Four Christmas light displays in and around Dayton have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 3 walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at A Carillon Christmas. 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.
Historic Clifton Mill · Clifton, OH (Greene County)
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problem
Carillon Historical Park · 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409
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
Day Air Ballpark · Dayton, OH
Little-kid take: Opens at 5:30 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problem
Land of Illusion · Middletown, OH
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. Deck the Diamond opens first, on Nov 13. Deck the Diamond runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:10 p.m. in Dayton (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. Fri–Sun
6 p.m. start · plan about an hour
6 p.m. (gates 5 p.m.)
6 p.m. start · about 35 min
6 p.m.
Pick: The Christmas Glow drive-thru
Picks: Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill, A Carillon Christmas, Deck the Diamond
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill | $15 per person ages 4+; 3 and under free; free parking | 3 and under free | Walk-through |
| A Carillon Christmas | Adults $14, seniors $12, kids 3–17 $10, 2 and under free; members free | 2 and under free | Walk-through |
| Deck the Diamond | $13.50 all dates (fees included); 2 and under free; +$2 day-of | 2 and under free | Walk-through |
| The Christmas Glow drive-thru | See ticket page | See the venue | Drive-thru |
See all 7 Santa outings in and around Dayton: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Dayton →
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: Deck the Diamond ($13.50 all dates (fees included); 2 and under free; +$2 day-of); A Carillon Christmas (Adults $14, seniors $12, kids 3–17 $10, 2 and under free; members free); Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill ($15 per person ages 4+; 3 and under free; free parking). 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 4 displays can be driven: The Christmas Glow drive-thru. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: A Carillon Christmas at 5 p.m., Deck the Diamond at 5:30 p.m. and Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill at 6 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill (3 and under free); A Carillon Christmas (2 and under free); Deck the Diamond (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
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 Dayton · Dayton city guide · Visiting Dayton
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Dayton that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.