# Christmas lights in Des Moines for little kids, 2026

> Two Christmas light displays in and around Des Moines have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 1 walk-through. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at Dome for the Holidays. 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 2 listings with 2026 dates; 2 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/des-moines/christmas-lights/
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## Drive-thru Christmas lights

- **Jolly Holiday Lights** at Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Sun–Thu 5:30–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5:30–10 p.m.; Dec 20–27 5:30–10 p.m. Earliest start: 5:30 p.m. Price: $25 per car; bus/limo/RV $50; season pass $65 (plus taxes and fees); flash sale starts Nov 9 at 8 a.m. About 3 million lights, including a drive through the speedway stands. Plan 30–45 minutes on busy nights. $1 per ticket to Make-A-Wish Iowa. Official page: https://www.jollyholiday-lights.com/pricing

## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Dome for the Holidays** at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr., Des Moines, IA. When: Select evenings Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (closed Nov 26, Dec 24, Dec 25, Jan 1). Time: 5–9 p.m.; timed 30-minute arrival windows, last entry window 8 p.m. Earliest start: 5 p.m. Price: Adults $18; youth 1–13 $13; under 1 free; members $3 off. Strollers: Small strollers welcome but some paths are narrow; leave double-wide strollers and wagons in the car. Loaner strollers and wheelchairs available. Wednesday Family Nights (Nov 18, 25; Dec 2, 9, 16, 30, 5–8:30 p.m.) add glow games. Indoors and warm. Official page: https://dmbotanicalgarden.com/dome-for-the-holidays/

## Dates not posted yet

- **Santa's Rock n Lights** (Living History Farms (rented site; not a Living History Farms event)): dates not posted yet. Check the official page: https://santasrocknlights.com/desmoines/
- **Holiday Hullabaloo** (Southridge Event Center): dates not posted yet. Check the official page: https://www.holidayhullabaloo.com/

## 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 Des Moines?
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 Des Moines?
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Dome for the Holidays (Adults $18; youth 1–13 $13; under 1 free; members $3 off); Jolly Holiday Lights ($25 per car; bus/limo/RV $50; season pass $65 (plus taxes and fees); flash sale starts Nov 9 at 8 a.m.). 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. One of the 2 displays can be driven: Jolly Holiday Lights. Walk-throughs (one here) are better for kids who want to run around; stroller rules from the venues: Dome for the Holidays: Small strollers welcome but some paths are narrow; leave double-wide strollers and wagons in the car. Loaner strollers and wheelchairs available.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in Des Moines? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: Dome for the Holidays at 5 p.m. and Jolly Holiday Lights at 5:30 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 Dome for the Holidays (under 1 free). 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).