Best Christmas Light Displays in Arkansas (2026)

Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit quite like seeing Christmas lights!

And Arkansas has some wonderful displays.

You can stroll through town squares covered in twinkling lights, drive through huge displays from the warmth of your car, wander through botanical gardens glowing with millions of lights, and even see the dome of the Arkansas State Capitol shining over Little Rock.

Here are some of our favorite Christmas light displays in Arkansas to visit this holiday season.

Best Christmas Light Displays in Arkansas

When possible, I have included a website or Facebook page so that you can check current hours, ticket information, special events, and weather-related changes before you go.

Some of these Arkansas Christmas light displays are completely free, while others require admission or advance tickets.

And if I have missed a Christmas light display that you think deserves to be on this list, let me know!

The displays are listed alphabetically by town.

Close up photo of Christmas Lights.

Batesville: White River Wonderland

Batesville has earned the title Christmas Capital of Arkansas, and White River Wonderland is a big reason why!

The display will look a little different in 2026 while Riverside Park undergoes a major renovation, but the Christmas lights will still return for the season.

The final route and event details have not yet been announced, so be sure to check the official schedule before you go.

Benton: A Small Town Christmas

Downtown Benton is a beautiful place to enjoy Christmas lights! The historic Saline County Courthouse and surrounding downtown area are covered in lights for the season, making the square especially pretty after dark.

I used to live near Benton, and we always made time to attend this event! In addition to the lights, there are typically special events throughout the Christmas season, including visits with Santa and other family-friendly activities.

It’s a fun one to combine with dinner or a little Christmas shopping in downtown Benton.

You might be interested in: Our favorite local restaurants in Benton, Arkansas.

Bentonville: Lights on the Square

Downtown Bentonville is charming any time of year, but it really shines at Christmas.

Thousands of lights cover the trees and buildings around the downtown square, while the windows of the surrounding businesses are beautifully decorated for the holidays.

It is a wonderful place to bundle up, grab something warm to drink, and simply walk around enjoying the season. This is one that always just makes me feel happy.

The official Lighting of the Square will be held on November 21, 2026, with the lights coming on at 6:00 p.m.

You might be interested in: Things to do in Bentonville

Blytheville: Lights of the Delta

Lights of the Delta in Blytheville is one of the largest Christmas light displays in this part of the country.

The 1.5-mile drive winds through a display of more than six million lights and dozens of large animated scenes surrounded by trees and lakes.

You can drive through in your own vehicle or reserve one of the popular hayrides. We attended this light display last year and reserved a spot on a hayride. It was a cold night and we huddled together with our hot cocoa and had the best time!

For 2026, Lights of the Delta will be open daily from November 23 through December 27.

Crossett: Finney’s Christmas Wonderland

Finney’s Christmas Wonderland is one of Arkansas’s best-known privately owned Christmas light displays.

Sam Finney began creating the display near Crossett in 1985, and it grew over the years into a huge Christmas wonderland filled with lights, animated scenes, music, and holiday decorations.

One of the things that makes this display especially meaningful is its focus on the Christmas story as well as a tribute to veterans and military families.

El Dorado: Merry and Bright Holiday Lights

El Dorado is already one of Arkansas’s prettiest downtowns, and it becomes even more beautiful during the holidays.

Traditional red and green lights illuminate Union Square and the Union County Courthouse, and the holiday season includes a downtown lighting ceremony, Christmas parade, carriage rides, and other special events.

It is easy to turn a visit to see the lights into an entire Christmas evening in downtown El Dorado.

Eureka Springs: Downtown Eureka Springs

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that quirky and charming Eureka Springs knows how to celebrate Christmas!

The Victorian downtown sparkles during the holidays with decorated storefronts, Christmas trees, and lights winding through the historic streets.

The town’s Christmas season officially kicks off over Thanksgiving weekend, with the annual tree lighting and a variety of special holiday events.

You can also drive through the Christmas light display at the Great Passion Play, where hundreds of illuminated Christmas trees and nativity scenes cover the grounds.

