The Best Dog-Friendly Holiday Light Shows Across the U.S.

What can make the magical holiday season even better? Getting into the Christmas spirit with your furry friend at your side! One way to do just that is by visiting a holiday light show that you can drive through with your pup as the passenger or, when it’s permitted, walk through to get an up-close look at all the sparkling lights.

Your dog will be delighted by the moving, twinkling light displays, and at many shows, they’ll get to enjoy some treats of their own, too. Just keep these two rules in mind: When visiting a drive-through show, in most cases, your dog will need to stay in the car at all times. For walking events, your doggo should always be leashed.

For a captivating holiday experience, be sure to visit one (or a few!) of these dog-friendly holiday light shows.

4747 Bob Wallace Ave. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805

Season: Now through December 31. Dog walking nights: December 18 and 19. Driving nights: December 4 to 15 and 26 to 31.

Admission: Pre-purchased tickets cost $25 to $40 per vehicle or $13 to $20/adult, plus $5/dog for dog walking nights.

The annual Galaxy of Lights is a fabulous way to see the Huntsville Botanical Garden decked out for the holiday season, and walking nights offer several opportunities to walk through with your pup. Along the route, you’ll spot classic Christmas scenes, twinkling holiday displays, faux snow and music, all complemented by the beautiful natural setting of the botanical garden. Some pups even come dressed up for the occasion!

Rocket City Christmas Light Show

Lights of Noel

Oxford Festival of Lights

544 W 5th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Free

With trees bedecked in their Christmas best, the snowy scenery of Anchorage’s Town Square Park becomes positively festive when the holiday season comes around. The trees are lit throughout the holidays, so you can take plenty of especially magical walks with your pup at your side.

Various locations around the Winterhaven neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona

Season: December 9 to 25

Admission: Free (donations accepted)

The Winterhaven Festival of Lights is a crowd pleaser that’s also pet friendly. You’ll have the chance to walk with your dog through a cozy neighborhood to see some next-level decorations. Every year, home displays are awarded honors. There’s even an award for dogs’ favorite houses—the Pup’s Pick— ensuring all attendees have a little something to love. It’s a busy event, so well-behaved dogs who are comfortable around other people and pets are going to be the happiest here.

World of Illumination in Glendale and Tempe

Arizona Lights in the Night

Holiday Light Experience

21. S. Block Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: Free

Lights of the Ozarks is a favorite among Northwest Arkansas residents. Doggos are welcome, and there are pet waste stations available. Take a photo with Santa himself, or snap a selfie with your best buddy with the lights as a beautiful backdrop.

Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends

Lights of the Delta

Trail of Lights

1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Season: December 1 to 3, December 7 to 10, December 12 to 17, December 19 to 23, December 26 to 30, January 2 to 6

Admission: Members: $25 adult; children 5 to 17: $12; children 0 to 4: free; Non- Members: adults $29, children 5 to 17: $16; Children 0 to 4: Free

At the Ruth Bancroft Garden, dogs on leashes are always welcome, and that includes their enchanting event Garden of D’Lights. With an impressive plant collection lit up in holiday hues, you can meander the 2.5 acres of pathways with your pup—just make sure you stick to the paths and not the beds!There are waste bags available at the entrance. Afterwards, head to the retail nursery with your dog and pick out a treat to eat.

Christmas in the Park Drive Through Light Show

Boat Parade of Lights

Holiday Lights

8800 N Pecos St., Federal Heights, CO 80260

Season: Now through December 30

Admission: General admission costs $35 per vehicle

Get ready to be immersed in Christmas light displays, music and holiday cheer. The Christmas in Color drive-through display will take you and your pet’s Christmas light viewing to a whole new holly, jolly level. Tune into the provided FM radio station for a synchronized musical display. As you jam out to the holiday tunes, you’ll enjoy a 30-minute drive past giant candy canes, snowmen and festive holiday light tunnels.

Winter Wanderland at Cherry Creek North

Winter Wonderlights

2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT 06512

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $10 per vehicle

As a favorite dog-walking destination among Connecticut natives, this time of year Light Point Park is aglow in holiday magic during Fantasy of Lights. Drive through the light displays with your pup in tow, then amble around the park so Fido can visit with his canine buddies. And the best part of all? Ticket proceeds will benefit Goodwill of Southern New England.

