# Christmas break with kids in Chattanooga, 2026

> What to do with kids in Chattanooga over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus four dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-21
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 7 dated outings
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## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Coolidge Park**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Daily 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Closed Christmas Day)” Source: https://chattanooga.gov/things-to-do/parks/coolidge-park (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Chattanooga Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “The Zoo is closed on Christmas Day The Zoo is closed on New Year's Day” Source: https://www.chattzoo.org/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Urban Air Chattanooga**: Christmas Eve 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “12/24: 10 AM - 4 PM ( Christmas Eve ) 12/25: Closed ( Christmas Day )” Source: https://www.urbanair.com/tennessee-chattanooga/ (checked 2026-10-21)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Enchanted Garden of Lights** at Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750. When: Nightly Nov 13 – Dec 31, 2026 (closed Dec 24). Time: 4–10:30 p.m. (11:30 select nights). Price: Adults $31–49; children 3–12 $21–39; online timed entry only. 32nd year; millions of lights. Official page: https://www.seerockcity.com/enchanted-garden-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Nooga Lights**, 11750 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379. When: Select dates Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027; open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Day. Time: 6–10 p.m. Price: See pricing page. Unlimited-loop nights: Nov 6–8, 13–15, 20–21, 23–24, Nov 30–Dec 1, Dec 7–8, Dec 28–Jan 2; two-loop nights Nov 22, 25–29, Dec 2–6, 9–27. Official page: https://www.noogalights.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Asian Lantern Festival: Wildlife Wonderland** at Chattanooga Zoo. When: Wed–Sun, Nov 18, 2026 – Jan 23, 2027, plus extra dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's (closed Christmas Day). Time: 5:30–9:30 p.m.; last entry 8:30. Price: Adults $23.50; kids 3–12 $17.50 ($19 and $14 for members); timed tickets online. Hundreds of hand-made lanterns shaped like animals, some up to 16 feet tall. Official page: https://www.chattzoo.org/events/alf (checked 2026-10-31)
- **Tennessee Valley Railroad Christmas Lights Train** at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421. When: Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Evening departures; times not yet posted. Price: $26 per seat; child $17. A one-hour heated vintage train ride after Christmas, with lights at the depots and along parts of the route. Santa is not aboard on this one. Official page: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/holiday-christmas-light-train/ (checked 2026-10-31)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Nooga Lights**, 11750 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379. When: Select dates Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027; open Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Day. Time: 6–10 p.m. Price: See pricing page. Unlimited-loop nights: Nov 6–8, 13–15, 20–21, 23–24, Nov 30–Dec 1, Dec 7–8, Dec 28–Jan 2; two-loop nights Nov 22, 25–29, Dec 2–6, 9–27. Official page: https://www.noogalights.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Asian Lantern Festival: Wildlife Wonderland** at Chattanooga Zoo. When: Wed–Sun, Nov 18, 2026 – Jan 23, 2027, plus extra dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's (closed Christmas Day). Time: 5:30–9:30 p.m.; last entry 8:30. Price: Adults $23.50; kids 3–12 $17.50 ($19 and $14 for members); timed tickets online. Hundreds of hand-made lanterns shaped like animals, some up to 16 feet tall. Official page: https://www.chattzoo.org/events/alf (checked 2026-10-31)
- **Tennessee Valley Railroad Christmas Lights Train** at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421. When: Dec 26, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Evening departures; times not yet posted. Price: $26 per seat; child $17. A one-hour heated vintage train ride after Christmas, with lights at the depots and along parts of the route. Santa is not aboard on this one. Official page: https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/holiday-christmas-light-train/ (checked 2026-10-31)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Chattanooga with kids?
Of the three places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Coolidge Park, Chattanooga Zoo and Urban Air Chattanooga are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Chattanooga?
Open with posted hours: Urban Air Chattanooga (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Chattanooga?
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Chattanooga?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Nooga Lights, Asian Lantern Festival: Wildlife Wonderland and Tennessee Valley Railroad Christmas Lights Train. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Chattanooga?
Enchanted Garden of Lights, Nooga Lights, Asian Lantern Festival: Wildlife Wonderland and Tennessee Valley Railroad Christmas Lights Train. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).