The result is an entire town that feels festive during the Christmas season.

Fayetteville: Lights of the Ozarks on the Fayetteville Square

Lights of the Ozarks is a longtime Arkansas Christmas tradition that transforms the historic Fayetteville Square with more than 500,000 twinkling lights.

Stroll around the square, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy the lights and special events throughout the season. Best of all, seeing the lights is free!

More Information

Hot Springs: Garvan Gardens

If you only visit one walk-through Christmas light display in Arkansas, Garvan Woodland Gardens should definitely be on your list.

We went one Christmas and wandered through the gardens bundled up with hot chocolate in hand. It was such a fun holiday experience!

During Holiday Lights, the gardens are transformed with millions of lights, glowing trees, animated displays, and Christmas scenes tucked throughout the landscape.

Tickets often sell out, particularly on popular weekend nights, so I highly recommend purchasing yours in advance.

The 2026 Holiday Lights season runs from November 21 through December 31. The gardens will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

One of the best Christmas Light Displays in Arkansas is located at Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs. This photo is of lights through the trees and you can see them reflected in a small body of water below.

Hot Springs: Hot Springs National Park and Town

Don’t stop with Garvan Gardens when you go to Hot Springs for Christmas!

Downtown Hot Springs gets dressed up for the season too, with holiday lights stretching through the historic district and along Bathhouse Row.

The 2026 downtown holiday lights will come on during the Tom Daniel Holiday Chili Cook-Off on November 23.

Walk Bathhouse Row after dark, check out the decorated store windows across Central Avenue, and be sure to stop inside the Arlington Hotel to see its Christmas decorations.

More Information

You might be interested in: Our guide to Hot Springs, Arkansas

Jonesboro: Christmas at the Park

Christmas at the Park turns Joe Mack Campbell Park in Jonesboro into a drive-through winter wonderland.

The route includes hundreds of thousands of lights and holiday displays, including a huge illuminated tunnel.

This is a ticketed attraction, and admission can be purchased online.

Little Rock: Arkansas State Capitol Building

Seeing the Arkansas State Capitol covered in Christmas lights is one of my favorite Little Rock holiday traditions.

I remember seeing it as a little girl when the dome was decorated in alternating strands of red and green lights! In recent years, the building has sparkled in white lights.

The tradition dates all the way back to 1938, when Arkansas Secretary of State C.G. “Crip” Hall wanted to create something special for children at nearby Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Don’t just admire the Capitol from outside. Go inside to see the Christmas tree in the rotunda and other holiday decorations throughout the building.

The 2026 Capitol Lighting Ceremony is December 5 at 5:30 p.m.

We have a list of more Christmas activities in Little Rock or you may be interested our complete guide to things to do in Little Rock.

Little Rock: GloWILD at the Little Rock Zoo

GloWILD has become one of Little Rock’s biggest holiday light experiences!

Each year, the Little Rock Zoo is transformed after dark with enormous handcrafted silk lanterns inspired by animals, flowers, nature, and imagination.

Some of the lanterns tower up to 30 feet high, and more than half a million lights glow throughout the Zoo. There are also interactive displays and plenty of fun places for family Christmas photos.

GloWILD is a ticketed event held on select nights during the holiday season, and special evenings include events such as Sensory Night and a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration.

Magnolia: Let it Glow Tour of Lights

The small town of Magnolia knows how to celebrate Christmas!

Start with a drive around the Courthouse Square to see the downtown lights and then head out to see some of the other decorated areas around town.

Magnolia also holds its annual Let It Glow decorating contest, which means local residents get involved too. Grab the tour map once it is released and drive around town looking for some of the best decorated homes.

Mountain Home: Coulter Celebration of Lights

The Coulter Celebration of Lights is one of Arkansas’s newer Christmas light traditions.

Held on the Arkansas State University–Mountain Home campus, the event features more than two million lights and both drive-through and walk-through areas.

Admission is free, although donations are accepted. Money raised helps the display continue to grow and supports student scholarships at ASUMH.

The university has confirmed that the Celebration of Lights will return in 2026, although exact dates have not yet been announced.