Magic of Lights

Holiday Lights Spectacular

1229 Persimmon Tree Lane, Dover, DE 19901

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Car $35; Buses $60.

12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Suggested donation of $10 per person. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Sporting glimmering holiday lights set among tropical plants and flowers, Holiday Lights in the Garden, held at the Florida Botanical Gardens, is truly a sight to behold. As their largest event of the year, the Gardens openly welcome leashed pets in all outdoor areas, which means you can enjoy this beautiful experience with your pup right next to you.

St. Augustine Nights of Lights

Magic of Lights

Holiday Fantasy of Lights

1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

Season: Now through January 6 (Closed December 24)

Admission: $9.95 to $31.95 per person

Wonder, joy and of course, Santa Claus—they all await you and your pet at the award-winning Enchanted Garden of Lights. Leashed pets are welcome to stroll with you through this festive winter wonderland. Watch the lights twinkle in the ice-themed Arctic Kingdom display, or take a jaunt down the lighted corridor of Yule Town. And don’t miss the chance to swing by the Magic Forest to walk beneath the 43-foot-tall tree of lights.

Fantasy in Lights

World of Illumination

Shine Light Show

4396 Rice St., Lihue, HI 96766

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Free

Kauai’s seat of government, the Historic County Building and park, will be illuminated during the Kauai Festival of Lights. The large, grassy park in front of the building is perfect for dogs and pet parents to wander beneath tall, illuminated, wrapped coconut palms. Plus, on December 1, 8, 15 and 22, you can take a family photo with your pup. Just make sure your four-legged friend is leashed at all times.

Show Aloha Land

Honolulu City Lights

Locomotive Park, 2101 Main St., Lewiston, ID 83501

Season: Now through January 5, 2024

Admission: Free

Add some Christmas spirit to your nightly dog walk by visiting Winter Spirit in Locomotive Park. You’ll both get to roam the two acres of brightly colored trees, arches, animated displays and a lit-up antique steam-powered locomotive. Just be sure to keep your dog leashed at all times and use the provided waste bags to clean up after them.

1350 Willow Road, Northbrook, IL 60062

Season: Now through January 6, 2024

Admission: $40 per car

With almost two miles of stunning lights to peruse, Willow Hill Lights is a Chicagoland light show that isn’t to be missed—by you or your pup. At Willow Hill Golf Course, 1 million lights, three drive-through tunnels and a 30-foot Christmas tree will surely catch your dog’s eye. Donations go toward a local nonprofit that supports young adults with developmental disabilities.

Christmas Wonderland

Festival of Lights

193 South Louis J. Koch Blvd., Santa Claus, IN 47579

Season: December 9 and 16

Admission: Free (donations accepted)

Christmas Nights of Lights

Santa Claus Land of Lights

Winter WonderLights

405 E. Threshers Road., Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $10 per vehicle

As southeast Iowa’s largest drive-through holiday light show, you and your dog will stare in wonder at the 140 sparkling displays over 1.6 miles at Festival of Lights. Held at the Midwest Old Threshers Campground, you’ll spy Christmas-y characters, like a gingerbread man and Santa Claus, along with lit-up tractors that nod to the country atmosphere. On special nights, you can visit with Santa as well.

Jolly Holiday Lights

Christmas Acres

Santa’s Rock n’ Lights

2919 W. 2nd St., Wichita, KS 67203

Season: Now through December 28

Admission: By donation on Mondays, and $10 other nights per carload

1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville, KY 40213

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: Starting at $42.99

Lights Under Louisville, a holiday light drive-through show, might take the cake for the most creative holiday light sightseeing experience. You and your pet can enjoy a 30-minute ride with 6.5 million points of light. But that isn’t even the best part: This over one-mile drive takes you under Louisville on a wonder-filled exploration of the Louisville Mega Cavern, a former limestone mine. It’s the only fully underground holiday light show in the world.

