# Christmas lights in New York City for little kids, 2026

> Three Christmas light displays in and around New York City have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. One is free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 10 p.m. at Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting. They’re in Bronx and New York.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 3 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/christmas-lights/
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## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights** at Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460. When: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Select evenings; timed tickets. Price: See the ticket page. A walk through the zoo lit up for the holidays. There’s a sensory-inclusive night; check the event page for the date. Official page: https://bronxzoo.com/holiday-lights
- **Holiday Train Show at NYBG** at New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY. When: Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Garden hours; evening hours on select nights. Price: Timed tickets; see the event page. Model trains run past New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. Evening hours run 5–8pm on Nov 27–29 and select December dates. Official page: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2026/
- **Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting** at Rockefeller Center, Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY. When: Dec 2, 2026; tree up through mid-January. Time: Lighting 7–10pm. Price: Free to see from the plaza. This year’s 76-foot Norway spruce comes from West Edmeston, New York, and gets more than 50,000 lights. The lighting night is packed, so with small kids, visit on a weekday morning after Dec 2. Official page: https://www.rockefellercenter.com/holidays/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree/

## Light displays that come back every year

- [Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights](https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/events/bronx-zoo-holiday-lights/): next dates Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027

## Christmas trains near New York City

- [Christmas train rides near New York City](https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/christmas-trains/index.md): Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more, 10 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.

## More holiday outings in New York City

- [The Nutcracker with kids in New York City](https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/nutcracker/index.md): 4 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in New York City](https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/christmas-markets/index.md): 4 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Are there free Christmas lights in New York City?
Yes. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting is free in 2026.

### Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in New York City? We have an early bedtime.
The earliest evening starts: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting at 10 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

### How do you check these Christmas lights listings?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).