A family car driving past holiday lights on a snowy night
Lights 2026 · Richmond

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

Four Christmas light displays in and around Richmond have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 3 walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 3:45 p.m. at CarMax Tacky Light Run. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.

4displays with dates
1drive-thru
0free
3:45 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 4 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

Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden · 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228

Walk-throughBook ahead
When
Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (member preview Nov 20–22)
Earliest start
4 p.m.
Price
Advance timed tickets required (prices on ticket page)
  • 4–10 p.m.
  • Adults-only nights Dec 2, 3, 30
  • dog nights Mondays Nov 23, 30, Dec 7, 14, 28
  • Tickets limited

Little-kid take: Opens at 4 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Drive-thru

Illuminate Light Show

Meadow Event Park · Doswell, VA

Drive-thru
When
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027; open on holidays
Earliest start
5:30 p.m.
Price
See ticket page
  • Gates 5:30–10 p.m.
  • Synchronized to music
  • 20 minutes north of Richmond
  • free for military opening weekend Nov 20–22

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 ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

WinterWorld

CarMax Park · Richmond, VA

Walk-through
When
Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
See tickets
Price
See ticket page (skating, slide, Ferris wheel extra)
  • First season
  • 1 million+ lights, light tunnel, tree maze, ice rink, Ferris wheel
Tickets / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

CarMax Tacky Light Run

Midlothian Mines Park · Midlothian, VA

Walk-through
When
Sat Dec 12, 2026
Earliest start
3:45 p.m. kids run
Price
Adult $45 / youth $35 / kids run $20 through Nov 22; rising to $55/$45/$25
  • Kids 1-mile 3:45 p.m.; main run 6 p.m.
  • Limited to 5,000
  • walkers welcome

Little-kid take: Opens at 3:45 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.

Tickets / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Nov 1 – Jan 3

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. WinterWorld opens first, on Nov 19. WinterWorld, Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights and Illuminate Light Show run into the new year.

WinterWorld Nov 19 – Jan 3
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights Nov 20 – Jan 3
Illuminate Light Show Nov 20 – Jan 2
CarMax Tacky Light Run Dec 12
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

In early December the sun sets around 4:50 p.m. in RVA (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.

CarMax Tacky Light Run

From 3:45 p.m. · stay until dusk

3:45 p.m. kids run

Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights

4 p.m. start · plan about an hour

4 p.m.

Illuminate Light Show

5:30 p.m. start · about 20 min

5:30 p.m.

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

Pick: Illuminate Light Show

🚶 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: Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, WinterWorld, CarMax Tacky Light Run

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
Dominion Energy GardenFest of LightsAdvance timed tickets required (prices on ticket page)See the venueWalk-through
Illuminate Light ShowSee ticket pageSee the venueDrive-thru
WinterWorldSee ticket page (skating, slide, Ferris wheel extra)See the venueWalk-through
CarMax Tacky Light RunAdult $45 / youth $35 / kids run $20 through Nov 22; rising to $55/$45/$25See the venueWalk-through
Also this season

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Good questions

Christmas lights in Richmond: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Richmond?

None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Richmond?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: CarMax Tacky Light Run (Adult $45 / youth $35 / kids run $20 through Nov 22; rising to $55/$45/$25). 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. One of the 4 displays can be driven: Illuminate Light Show. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.

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

The earliest evening starts: CarMax Tacky Light Run at 3:45 p.m., Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at 4 p.m. and Illuminate Light Show at 5:30 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 19, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

Keep planning: This week in RVA · Richmond city guide · Visiting RVA

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