Three Christmas light displays in and around Chattanooga have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 2 walk-throughs. One is free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 4 p.m. at Enchanted Garden of Lights. One more ran last season but hasn’t posted 2026 dates yet. 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.
Rock City · 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Little-kid take: Opens at 4 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page · Source
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Nooga Lights · 11750 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379
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 problem
Coolidge Park · Chattanooga, TN
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problemIt ran last season. We’ll add it when 2026 dates go up.
Nothing is lit yet. Nooga Lights opens first, on Nov 6. Nooga Lights runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:30 p.m. in Chattanooga (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
4 p.m. start · plan about an hour
4 p.m.
6 p.m. start · plan about an hour
6 p.m.
8 p.m. start · plan about an hour
4–8 p.m. (parade 7, fireworks 8)
Pick: Nooga Lights
Picks: Enchanted Garden of Lights, Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enchanted Garden of Lights | Adults $31–49; children 3–12 $21–39; online timed entry only | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Nooga Lights | See pricing page | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat Parade | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 6 Santa outings in and around Chattanooga: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Chattanooga →
Yes. Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat Parade is free in 2026.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Enchanted Garden of Lights (Adults $31–49; children 3–12 $21–39; online timed entry only). 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 3 displays can be driven: Nooga Lights. Walk-throughs (two here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Enchanted Garden of Lights at 4 p.m., Nooga Lights at 6 p.m. and Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat Parade at 8 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 18, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Chattanooga · Chattanooga city guide · Visiting Chattanooga
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Chattanooga that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.