A family car driving past holiday lights on a snowy night
Lights 2026 · Boise

Christmas lights in Boise for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.

Three Christmas light displays in and around Boise have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at Lost in Christmas light maze. Two more ran last season but haven’t posted 2026 dates yet. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.

3displays with dates
0drive-thrus
2free
5 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 3 displays

Pick tonight’s lights

Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.

Walk-through

Lost in Christmas light maze

Shindig Farms · ID-45 & Scism Rd, Nampa, ID

Walk-throughSanta too
When
Nov 20, 21, 27, 28; Dec 3–5, 10–12, 17–19, 21–24, 26, 2026; Jan 2, 2027
Earliest start
5 p.m.
Price
$11 (slow nights) / $13 (busier nights) plus tax; 3 and under free with paying adult; wagon ride $5
  • 5–10 p.m.
  • Straw maze with 1M+ lights (2M+ on site), kids’ mini maze, Santa meet & greet
  • Dates subject to change

Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights)

Indian Creek Plaza · 120 S Kimball Ave, Caldwell, ID

Walk-throughFreeBook ahead
When
Opening festival Nov 20–22, 2026; lights stay up all season
Earliest start
6 p.m. festival nights
Price
Free (skating extra; skate tickets on sale Oct 2026)
  • Festival 6–9 p.m.
  • One million lights, ice skating

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting

The Grove Plaza · The Grove Plaza, Downtown Boise

Walk-throughFree
When
Fri Nov 27, 2026
Earliest start
5 p.m.
Price
Free
  • 5 p.m.
  • 40-plus-foot tree, 5,000+ lights, live music
  • Boise Holiday Parade next morning, Sat Nov 28 at 10 a.m., free (boiseholidayparade.org)

Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.

Tickets / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Dates not posted yet
  • Winter Garden aGlow · Idaho Botanical Garden Dates not posted yet — check the official page (idahobotanicalgarden.org).
  • Christmas in Color (Boise) · Roaring Springs Water Park Dates not posted yet — check the official page (wonderteam.ticketspice.com).

These ran last season. We’ll add them when 2026 dates go up.

Nov 1 – Jan 2

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. Lost in Christmas light maze opens first, on Nov 20. Lost in Christmas light maze runs into the new year.

Lost in Christmas light maze Nov 20 – Jan 2
Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights) Nov 20 – Nov 22
Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting Nov 27
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

In early December the sun sets around 5:10 p.m. in Boise (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.

Lost in Christmas light maze

5 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5 p.m.

Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting

5 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5 p.m.

Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights)

6 p.m. start · plan about an hour

6 p.m. festival nights

Drive-thru or walk-through?

Which is better for little kids?

🚗 Stay in the car

  • Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
  • No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
  • A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
  • Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules

No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.

🚶 Get out and walk

  • Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
  • Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
  • Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
  • Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds

Picks: Lost in Christmas light maze, Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights), Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting

Bring along

The little-kid lights kit

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.
2026 prices

Prices at a glance

From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.

DisplayPriceLittle kidsGood to know
Lost in Christmas light maze$11 (slow nights) / $13 (busier nights) plus tax; 3 and under free with paying adult; wagon ride $53 and under free with paying adultWalk-through
Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights)Free (skating extra; skate tickets on sale Oct 2026)See the venueWalk-through
Downtown Boise Holiday Tree LightingFreeSee the venueWalk-through
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Good questions

Christmas lights in Boise: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Boise?

Yes. Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights) and Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting are free in 2026.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Boise?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Lost in Christmas light maze ($11 (slow nights) / $13 (busier nights) plus tax; 3 and under free with paying adult; wagon ride $5). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?

We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.

What time do the Christmas lights start in Boise? We have an early bedtime.

The earliest evening starts: Lost in Christmas light maze at 5 p.m., Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. and Winter Wonderland (Indian Creek Plaza lights) at 6 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

Which light shows are best for kids under 3?

Little ones get in free at Lost in Christmas light maze (3 and under free with paying adult). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.

How do you check these Christmas lights listings?

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 Boise · Boise city guide · Visiting Boise

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