# Christmas lights in Columbus for little kids, 2026

> Five Christmas light displays in and around Columbus have 2026 dates: 2 drive-thrus and 3 walk-throughs. None are free on their own, though some come with admission you may already have. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 4 p.m. at Wildlights. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 5 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/christmas-lights/
- Santa (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/columbus/llms.txt

## Drive-thru Christmas lights

- **Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights** at Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights, Delaware, OH. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: See site. Price: Cars/vans/SUVs: Mon–Thu $20; Fri–Sun and holidays $30; tickets sold at the show. Santa's House (run by a former neighboring campground) is not part of this show. Official page: https://butchbandosfantasyoflights.com/pricing-purchase-tickets

## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Wildlights** at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, OH. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu noon–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat noon–10 p.m. Earliest start: Lights at dusk; zoo encourages arriving before 4 p.m. Price: Included with zoo admission. Sensory: Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll Nov 17, 5:30–8:30 p.m. (free for members, pre-registration; sensory kits $10 deposit; calming room). Jingle Jam has a light-sensitivity warning. Train ride, reindeer, free carousel and Yule Tide boat ride. Official page: https://www.columbuszoo.org/wildlights
- **Conservatory Aglow** at Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (closed Thanksgiving, Dec 2–3, Dec 24–25). Time: Sun–Thu 5–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5–10 p.m. through December. Earliest start: 5 p.m. Price: Special-engagement ticket; reservations open Oct 26, 11 a.m. 100-foot light tunnel, life-size Candyland, igloos, garden railway. Good indoor option in bad weather. Official page: https://www.fpconservatory.org/exhibitions/conservatory-aglow/
- **Season of Celebrations** at COSI, Columbus, OH. When: From Sat Nov 21, 2026. Time: Museum hours. Price: Included with COSI admission. Twinkling lights, community tree forest; no Santa listed. Official page: https://cosi.org/season-of-celebrations

## Worth the drive from Columbus

- **WonderLight's Christmas** at Hartford Fairgrounds, 14028 Fairgrounds Road, Hartford, OH 43013. When: Nightly Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027, including holidays. Time: 5:30–10 p.m. Earliest start: 5:30 p.m. Price: $35 per car; $50 limos and activity vans. Drive: About 45 minutes (Hartford, OH). 1M+ LEDs synced to music on car radio; no RVs or vehicles over 25 ft. Official page: https://www.wonderlightschristmas.com/ohio

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Are there free Christmas lights in Columbus?
None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.

### What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Columbus?
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights (Cars/vans/SUVs: Mon–Thu $20; Fri–Sun and holidays $30; tickets sold at the show); WonderLight's Christmas ($35 per car; $50 limos and activity vans). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

### Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. Two of the 5 displays can be driven, including Butch Bando's Fantasy of Lights and WonderLight's Christmas. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in Columbus? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: Wildlights at 4 p.m., Conservatory Aglow at 5 p.m. and WonderLight's Christmas at 5:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

### Are there sensory-friendly light nights in Columbus?
Wildlights: Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll Nov 17, 5:30–8:30 p.m. (free for members, pre-registration; sensory kits $10 deposit; calming room). Jingle Jam has a light-sensitivity warning.

### 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).