Seven Christmas light displays in and around Houston have 2026 dates: 2 drive-thrus and 5 walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 10 p.m. at Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston. They’re spread over five areas, with the most in Houston.
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.
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
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Space Center Houston · 1601 E. NASA Pkwy., Houston, TX 77058
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
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Checked Oct 26 on the official page
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Typhoon Texas Waterpark parking lot · 555 Katy Fort Bend Rd, Katy, TX 77494
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 26 on the official page
Report a problemHurricane Harbor parking lot · 21300 Interstate 45 N, Spring, TX 77373
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 26 on the official page
Report a problemMoody Gardens · 1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemHouston Botanic Garden · 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017
Checked Oct 26 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. The Light Park Katy opens first, on Nov 6. The Light Park Katy, The Light Park Spring and Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston run into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:20 p.m. in Houston (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
6–10pm (tickets until 9pm)
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Sun–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm
10 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Nightly, about 6–10pm
10:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5:30–10:30pm (last entry 9:30pm)
Picks: The Light Park Katy, The Light Park Spring
Picks: Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo, Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston, Sugar Land Holiday Lights, Holiday Lights Trail at Moody Gardens and 1 more
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo | Dated tickets online; children 2 and under free | children 2 and under free | Walk-through |
| Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston | $19.95–$27.95 over age 3; 3 and under free | 3 and under free | Walk-through |
| Sugar Land Holiday Lights | Family 4-pack $59 on select dates; early-bird prices through Nov 20 | See the venue | Walk-through |
| The Light Park Katy | $29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| The Light Park Spring | $29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| Holiday Lights Trail at Moody Gardens | Dated tickets online; bundles with ICE LAND and skating | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden | Timed tickets; 2 and under free; parking $12 | 2 and under free | Walk-through |
See all 13 Santa outings in and around Houston: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Houston →
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: Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden (Timed tickets; 2 and under free; parking $12); Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston ($19.95–$27.95 over age 3; 3 and under free); The Light Park Katy ($29.99 per car pre-sale online through Nov 5; $60 at the gate). 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. Two of the 7 displays can be driven, including The Light Park Katy and The Light Park Spring. Walk-throughs (five here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston at 10 p.m., The Light Park Katy at 10 p.m. and The Light Park Spring at 10 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo (children 2 and under free); Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston (3 and under free); Radiant Nature at Houston Botanic Garden (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 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Houston · Houston city guide · Visiting Houston
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Houston that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
Every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in Houston
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Things to do with kids in Houston in November · Things to do with kids in Houston in December
Christmas trains
Christmas train rides near Houston: Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more. 3 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.
More holiday outings
The Nutcracker with kids in Houston: 3 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in Houston: 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.
Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston