Lights 2026 · Virginia Beach–Norfolk

Christmas lights in Virginia Beach–Norfolk for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.

Five Christmas light displays in and around Virginia Beach–Norfolk have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 4 walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 6 p.m. at Town Center Grand Illumination. They’re spread over three areas, with the most in Norfolk.

5displays with dates
1drive-thru
2free
6 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 5 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 Garden of Lights

Norfolk Botanical Garden · 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23518

Walk-through
When
Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
Every evening, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; open until 8:15pm on value nights, 9:15pm on popular nights
Price
Value nights: adults $24, kids 3–12 $15; popular nights: adults $30, kids $18; under 3 free; $5 more at the gate
  • A one-mile walking loop that works with strollers and wagons
  • double strollers have to fold to get through Baker Hall
  • The elves roam on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8, and Nov 12 is holiday-pajama night
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 28 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center · 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Walk-throughBook aheadSanta too
When
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
Timed entries at 5, 6 and 7:30pm
Price
Adults $19–$22, kids 3–12 $12–$15, plus fees; Twilight Hour costs more; walk-ups add $10
  • A new walking trail of seven themed areas on the aquarium grounds, replacing the old Holiday Lights at the Beach drive
  • Strollers are allowed
  • The 5pm Twilight Hour gets early entry, lighter crowds and an ornament, and Santa photos are sold on site in Glowing Grove
  • Military families pay less on Monday nights
Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 28 on the official page

Report a problem
Drive-thru

Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall

Chesapeake City Hall · 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322

Drive-thru
When
Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Earliest start
5–9pm nightly
Price
No price listed on the city’s page
  • A drive-through light display of holiday scenes, seen from your car

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 28 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Grand Illumination Parade

Downtown Norfolk · Downtown Norfolk, Norfolk, VA 23510

Walk-throughFree
When
Sat, Nov 21, 2026
Earliest start
7pm
Price
Free
  • The 40th parade, themed Ruby Radiance, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving

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

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 28 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

Town Center Grand Illumination

Town Center Fountain Plaza · Town Center, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Walk-throughFreeSanta too
When
Sat, Nov 28, 2026
Earliest start
5–6pm
Price
Free
  • Santa and Mrs
  • Claus arrive for the tree lighting, and elves hand out free hot chocolate while it lasts
  • From 6pm and through December, families can visit Santa in a life-size snow globe
  • Parking in Town Center is always free

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

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 28 on the official page

Report a problem
Nov 1 – Jan 3

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. Dominion Energy Garden of Lights opens first, on Nov 6. Dominion Energy Garden of Lights, Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium and Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall run into the new year.

Dominion Energy Garden of Lights Nov 6 – Jan 3
Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium Nov 20 – Jan 3
Grand Illumination Parade Nov 21
Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall Nov 26 – Jan 2
Town Center Grand Illumination Nov 28
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

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

Town Center Grand Illumination

6 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–6pm

Grand Illumination Parade

7 p.m. start · plan about an hour

7pm

Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium

7:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

Timed entries at 5, 6 and 7:30pm

Dominion Energy Garden of Lights

8:15 p.m. start · plan about an hour

Every evening, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; open until 8:15pm on value nights, 9:15pm on popular nights

Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall

9 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5–9pm nightly

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: Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall

🚶 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 Garden of Lights, Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium, Grand Illumination Parade, Town Center Grand Illumination

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 Garden of LightsValue nights: adults $24, kids 3–12 $15; popular nights: adults $30, kids $18; under 3 free; $5 more at the gateunder 3 freeWalk-through
Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia AquariumAdults $19–$22, kids 3–12 $12–$15, plus fees; Twilight Hour costs more; walk-ups add $10See the venueWalk-through
Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City HallNo price listed on the city’s pageSee the venueDrive-thru
Grand Illumination ParadeFreeSee the venueWalk-through
Town Center Grand IlluminationFreeSee the venueWalk-through
Also this season

Want Santa with your lights?

See all 6 Santa outings in and around Hampton Roads: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.

Santa in Hampton Roads →
Good questions

Christmas lights in Virginia Beach–Norfolk: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Virginia Beach–Norfolk?

Yes. Grand Illumination Parade and Town Center Grand Illumination are free in 2026.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Virginia Beach–Norfolk?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium (Adults $19–$22, kids 3–12 $12–$15, plus fees; Twilight Hour costs more; walk-ups add $10); Dominion Energy Garden of Lights (Value nights: adults $24, kids 3–12 $15; popular nights: adults $30, kids $18; under 3 free; $5 more at the gate). 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 5 displays can be driven: Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall. Walk-throughs (four here) are better for kids who want to run around.

What time do the Christmas lights start in Virginia Beach–Norfolk? We have an early bedtime.

The earliest evening starts: Town Center Grand Illumination at 6 p.m., Grand Illumination Parade at 7 p.m. and Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium at 7:30 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 Dominion Energy Garden of Lights (under 3 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 Hampton Roads · Virginia Beach–Norfolk city guide · Visiting Hampton Roads

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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 Hampton Roads

Dominion Energy Garden of LightsNext: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia AquariumNext: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City HallNext: Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027Town Center Grand IlluminationNext: Nov 28, 2026

By month

More dates for little kids in Hampton Roads

Things to do with kids in Virginia Beach–Norfolk in November · Things to do with kids in Virginia Beach–Norfolk in December