Three Christmas light displays in and around Jacksonville have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade. 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.
Jacksonville Beach · Jacksonville Beach, FL
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 problem
Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens · Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Jacksonville, FL
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problem
Riverfront Plaza, downtown · Riverfront Plaza, Jacksonville, FL
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 problemNothing is lit yet. Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs opens first, on Nov 25. Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:25 p.m. in Jax (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
From 5pm; tree lighting 6:25pm, boat parade 6:30pm, fireworks about 8:30pm
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs, Glowing Gardens, Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Glowing Gardens | See the arboretum’s site | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 4 Santa outings in and around Jax: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Jax →
Yes. Jacksonville Beach Deck the Chairs and Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade 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: Holiday River Fest and Light Boat Parade at 5 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 19, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Jax · Jacksonville city guide · Visiting Jax
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Jax that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.