# Christmas lights in Richmond for little kids, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 4 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/richmond/christmas-lights/
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- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/richmond/llms.txt

## Drive-thru Christmas lights

- **Illuminate Light Show** at Meadow Event Park, Doswell, VA. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027; open on holidays. Time: Gates 5:30–10 p.m. Earliest start: 5:30 p.m. Price: See ticket page. Synchronized to music; 20 minutes north of Richmond; free for military opening weekend Nov 20–22. Official page: https://www.illuminatelightshow.com/

## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights** at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228. When: Nov 23, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (member preview Nov 20–22). Time: 4–10 p.m. Earliest start: 4 p.m. Price: Advance timed tickets required (prices on ticket page). Adults-only nights Dec 2, 3, 30; dog nights Mondays Nov 23, 30, Dec 7, 14, 28. Tickets limited. Official page: https://www.lewisginter.org/visit/events/dominion-energy-gardenfest-of-lights/
- **WinterWorld** at CarMax Park, Richmond, VA. When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: See tickets. Price: See ticket page (skating, slide, Ferris wheel extra). First season; 1 million+ lights, light tunnel, tree maze, ice rink, Ferris wheel. Official page: https://winterworldrva.com/
- **CarMax Tacky Light Run** at Midlothian Mines Park, Midlothian, VA. When: Sat Dec 12, 2026. Time: Kids 1-mile 3:45 p.m.; main run 6 p.m. Earliest start: 3:45 p.m. kids run. Price: Adult $45 / youth $35 / kids run $20 through Nov 22; rising to $55/$45/$25. Limited to 5,000; walkers welcome. Official page: https://www.sportsbackers.org/event/tacky-light-run/

## 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).
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- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).