Paris: Christmas Lights in Downtown Paris

Paris is a lovely small Arkansas town near Mount Magazine State Park and the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway.

At Christmas, the historic courthouse and old-fashioned town square are decorated with lights for the season. You’ll also see themed Christmas trees decorated by local clubs and organizations around the square.

If you are planning a winter trip to Mount Magazine, it is worth making a stop in Paris after dark.

Pine Bluff: Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends

If you love a good old-fashioned drive-through Christmas light display, head to Pine Bluff.

The Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends takes over Jefferson County Regional Park each holiday season with a 1.3-mile drive filled with hundreds of light displays, many of them animated.

Admission is free, although donations are accepted to help maintain and grow the display.

The attraction traditionally runs from mid-November through December 31; exact 2026 opening information has not yet been announced.

Searcy: Searcy Holiday of Lights and Holidays at Harding

Searcy is another Arkansas town that goes all out for Christmas.

You’ll find lights throughout town, including Berryhill Park, Spring Park, downtown Searcy, and the historic White County Courthouse.

The 2026 Holiday of Lights celebration begins at Berryhill Park on November 17, with festivities starting at 5:30 p.m. and the lights coming on at 6:00 p.m.

You will also want to drive or stroll through Harding University. The huge trees on the front lawn are draped with approximately 500,000 lights, creating one of the prettiest Christmas scenes in the state.

Sherwood: Enchanted Forest

The Enchanted Forest Trail of Lights in Sherwood is an easy Christmas outing for families in Central Arkansas.

The entrance is at the Sherwood Sports Complex, where you can drive through more than a mile of holiday lights and displays.

Admission is free, although donations are accepted to help fund future displays. The city has also traditionally collected canned and nonperishable food for local food pantries.

Smackover: Holiday Lights Walk

If you enjoy a smaller, cozy Christmas light experience, the Holiday Lights Walk in Smackover is such a sweet one to add to your list.

Held at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, this event features a lighted walk through the Oil Field Park area. The trail is about a quarter-mile long and is mostly paved, making it an easy stroll for families. After your walk, you can head inside and warm up with a cup of hot cocoa.

This is a fun choice if you like Christmas lights but want something a little quieter and more relaxed.

Washington: Christmas and Candlelight at Historic Washington State Park

This one is completely different from the giant animated Christmas light displays, and that is exactly why I love including it.

Historic Washington State Park celebrates Christmas with thousands of glowing luminaries lining the streets of the historic village.

The preserved homes are decorated for the season with period-appropriate greenery and decorations, and visitors can wander the candlelit streets, tour historic buildings, and listen to Christmas music.

It is a beautiful way to experience an old-fashioned Arkansas Christmas.

The 40th Annual Christmas and Candlelight will be held December 11–12, 2026.

Wilson: Wilson Winter Wonderland

If you love a walk-through Christmas light display, Wilson Winter Wonderland is a beautiful one to add to your Arkansas holiday list.

Each Christmas season, the town of Wilson lights up with a festive display that includes large illuminated trees, light tunnels, holiday music, and plenty of small-town Christmas charm. On Friday and Saturday nights, visitors can also enjoy Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa, cookies, and even snow machines.

This is a fun option if you want a Christmas light experience that feels festive, immersive, and family-friendly.

More Information
  • 2026 Dates: November 27–28, December 4–5, December 11–12, and December 18–19
  • Website: Wilson Winter Wonderland
Tunnel of white Christmas Lights. Christmas Light Displays in Arkansas.

I hope you get a chance to see at least one of these beautiful Christmas light displays in Arkansas this year.

Bundle up, grab a cup of hot chocolate, load up the family or some friends, and enjoy a little Christmas magic in the Natural State!

You might also be interested in our list of the best Christmas Tree Farms in Arkansas.

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Karen and Emily

Hey y'all! Thanks for stopping by.

We are Karen and Emily, a mother and daughter duo who write this blog together. We are based in Central Arkansas but love to travel all around our beautiful home state and share our discoveries with you!

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