Lights 2026 · Phoenix

Christmas lights in Phoenix for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.

Nine Christmas light displays in and around Phoenix have 2026 dates: 2 drive-thrus and 7 walk-throughs. Four are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 8 p.m. at Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights. They’re spread over six areas, with the most in Phoenix.

9displays with dates
2drive-thrus
4free
8 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 9 displays

Pick tonight’s lights

Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.

Walk-through

ZooLights

Phoenix Zoo · 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ 85008

Walk-through
When
Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
Earliest start
5:30–10:30pm
Price
$35; members $30; Member Mondays $10; 2 and under free
  • Sensory Friendly ZooLights is Dec 8 (separate ticket)
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Las Noches de las Luminarias

Desert Botanical Garden · 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ 85008

Walk-through
When
Select nights Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
5–9:30pm
Price
Adults $39.95–$44.95; kids 2–17 $18.95 (members $16.95)
  • Nights: Nov 27–29
  • Dec 4–6, 11–13, 16–23, 26–31
  • Jan 1–3
  • The garden closes at 4pm on luminaria days
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

APS Electric Light Parade

Central Avenue, Phoenix · Central Ave. and Montebello Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013

Walk-throughFree
When
Sat, Dec 5, 2026
Earliest start
Evening
Price
Free to watch
  • The 39th lighted parade
  • it starts at Central and Montebello

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

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Walk-through

Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas Lights

Mesa Arizona Temple grounds · 101 S. LeSueur, Mesa, AZ 85204

Walk-throughFree
When
Nightly Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026
Earliest start
5–10pm
Price
Free admission and parking
  • The Visitors' Center at 455 E
  • Main St. shows more than 200 nativities

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Glendale Glitters

Murphy Park, Historic Downtown Glendale · 5850 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301

Walk-throughFreeSanta too
When
Nightly Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027
Earliest start
5–10pm
Price
Free
  • Opening weekend Nov 27–28 adds vendors, carolers and Santa

Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Drive-thru

World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe)

Tempe Diablo Stadium · 2200 W. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282

Drive-thru
When
Nightly Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
6–10pm
Price
From $39.99 per vehicle; tickets online only

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.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Drive-thru

World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch)

Camelback Ranch · 10710 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85037

Drive-thru
When
Nightly Nov 12, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
6–10pm
Price
From $39.99 per vehicle; tickets online only

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.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park · 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Walk-throughBook ahead
When
Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026 (closed Dec 24–25)
Earliest start
5:30–9:30pm
Price
$15 ages 3 and up; 2 and under free
  • Admission covers a train ride and the carousel
  • Tickets went on sale Oct 27 through ActiveNet, and it sells out every year
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
Nov 1 – Jan 15

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch) opens first, on Nov 12. World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch), World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe) and ZooLights run into the new year.

World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch) Nov 12 – Jan 3
World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe) Nov 13 – Jan 3
ZooLights Nov 25 – Jan 15
Las Noches de las Luminarias Nov 27 – Jan 3
Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas Lights Nov 27 – Dec 30
Glendale Glitters Nov 27 – Jan 1
Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Nov 27 – Dec 30
APS Electric Light Parade Dec 5
Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights Dec 5
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

In early December the sun sets around 5:20 p.m. in Phoenix (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.

Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights

8 p.m. start · plan about an hour

Evening; tree lit after the parade, about 8pm

Las Noches de las Luminarias

9:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–9:30pm

Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

9:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5:30–9:30pm

Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas Lights

10 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–10pm

Glendale Glitters

10 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–10pm

World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe)

10 p.m. start · plan about an hour

6–10pm

Drive-thru or walk-through?

Which is better for little kids?

🚗 Stay in the car

  • Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
  • No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
  • A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
  • Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules

Picks: World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe), World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch)

🚶 Get out and walk

  • Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
  • Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
  • Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
  • Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds

Picks: ZooLights, Las Noches de las Luminarias, APS Electric Light Parade, Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights and 3 more

Bring along

The little-kid lights kit

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.
2026 prices

Prices at a glance

From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.

DisplayPriceLittle kidsGood to know
ZooLights$35; members $30; Member Mondays $10; 2 and under free2 and under freeWalk-through
Las Noches de las LuminariasAdults $39.95–$44.95; kids 2–17 $18.95 (members $16.95)See the venueWalk-through
APS Electric Light ParadeFree to watchSee the venueWalk-through
Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of LightsFreeSee the venueWalk-through
Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas LightsFree admission and parkingSee the venueWalk-through
Glendale GlittersFreeSee the venueWalk-through
World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe)From $39.99 per vehicle; tickets online onlySee the venueDrive-thru
World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch)From $39.99 per vehicle; tickets online onlySee the venueDrive-thru
Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park$15 ages 3 and up; 2 and under free2 and under freeWalk-through
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See all 19 Santa outings in and around Phoenix: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.

Santa in Phoenix →
Good questions

Christmas lights in Phoenix: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Phoenix?

Yes. APS Electric Light Parade, Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights, Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas Lights and Glendale Glitters are free in 2026.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Phoenix?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: ZooLights ($35; members $30; Member Mondays $10; 2 and under free); Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park ($15 ages 3 and up; 2 and under free); Las Noches de las Luminarias (Adults $39.95–$44.95; kids 2–17 $18.95 (members $16.95)). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?

With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. Two of the 9 displays can be driven, including World of Illumination Reindeer Road (Tempe) and World of Illumination (Camelback Ranch). Walk-throughs (seven here) are better for kids who want to run around.

What time do the Christmas lights start in Phoenix? We have an early bedtime.

The earliest evening starts: Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights at 8 p.m., Las Noches de las Luminarias at 9:30 p.m. and Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park at 9:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

Which light shows are best for kids under 3?

Little ones get in free at ZooLights (2 and under free); Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.

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.

Keep planning: This week in Phoenix · Phoenix city guide · Visiting Phoenix

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Every year

Light displays that come back 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 Phoenix

ZooLightsNext: Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027Glendale Glitters kickoff with SantaNext: Nov 27–28, 2026Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad ParkNext: Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026Las Noches de las LuminariasNext: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas LightsNext: Nov 27 – Dec 30, 2026APS Electric Light ParadeNext: Dec 5, 2026Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of LightsNext: Dec 5, 2026

By month

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