingham at 5:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
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 Birmingham · Birmingham city guide · Visiting Birmingham
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Birmingham that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.