Three Christmas light displays in and around Fort Wayne have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 2 walk-throughs. One is free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 8 p.m. at HolidayFest featuring Night of Lights. 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.
Fort Wayne Zoo · 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
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Franke Park · 1750 Goshen Ave., Fort Wayne, IN
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
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Downtown Fort Wayne · Downtown Fort Wayne, IN
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 problemNothing is lit yet. Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo opens first, on Nov 13. Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:10 p.m. in Fort Wayne (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
8 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:45–8pm
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:30–9pm
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Sun–Thu 5:30–9pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm
Pick: Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights
Picks: Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo, HolidayFest featuring Night of Lights
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo | $12; zoo members $10; 1 and under free | 1 and under free | Walk-through |
| Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights | $20 per car | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| HolidayFest featuring Night of Lights | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 2 Santa outings in and around Fort Wayne: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Fort Wayne →
Yes. HolidayFest featuring Night of Lights is free in 2026.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo ($12; zoo members $10; 1 and under free); Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights ($20 per car). 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: Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights. Walk-throughs (two here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: HolidayFest featuring Night of Lights at 8 p.m., Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo at 9 p.m. and Blue Jacket’s Fantasy of Lights at 9 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at Wild Lights at the Fort Wayne Zoo (1 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 Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne city guide · Visiting Fort Wayne
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Fort Wayne that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.