The 2026 St. Louis Holiday Lights Guide: Where to Go and How to Do It Right

Dates, tickets and chauffeur tips for the five big displays

St. Louis does the holidays in lights. Between mid-November and the first days of January, five major displays light up the region: the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Anheuser-Busch brewery, the Saint Louis Zoo, Tilles Park in Ladue and the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows across the river in Belleville.

Each one is worth the trip. The trip itself is where most evenings go sideways: full lots at the Garden and the Zoo, a long line of cars on southbound McKnight Road for Tilles Park, a cold walk back to the car, and someone who has to skip the complimentary beer at Brewery Lights because they're driving.

This guide covers each 2026 display, with dates, tickets and what to know before you go. It also covers how to make the night easier: let someone else handle the driving, the parking and the wait, so the evening stays about the lights and the people you came with.

The 2026 Holiday Lights at a Glance

• Garden Glow (Missouri Botanical Garden): Nov. 14–15, then Nov. 20–Jan. 2. Walk-through. $6–$25, varies by date.
• Brewery Lights (Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Soulard): select nights, Nov. 21–Dec. 26. Walk-through. $12 adults, $7 ages 6–20, free 5 and under.
• Wild Lights (Saint Louis Zoo, Forest Park): select nights, Nov. 27–Dec. 30. Walk-through. $19 general, $16 Zoo members.
• Winter Wonderland (Tilles Park, Ladue): Nov. 25–Jan. 2. Drive-through. $20 per car or SUV, $60 per limo or van.
• Way of Lights (Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL): Nov. 20–Dec. 31. Drive-through. Free; donations welcome.

Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

The Garden's walkable light show opens with a weekend on Nov. 14–15, then runs nightly from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2, 5 to 9:30 p.m. The Garden is closed Thanksgiving Day. Tickets are date-specific and priced by night, from $6 to $25.

Two nights stand out. Jingle & Mingle on Friday, Nov. 20 is for adults 21 and over, with a complimentary drink, a DJ and fire pits. It sold out quickly last year. Sensory Night on Monday, Nov. 30 is a quieter, less crowded evening.

Chauffeur tip: Garden Glow is a long walk on a cold night, and the lots fill early on weekends. Being dropped at the entrance and picked up the moment you're done is the difference between a lovely evening and a frozen one.

Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch

The 41st Brewery Lights runs on select nights from Nov. 21 through Dec. 26, starting at 5 p.m. More than a million lights cover the historic brewery, and the Budweiser Clydesdales lead a parade every night at 7:30 p.m. Guests 21 and over get a complimentary beer.

New this year are Friday theme nights: Friends and Family Night (Nov. 27), Ugly Sweater Night (Dec. 4), Carol-oke Night (Dec. 11) and Vintage Bud Night (Dec. 18). For adults who want more, the new Bevo VIP upgrade ($75) adds a private heated space with drinks and a buffet. Groups of 8 to 12 can book a Fire Pit Fun Package, starting at $450.

Chauffeur tip: This is the display where a designated driver matters most. With a chauffeur, everyone in your group can enjoy the beer, the happy hour and the VIP bar.

Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo

Wild Lights runs on select nights from Nov. 27 through Dec. 30, 5 to 8:30 p.m., with last entry at 8. There is no timed entry, but popular nights sell out, so buy ahead. New for 2026, the event spreads across Historic Hill, adding the Herpetarium, Dinoroarus and the Primate House. Santa is there every night through Dec. 23.

Chauffeur tip: Zoo parking is free but first come, first served, and when both lots fill, the overflow is street parking across Forest Park. Curbside drop-off skips all of it, which matters most with small children.

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park

The region's classic drive-through display has run in Tilles Park since 1987, with more than a million lights across the 75-acre park. In 2026 it's open nightly Nov. 25 through Jan. 2, 5 to 9 p.m. It is closed Nov. 29 and 30, Dec. 24 and 25, and Dec. 31. The County's ticket page also lists Dec. 7 and 14 as unavailable, so call St. Louis County Parks (314-615-4386) before planning those nights.

Admission is charged per vehicle: $20 for a car, SUV or minivan, and $60 for a limousine or van carrying up to 15 people. Pay cash at the gate or buy online. All cars enter from southbound McKnight Road, off I-64.

Chauffeur tip: Tilles Park sits in Ladue, minutes from west county, which makes it the easiest display to pair with dinner in Clayton or Frontenac. The wait on McKnight can be long; it's a much better wait from the back seat of an SUV with the heat on and the music up.

Way of Lights in Belleville

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows lights the journey to Bethlehem with more than a million lights, ending at a life-size nativity. It's open Nov. 20 through Dec. 31, 5 to 9 p.m., and the drive-through is free. Camel rides, a petting area, kettle corn and a visitors center with a gift shop and choirs are available for small fees.

Chauffeur tip: Belleville is across the Mississippi in Illinois, a longer drive from west county. It's a natural fit for a full evening out, where the ride there is part of the plan rather than a chore.

Planning Your Lights Night

• Go on a weeknight if you can. Fridays and Saturdays in December are the busiest nights at every display, and the two weeks before Christmas are the peak.
• Buy tickets ahead. Garden Glow, Brewery Lights and Wild Lights all limit nightly attendance, and popular dates sell out.
• Arrive early. Most displays open at 5 p.m. Getting there in the first hour means shorter lines and more time before the cold sets in.
• Make it two stops. Tilles Park plus dinner in Clayton, or Garden Glow plus a late dessert on the Hill, turns a light show into a full evening.
• Match the vehicle to the group. A Cadillac sedan suits a couple's night out. A Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon fits a family of up to six. A Mercedes Sprinter carries a larger family, a group of friends or an office party together, so nobody gets split between cars.
• Book your ride early. December evenings are our busiest of the year, especially Fridays and Saturdays. Reserve as soon as your tickets are set.

See the Lights With STL Executive

STL Executive Transportation picks you up at your door anywhere in west St. Louis County, from Chesterfield and Ellisville to Ballwin, Clayton, Ladue and Frontenac. Your chauffeur handles the route, the parking and the line, and is waiting at the curb when you're ready to go home.

Every ride is flat-rate, quoted up front, with no surge pricing on the busiest nights of the year. Choose from a Cadillac CT5 sedan, a Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon SUV, or a Mercedes Sprinter for larger groups.

Holiday evenings book quickly. Reserve your lights night or see our special event transportation options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Christmas lights in St. Louis in 2026?

The five major displays are Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch, Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo, Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park and Way of Lights in Belleville, Illinois.

Which St. Louis light displays are drive-through?

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park and Way of Lights in Belleville are drive-through. Garden Glow, Brewery Lights and Wild Lights are walk-through events.

How much does Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park cost in 2026?

Admission is charged per vehicle: $20 for a car, SUV or minivan and $60 for a limousine or van carrying up to 15 people.

Do I need tickets in advance?

For Garden Glow, Brewery Lights and Wild Lights, yes. Nightly attendance is limited and popular dates sell out. Tilles Park accepts cash at the gate, and Way of Lights is free.

Can I book a chauffeur for a holiday lights tour?

Yes. STL Executive Transportation offers flat-rate holiday lights rides from west St. Louis County in luxury sedans, SUVs and Mercedes Sprinter vans for groups.