Four Christmas light displays in and around Madison have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 3 walk-throughs. One is free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 4:30 p.m. at Holiday Fantasy in 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.
Henry Vilas Zoo · Madison, WI
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
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Olin Park · 1156 Olin Court, Madison, WI
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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Olbrich Botanical Gardens · 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704
Little-kid take: Has daytime hours, so it works before nap. Stay until dusk to see the lights come on.
Checked Oct 18 on the official page
Report a problemBigger out-of-town shows parents make a night of. The drive time is on each card.
Rotary Botanical Gardens · 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, WI 53545
Little-kid take: Opens at 4:30 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. Holiday Fantasy in Lights opens first, on Nov 14. Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 4:25 p.m. in Madison (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
From 10 a.m. · stay until dusk
10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily
4:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Dusk (~4:30 p.m.)
Pick: Holiday Fantasy in Lights
Picks: Zoo Lights, Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show
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 | $12; advance 4-pack $40; 3 and under free, no ticket needed | 3 and under free | Walk-through |
| Holiday Fantasy in Lights | Free | See the venue | Drive-thru |
| Holiday Light Show (30th year) | Adults $18; kids 3–12 $5; 2 and under free (online and door) | 2 and under free | Walk-through · About 40 minutes (Janesville, WI) |
| Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show | $10 general; $6 ages 6–12; 5 and under free | 5 and under free | Walk-through |
See all 5 Santa outings in and around Madison: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
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Yes. Holiday Fantasy in Lights is free in 2026.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Holiday Light Show (30th year) (Adults $18; kids 3–12 $5; 2 and under free (online and door)); Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show ($10 general; $6 ages 6–12; 5 and under free); Zoo Lights ($12; advance 4-pack $40; 3 and under free, no ticket needed). 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 4 displays can be driven: Holiday Fantasy in Lights. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Holiday Fantasy in Lights at 4:30 p.m. and Holiday Light Show (30th year) at 4:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime. For no-late-night options, Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show works in the daytime.
Little ones get in free at Zoo Lights (3 and under free); Holiday Light Show (30th year) (2 and under free); Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show (5 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 18, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Madison · Madison city guide · Visiting Madison
One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Madison that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.