170 Hwy. 151 N., Calhoun, LA 71225

Season: Now through December 30

Admission: $25 per vehicle

Candy Cane Lane is a mile-long immersive Christmas light experience enjoyed by people and canines alike. Ride through over 1 million lights, featuring two tunnels, countless lighted displays and a portion of the park that’s set to music. Pets are welcome in the drive-through, but both dogs and humans should remain in the vehicle.

95 Main St., Freeport, ME 04033

Season: Now through December 18

Admission: Free

Maine clothier L.L.Bean hosts a spectacular holiday event each year called Northern Lights. Between the Twinkle Light Tunnel and the shimmering Christmas tree, the flagship campus is all aglow during the holiday season. To enjoy this experience alongside your fur baby, attend the Paws with Claus events, where you can bring your dog for a special sitting with Santa—they’re held every Monday during Northern Lights, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Christmas Light Drive

Maine Celebration of Lights

10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, MD 21044

Season: Now through January 1, 2024 (select days are closed; see drive through page for details)

Admission: $25 per car, $12 for Tail Lights walk on December 5 (different prices for other walkthroughs)

The Merriweather Symphony of Lights has a drive-through option where you can bring your pup along—plus, on special “Tail Lights” evenings, you can take your dog on a walking experience, too. Complete with a whopping 300,000 bulbs of glittering lights, these events offer tasty puppy treats along with warm drinks for pet parents. You can walk this at your own pace, which is good news if you have a senior doggie or are leash training your puppy.

Lights on the Bay

Winter Lights Festival

300 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA 01108

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: $23 per car. Discounted Nights: December 5 and 12: $10 per car

Can you imagine taking in 700,000 Christmas lights? Bright Nights at Forest Park makes this vision a reality with a three-mile drive that you can share with your fur baby. After the drive, stop at Santa’s Cottage, where there will be gifts and toys you can purchase for your pups. There are even two special nights when doggos can have their photos taken with Santa (December 1 and 15).

· Lancaster Celebration of Lights

Merrimack Valley Celebration of Lights

Downtown Rochester, on Main Street from Second Street to University Drive

Season: Now through January 7, 2024

Admission: Free

The Big, Bright Light Show is a festive way to ring in the holiday season for people and pups alike. Stroll down Rochester’s Main Street, stop in one of the many dog-friendly boutiques, and don’t forget to snap all those Christmas light selfies of you and your furry bestie.

Magic of Lights

Nite Lites

Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll

3121 W. 150th St., Shakopee, MN 55379

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $30 Sunday through Thursday; $45 Friday and Saturday

Winter Wonderland

Holiday Lights Drive-Through

Kiwanis Holiday Lights

8267 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: Season Passes $25 kids, $35 adults; individual tickets $9 kids, $14 adults, $3 for dogs

Christmas in the Park

· Gulfport Harbor Lights Winter Festival

1800 Cliff Dr., Kansas City, MO 64106

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $25 per car

WonderLight’s Christmas

Winter Wonderland

Grove of Lights

Downtown Bozeman on Main Street

Event: December 2, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., with lights on display through December 25

Admission: Free

Downtown Bozeman kicks off its holiday season with this annual Christmas event, which welcomes leashed fuzzy friends. Dogs can take part in the entire stroll as they walk Main Street with Santa (singing carols, of course!). There are green spaces along the route that can act as potty spots, like Soroptimist Park. Many vendors provide dog treats, and there’s even a Bernese Mountain Dog meetup as part of the event. Can’t make it on December 2? Not to worry—the lights will stay up throughout the rest of the season.

Parade of Lights

Montana Bright Country Nights

4100 N. 84th St., Lincoln, NE 68507

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $20 per car Sunday to Thursday; $25 per car Friday and Saturday

Holiday Lights Festival

Nebraska Christmas Lights Show

7000 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, NV 89115

Season: Now through January 7, 2024

Admission: $39 per vehicle

You’ll definitely feel that Christmas spirit as soon as you hit the racetrack at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. At Glittering Lights, those speedy cars are traded for millions of holiday lights that will delight you and your four-legged friend.

