Three Christmas light displays in and around El Paso have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Three are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 11 p.m. at The Lights at San Jacinto Plaza. They’re in Downtown El Paso and Las Cruces.
Last checked · How we choose
Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
San Jacinto Plaza · San Jacinto Plaza, Downtown El Paso, TX
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 30 on the official page
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Cleveland Square Park · Cleveland Square Park, Downtown El Paso, TX
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 30 on the official page
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Plaza de Las Cruces · 100 N. Main St., Las Cruces, NM
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 30 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. The Lights at San Jacinto Plaza opens first, on Nov 21.
In early December the sun sets around 5 p.m. in El Paso (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
11 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Daily 5–11pm
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: The Lights at San Jacinto Plaza, The Lights at Cleveland Square Park, Las Cruces Tree Lighting and Holiday Night Market
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lights at San Jacinto Plaza | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| The Lights at Cleveland Square Park | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Las Cruces Tree Lighting and Holiday Night Market | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 3 Santa outings in and around El Paso: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in El Paso →
Yes. The Lights at San Jacinto Plaza, The Lights at Cleveland Square Park and Las Cruces Tree Lighting and Holiday Night Market are free in 2026.
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: The Lights at San Jacinto Plaza at 11 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 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in El Paso · El Paso city guide · Visiting El Paso
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in El Paso that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
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Things to do with kids in El Paso in November · Things to do with kids in El Paso in December
More holiday outings
The Nutcracker with kids in El Paso: 3 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in El Paso: 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.