Christmas Lights Near Conway & Little Rock: 2026 Displays, Dates and Times

Every December, Central Arkansas lights up: gardens, zoo paths, courthouse squares and whole downtowns. This guide lists the 2026 dates, hours and prices for the Christmas light displays, tree lightings and Christmas parades within about an hour of Conway and Little Rock. We checked every date against the organizer’s own page on October 30, 2026, and we link to that page so you can confirm before you drive. We are American Services AR, a Conway company that hangs Christmas lights on homes and businesses, so we keep this list current all season.

2026 Christmas Lights at a Glance

Dates and hours as posted by each organizer on October 30, 2026. Weather and crowds can change plans, so check the linked page on the day.

The Big Light Displays

Garvan Woodland Gardens Holiday Lights, Hot Springs

The biggest walk-through display in the state fills the garden trails at 550 Arkridge Road. It runs every night from Sat, Nov 21 through December 31, 5:00 to 9:30 pm with last admission at 9:00, and it is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Adult tickets are $22 online or $30 at the gate on standard nights and $37 or $47 on premium nights; children 4 to 12 are $10 and children 3 and under are free. Buying online saves money, and guided cart tours are available for an extra charge. It is about an hour from Conway and Little Rock. Garvan Holiday Lights

GloWILD at the Little Rock Zoo

The zoo’s lantern and light walk runs on select nights from Thu, Oct 29 to January 3, 2027, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm with last entry at 8:30. The zoo has not listed which nights or prices on its page yet, so check before you go; members get discounted tickets. GloWILD

Searcy Holiday of Lights and the Harding University Lights

Searcy turns its lights on at Berryhill Park on Tue, Nov 17: festivities start at 5:30 pm and the lights come on at 6:00, with free treats from local sponsors, and the displays stay up from late November through December. The night before, Mon, Nov 16, Harding University lights its front lawn at 6:00 pm, and those lights stay on through New Year’s. The season also brings a living nativity, train rides in Berryhill Park and the Searcy Christmas Parade on Sat, Dec 5. Searcy Holiday of Lights

Saline County Courthouse, Benton

The courthouse square is covered in what the county calls “millions of lights” from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Eve. The 2026 lighting happens with the Saline County Christmas Parade on Mon, Dec 7 at 6:00 pm, and it is free. Christmas on the Square

Tree Lightings and Christmas Parades by City

• Conway: Illuminate, the city tree lighting, Sat, Nov 28, 3–7 pm. Downtown Christmas Open House on Sun, Nov 8 (1–4 pm) and Mistletoe Madness on Sat, Dec 12 (10 am–7 pm). New this year, downtown Conway is adding ridge lighting along its rooflines.
• North Little Rock: Mayor’s Tree Lighting Tue, Nov 17, Northern Lights Holiday Festival Sat, Nov 21 (3–7 pm, free) and the Christmas Parade through Argenta Sun, Dec 13.
• Little Rock: Little Rock Holiday Parade Sat, Dec 5, festivities from 2 pm, parade at 3 pm from Broadway and Markham.
• Benton: City Christmas Lighting Sun, Dec 6 and the Saline County Christmas Parade Mon, Dec 7 at 6 pm.
• Bryant: the city’s fall events plan lists a tree and trail lighting on Thu, Dec 3, 5–7 pm, and Christmas at Market Place on Sat, Dec 5, 5–8 pm. Confirm with the city before you go.
• Searcy: lighting Tue, Nov 17, Christmas Parade Sat, Dec 5, 6–7 pm downtown.

Not Announced Yet for 2026

These favorites had not posted 2026 dates when we checked. We will add them as soon as they do.

• Enchanted Forest Trail of Lights, Sherwood: a drive-through at the Sherwood Sports Complex; in 2023 it was free with a reservation.
• Glisten in Greenbrier: the Graham Brothers light display around Matthews Park, free in 2025, drive or walk through, lights off at 10 pm.
• Arkansas State Capitol Christmas Lighting: the 87th ceremony was December 6, 2025 at 5:30 pm on the Capitol steps.
• Downtown Hot Springs: holiday lights from late November to early January.
• The Conway Christmas parade. Careful when you search: many “Conway Christmas parade” results are for Conway, South Carolina.

Hanging Your Own Lights? Read This First

About 14,900 people were treated in emergency rooms for holiday decorating injuries in the 2023 season, about 160 a day, and nearly half of those injuries involved falls, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s November 2024 report. If you are going up yourself: set the ladder on firm, level ground with someone holding it, use lights rated for outdoor use, plug them into a GFCI outlet, and never staple or nail through the cord.

Or skip the ladder. Our Christmas light installation starts at $600 for up to 60 feet of street-facing roofline and $10 per foot beyond that, all in: commercial-grade lights, installation, takedown in January and storage until next year. If you would rather never hang lights again, permanent lighting stays up all year and changes colors from your phone.

See Your House With the Lights On

Before you book anyone, see what your own house looks like lit. Our free light app pulls up your home from your address. You draw the lights along your roofline, pick warm white, multicolor or red and white, switch to night, and get your season price on the spot. Share it with whoever has to say yes. Questions? Call or text (501) 289-5623.

Christmas Lights Questions