Silver Cliff Light Show

Hidden Valley Parade of Lights

33 Village Road, Waterville Valley, NH 03215

Season: Now through April 1, 2024

Admission: Free

This picturesque New Hampshire town comes to life through its yearly Waterville Valley Winter Lights event, which runs beyond Christmas to keep the sparkle going all winter. The lights extend throughout Town Square, the Town Square Disc Golf Field and Corcoran Pond Beach—it’s a great way to soak up some holiday spirit while getting in your nightly walk with your pup. Along the way, stop at stores in town for free dog treats.

655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $30 per car

With over 1.5 million lights synced to everyone’s favorite holiday songs, Winter WonderLights at the Middlesex County Fair Grounds should be added to your Christmas itinerary. Staff love giving pats and milk bones to every furry guest (as long as the pup is game for it). Pups will love looking at the shimmering light displays, and you’ll rest easy knowing there’s a potty spot you can head to before driving in.

Magic of Lights

Holiday Spectacle in the Park

687 Hull Road #659, Ruidoso, NM 88345

Season: Now through January 7, 2024

Admission: Free

Featuring a drive-through light display and twinkling lights all around the city, the Village of Ruidoso Parks & Recreation Department hosts annual holiday festivities where your leashed dog is always welcome. On December 9, catch the holiday drone show at the White Mountain Sports Complex for a unique take on Christmas lights.

Lights of Enchantment

Winter Wonderland

Splish Splash Dr., Calverton, NY 11933

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Weekdays $20/carload; Friday to Sunday $25/carload

For the holiday season, Splish Splash Waterpark is transformed into a Christmas extravaganza that you and your dog can behold. At the Holiday Light Show, there are new displays to discover every year, dotted along a glittery one-mile route. With music synced to the lights, you and your pupper can stay cozy while enjoying the experience together.

Magic of Lights

Peace, Love & Lights

Wegmans Lights on the Lake

4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC 27012

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: $20 cash, $23 credit card for cars, vans and trucks

Christmas Town USA

Christmas at Biltmore

Winterfest

6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45230

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $30 per car

As cars with pups drive into Coney Island’s Nights of Lights, each good dog receives a milk bone. As the region’s largest drive-through holiday show, Nights of Lights lets your family and doggos stay warm and dry as you gaze at more than 2 million lights that move to upbeat holiday tunes. The light tunnels and larger-than-life Christmas trees are truly sights to behold.

Magic of Lights

WonderLight’s Christmas

100 N. Cherokee Ave., Bartlesville, OK 74003

Season: Now through December 30

Admission: Free to drive through; donations are accepted to maintain the displays and fund scholarships for local students

At Johnstone Park during Fantasy Land of Lights, the light displays switch on for a dog-friendly drive-through show featuring festive light displays paired with a dedicated radio station playing holiday hits.

Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll

Festival of Lights

1940 N. Victory Blvd., Portland, OR 97217

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $15 adults; $5 kids ages 6–12, kids 5 and under free

Christmas Ships Parade

Silverton Christmas Market

650 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $25 per car

Christmas Spirit Light Show at Clipper Magazine Stadium is a mile-long drive-through show with a glimmering tunnel and huge multihued Christmas tree. Dog treats are available at the entry booth for all canine visitors. This year, the event has added Wet Nose Wednesdays: Held December 6, 13 and 20, there will be special dog-focused activities at Christmas Tree Lane, the walking portion of the event.

Christmas in Color

Hershey Sweet Lights

Christmas Light-Up

2150 Scituate Ave., Hope, RI 02831

Season: December 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 31

· Admission: $15

Taking place at Confreda Farms, Holiday Light Show is a seasonal tradition for many locals, and you can make it a tradition with your pup, too. As you traverse the one-mile route, you’ll view several displays synchronized to merry music. Be sure to keep the volume down in case your dog is sensitive to loud sounds.

Wawaloam’s Holiday Lights Festival

Lewis Family Christmas

150 Rose Valley Blvd., Anderson, SC 29625

Season: Now through December 25

Admission: $10 per car

Anderson Christmas Lights is truly a festive event, since it starts on Thanksgiving and ends on Christmas. Found across from the Anderson Civic Center, this drive-through show is hard to miss with its 250 light displays. There’s also a village where people and their dogs can get out of their cars and walk. Leashed doggies can visit Santa, shop the store, visit vendors and listen to live music.

