Holiday lights shows are glowing in Alabama — and please don’t tell us it’s too early for a dose of seasonal sparkle. Here are 20 glittering events meant to delight the eyes, warm the heart and bring cheer during the Christmas season.
What to expect: Holiday light show with drive-thru nights, walking nights, dog-friendly nights tram rides and sensory hours. Event includes icicle forest, concessions, Christmas music and more.
When: Nov. 26, 28-30; Dec. 3-24, 26-31. Hours vary depending on the day, but timed admission slots generally start at at 4:30 p.m. and run through 9 p.m. The site closes at 10 p.m. See the full schedule here.
Where: Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave., Huntsville, 256-830-4447. See a site map here.
Admission: $5-$25 walking nights, $30-$45 driving nights, $27-$45 season passes. Tickets available in advance or at the gate.
What to expect: Walk-through light show with holiday themes, Christmas music, concessions, vendors, visits with Santa and more.
When: Daily through Dec. 28. Hours are 5-9 p.m.
Where: Toyota Field, 500 Trash Panda Way, Madison, 256-325-1403.
Admission: $16-$25, free for kids age 12 and younger, available in advance or at the gate.
What to expect: Drive-thru holiday light show with synchronized Christmas music.
When: Daily through Jan. 4. Hours 5 p.m.-midnight.
Where: Birmingham Race Course, 1000 John Rogers Drive, Birmingham, 901-867-7007.
Admission: $25-$35 per car or family van; $40-$50 for activity van, limo or mini bus. Available online or on site.
Good to know: Entrance to the light show is at Winners Way. Do not enter casino parking lots, follow signs to entrance.
What to expect: Drive-thru holiday light show with synchronized Christmas music. Displays include Bigfoot monster truck, Barbie, dinosaurs, 200-foot tunnel of lights and more.
When: Daily through Jan. 3. Hours 5:30-9 p.m. through Dec. 11, 5:30-10 p.m. Dec. 12-Jan. 3.
Where: Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure, 4599 Splash Adventure Parkway, Bessemer, 205-481-4750.
Admission: $26.91-$34.16 in advance per standard vehicle, $56.93 for party bus in advance; $29-$38 standard vehicle at gate, $66 for party bus at gate.
What to expect: Walking tours with brightly glowing lanterns depicting animals, fish and other critters, plus train rides, acrobat shows, holiday village, visits with Santa and more.
When: Nov. 26, 28-30; Dec. 4-7, 12-23, 26-31; Jan. 1-4. Hours 5-9 p.m., weather permitting.
Where: Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, 205-879-0409.
Admission: Advance tickets $21.95 adults, $13.95 children ages 2-12. Admission is free for kids younger than age 2. Train ride tickets $3.95 each.
Good to know: “While most of the Zoo’s animals head indoors after dark, some — including flamingos, elephants, and the lion — may have access to their outdoor habitats during Glow Wild, depending on weather conditions,” the zoo’s website says.
What: Holiday light show at night, illuminating statue of Vulcan. With family-friendly activities, vendors, photos with Santa, DJ music, hot cocoa and more.
When: Dec. 4. Hours are 4-8 p.m.
Where: Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham, 205-933-1409.
Admission: $6-10, free for children younger than age 4.
What to expect: Two-hour bus tour of houses with elaborate decorations, lights and holiday displays, presented and curated by Fresh Air Family, 205-540-6642.
When: Dec. 11, 16, 18. Buses run every 10 minutes, 6-10 p.m.
Where: Buses leave from Valley Hotel Homewood Birmingham, 2727 18th St. South, Homewood.
Tickets: $49.50-$55.50, available online for nine time slots per night.
Good to know: Proceeds go to financial aid for campers who cannot afford to attend Fresh Air Family’s science camp, known as Gross Out Camp.
What to expect: Drive-thru light displays with holiday themes, plus train rides, concessions area with hot chocolate, photos with Santa and more.
When: Nov. 28-30; Dec. 1, 3-7, 10-23, 26-28. Hours 5-9 p.m. Event is drive-thru only Dec. 26-29.
Where: Sportsman Lake Park, 1544 Sportsman Lake Road Northwest, Cullman, 256-734-3052.
Admission: $10 per car, $20 per bus, cash at the gate only. Carriage rides $10 per person. Train rides $10 for adults, $5 for children age 12 and younger, $5 photos with Santa.
What to expect: Miniature artworks made of stone and concrete at Ave Maria Grotto, decorated with lights for the holidays. Most artworks on scene were the lifetime work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey.
When: Nov. 28-30; Dec. 4-7, 11-23. Hours for lights are 5-9 p.m. most days, 5-8 p.m. Sundays. Grotto is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 12-8 p.m. Sundays.
Where: Ave Maria Grotto, 1600 St. Bernard Drive Southeast, Cullman, 256-734-4110.
Admission: $9-$12, free for children younger than age 4.
Good to know: Agenda for Dec. 13-14 includes Santa visits, horse-drawn wagon rides, food trucks, live music and entertainment.
