Four displays draw most of the crowds. Only the zoo has said anything about 2026 so far, and it hasn't given dates. If you only do one, we'd pick Garden Glow on a weeknight.
The zoo lit up with thousands of bulbs and animal-themed displays. The zoo says it's back for 2026 but hasn't posted dates or hours yet. We'll update this the week they do.
The biggest drive-thru in the area by light count, over a million LEDs synced to music on 89.5 FM, laid out on the raceway across the river. Tickets are for two-hour windows, which keeps the line moving.
Over two million lights through the botanical garden, with new installations and animations each year, and the Holiday Flower and Train Show inside the conservatory included with the ticket. It's limited capacity and December sells out. Closed Nov 17 and 27 and Dec 24–25 last year, with a Sensory Night for anyone who wants it quieter.
Drive through it, walk it, or book a meal, with a light show, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the Tier Garten animals along the way. Nothing is posted for this year, so we can't tell you dates or prices yet.
Downtown under the Arch, and a volunteer-built drive-thru across the river that runs on whatever you put in the bucket.
Over 100,000 lights on Kiener Plaza with the Arch behind them, in its eleventh year. The lights are free to wander. The rink, the heated igloos and the s'mores are what you pay for. Kids skate free on Fridays, and there are fireworks on New Year's Eve.
A nine-tenths-of-a-mile route through Horner Park, mixing hand-made cutouts and big lit pieces with an animated show that changes every year. It's run entirely by volunteers and paid for by what visitors give at the gate.
Thirty to forty-five miles out. Two of the three are already confirmed for 2026, which is more than the big ones can say.
A drive-thru through Fort Zumwalt Park where each scene is built by a local business or club. Some nights swap the cars for trolley, hayride and train rides, and there's a walk-only Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll with Santa and fireworks. Closed to cars Nov 30 and Dec 6, 7, 8 and 14, and closed Christmas Day.
A one-mile drive-thru through Rotary Park with lit scenes and light tunnels, plus new additions this year. Santa is at the Kolb Building near the end of the route on Saturdays. Closed Dec 13–14 for the walk-thru nights and on Dec 25. On Dec 6 the lights come on around 7pm, after the 5K.
Thousands of lights through the woods at Lost Hill Lake, open to the public on a handful of family nights with Santa and treats. The rest of the calendar is private parties. Some family nights add a vendor market.
One-night events. Nothing has posted 2026 dates yet, so we list last year's.
Last year Fri Dec 19, 5–8pm at the Ferguson Community Center. Santa, the Grinch, caroling and the center lit up. Free.
A house, a street, a church, a park. Give us the address and anything you know and we'll check it and add it.
We reply to every submission.One email a week through New Year's: which St. Louis displays announced dates, what opened, what's worth it this weekend. Nothing else.
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