The Great Christmas Light Show

The Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park

Holiday Lights on the River

131 E. Falls Park Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Season: Now through early January 2024

Admission: Free

Northern Sioux Falls Christmas Lights & Lanes

Tour de Lights

4215 Long Lane, Franklin, TN 37064

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: $34.69 per car (tickets available online)

At the Williamson County Agricultural Center, FrankTown Festival of Lights features a half-mile of drive-through holiday lights. There are over 200 synchronized displays to admire while you listen to accompanying music on the radio. Every Wednesday, visitors can park their cars and take to a lighted route with their leashed pups. Remember to snap a pic by the enormous lit-up tree and snack on s’mores by the fire pit—and bring a pup treat, too!

The Dancing Lights of Christmas

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland

Speedway in Lights

3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76177

Season: Now through January 7, 2024

Admission: $35 per car

Take a driving tour of the Texas Motor Speedway to see the dazzling displays of the Gift of Lights. This pet-friendly holiday drive-through display loves hosting four-legged friends, and you can cruise through the lighted tunnels with your pet cozied up in your car.

Magic of Lights

Holiday Lights on the River Walk

Lights Alive

2549 Washington Blvd., Ogden, UT 84401

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: Free

Christmas in Color

Festival of Lights

7412 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 05672

Season: December 16

Admission: Free

Does it get any more idyllic than twinkling holiday lights at a ski resort? The Lodge at Spruce Peak holds their annual Spruce Peak Lights Festival on December 16, although the lights will be up all winter. As a completely dog-friendly property, dogs are more than welcome at this event, featuring ice dancing performances, photos with Santa, and the official lighting of the tree and village. Treats are available at several locations in the village area.

Light Up Rutland

Woodstock Lights

1800 Lakeside Ave., Richmond, VA 23228

Season: Now through January 7, 2024 (Dog-friendly night: December 4)

Admission: $17 adults; $14 seniors age 65+; $8 youth 3–12; free for under 3; reduced price for Garden members. Suggested $2 pet admission benefits Richmond SPCA.

There are literally millions of lights to behold at the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, which graces the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden every holiday season. At a special GardenFest for Fidos night on December 4, Richmond SPCA volunteers hand out doggy pick-up bags and make sure bowls throughout the Garden are full of fresh water. One vendor sells cookies made especially for pups.

Celebration in Lights

Bull Run Festival of Lights

BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach

14905 Bresemann Blvd. South, Spanaway, WA 98387

Season: Now through January 1, 2024

Admission: $10 to $20 per vehicle

The Lights of Christmas

Christmas in Color

947 Maplewood Ave., Lewisburg, WV 24901

Season: Now through December 23

Admission: By donation

At Christmas at the Fair, visitors are encouraged to bring the whole family, including their furry friends, to experience the joy of the holidays at the State Fair of West Virginia fairgrounds. This year’s event features over 1 million lights that play in sync to music on your radio. Complimentary treats will be available for dogs and their parents, and there are plenty of parking locations to let your pet go potty.

Celebration of Lights

Festival of Lights

Christmas in the Park

1156 Olin-Turville Court, Madison, WI 53715

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Free (donations accepted at the exit)

Overlooking Wisconsin’s lit-up state capitol building and skyline, you and your pup will love the view from Olin-Turville Park as you drive through Holiday Fantasy in Lights. You’ll spy over 50 light displays, including one of a puppy with a wagging tail. At the end of your ride, dog treats are handed out from the booths, along with candy canes for pet parents.

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival

Christmas Village

Candy Cane Lane

10 E. Broadway Ave., Jackson, WY 83001

Season: Now through December 31

Admission: Free

For a low-key way to enjoy the holidays in the midst of a wintry wonderland, take your dog for a walk in downtown Jackson Hole and head to the Jackson Town Square Lights. The lights will be on all through December, complete with the annual holiday tree illuminated in all its glory.

We hope you and your best furry friend will have a wonderful holiday season. And although this time of year holds fun light shows and all kinds of merry activities, you’ll want to keep your pup safe as always. That’s why it’s a good idea to brush up on dog etiquette tips for the holiday season; learn about holiday hazards to avoid; and find out how to make your puppy’s first Christmas safe and joyous.

Kristen Arendt contributed to this story.