What to expect: Self-guided tours of Rickwood Caverns adorned with Christmas lights and holiday characters, visits with Santa, concessions including hot chocolate. Organizers tout “a series of holiday-themed rooms, such as dancing lights, glacier ice caverns, winter wonderland and elf villages.”
When: Nov. 26, 28-30; Dec. 3-7, 10-14, 17-23, 26-30; Jan. 1-4. Hours 2-8 p.m. Reservations recommended via Alabama State Parks website.
Where: Rickwood Caverns State Park, 370 Rickwood Park Road, Warrior, 205-647-9692.
Admission: $12, free for kids age 4 and younger.
Good to know: “The 110 steps at the end of the regular tour will not be included during this time which makes the walk easier for anyone with mobility issues.” organizers said. “The walk is about a half-mile underground and a half-mile back out.”
What to expect: Drive-thru light displays with holiday themes and music, plus hot chocolate and photos with Santa.
When: Daily through Jan. 4. Hours are 5-10 p.m.
Where: River Rocks Landing Resort & Venue, 1 River Road, Gadsden, 256-543-7111.
Admission: $5-$8, cash only, $30 season pass.
What to expect: Drive-thru holiday light show, plus walk-in Santa’s Village with skating, inflatables, food vendors, photos with Santa and more.
When: Nov. 26, 28-29; Dec. 1-24, 26-31; Jan. 1-4. Hours vary depending on the day; see the full schedule here.
Where: Choccolocco Park, 954 Leon Smith Parkway, Oxford, 256-342-0174.
Admission: $25-$30 per car, depending on the day you go; $30-$35 per van, $50-$55 per bus or limo. More info here. Prices include admission to Santa’s Village, fees for activities there cost $5-$30.
What to expect: Walking trail with holiday lights and music, plus trackless train rides, Santa’s village, concessions and more.
When: Fridays-Sundays through Dec. 21, and Dec. 22-23. Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. Photos with Santa 6-8 p.m.
Where: Ladiga Trail, from Ladiga Landing to Jacksonville Soccer Pavilion and back, 501 Alexandria Road Southwest, Jacksonville.
Admission: $5, includes 5 Santa’s Village and one train ride or trail walk. Available online or at event.
Good to know: New event presented by Jacksonville Arts Council, with support from City of Jacksonville and Calhoun County Commission.
What to expect: Laser light show on guided tours at Majestic Caverns, with faith-centered message celebrating birth of Jesus and Christmas music.
When: Through Dec. 31. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sundays. Closed Tuesdays through Thursdays.
Where: Majestic Caverns, 5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway, Childersburg, 256-378-7252.
Admission: $32.98-$35.98 for caverns tour.
Good to know: Family-friendly “Adventus” events on Dec. 13, 20 and 27 feature Christmas shows, performances, fire juggling, singing, dancing, games and festive characters. Hours are 4-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $36.98-$69.
What to expect: Drive-thru display with thousands of holiday lights, created by local businesses, churches, clubs, individuals and park staff.
When: Dec. 1-31, closed Dec. 24-25. Hours are 5-9 p.m.
Where: Palisades Park, 1225 Palisades Parkway, Oneonta, 205-274-0017.
Admission: Free, donations welcome.
What to expect: Holiday lights and decorations on walking trails, train rides, visits with Santa, food vendors and more.
When: Through Jan. 4, open daily except for Dec. 24-25. Hours are 4-10 p.m.
Where: Noccalula Falls Park, 1500 Noccalula Road, Gadsden, 256-549-4663.
Admission: $12 Mondays through Thursdays, $18 Fridays through Sundays, free for kids age 3 and younger. Advance sales online for hourlong time slots. Train ride included in admission, express train pass $10 for two people, shortens wait time in line.
What to expect: Walking tours of holiday lights and decorations, plus train rides, Zoofari Skylift Adventure rides, visits with Santa and more.
When: Dec. 2-27. Hours are 5-9:30 p.m.
Where: Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, 334-625-4900.
Admission: $15, free for kids age 2 and younger. Fees for some activities $3-8.
What to expect: Walking tours of holiday lights, decorations and inflatables, plus music, food trucks, visits with Santa and more.
When: Nov. 28-29; Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 22-23. Hours are 5-8 p.m.
Where: Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, 5130 Headland Ave., Dothan, 334-793-3224.
Admission: $6-$10 online, $8-$12 at door, free for those age 3 and younger.
What to expect: Walking tours of 65-acre garden estate adorned with thousands of twinkling lights.
When: Nov. 28-Dec. 24, Dec. 26-31; Jan. 2-6. Hours are 5-9 p.m.
Where: Bellingrath Gardens & Home, 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore, 251-427-3367.
Admission: $24-$28 adults, $19-$23 children ages 5-12, $2 kids age 4 and younger.
What to expect: Walking tours of holiday-decorated Jeeps and golf carts lining pathways at zoo, plus photos with Santa, crafts for kids, animal ambassador meet-and-greets, music, hot chocolate and more.
When: Dec. 6. Hours are 5-8 p.m.
Where: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, 20499 Oak Road East, Gulf Shores, 251-256-7008.
Admission: $10, free for children age 2 and younger.
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