Christmas Lights in South Denver: Blossoms of Light, Zoo Lights and the Best Neighborhood Displays

Denver Christmas lights season starts in late November, and if you live in South Denver you are in a good spot for it. The two biggest shows, Blossoms of Light and Zoo Lights, are a short drive north of Washington Park and Platt Park. Two more, Hudson Holidays and Trail of Lights, sit south of you in Littleton. Then there are the free displays: the blocks of homes in Platt Park and along South Washington Street that local writers keep pointing to year after year.

This guide covers this season’s dates, hours and ticket prices for each big display, how and when to book, and where to see home displays in and around South Denver. Every date and price here comes from the venue’s own website as posted in October 2026. Where a venue has not posted prices yet, we say so instead of guessing.

Which Denver Christmas Lights Should You Book First?

Here is the season at a glance. Ticket sales open in early November for all four ticketed shows, and the most popular nights go first.

Display	Where	2026 season	Tickets
Blossoms of Light	Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street	Nov. 20 to Jan. 10	Prices to be announced; public sale Nov. 9
Zoo Lights	Denver Zoo, City Park	Select nights Nov. 23 to Jan. 3	Adults $25.95 to $29.95; sale Nov. 5
Trail of Lights	Chatfield Farms, Littleton	Nov. 21 to Jan. 3	Prices to be announced; public sale Nov. 9
Hudson Holidays	Hudson Gardens, Littleton	Nov. 27 to Jan. 3	Presale adults $15, Nov. 6 to 8

If you only do one, the choice usually comes down to Blossoms of Light or Zoo Lights. Blossoms is a garden walk that suits adults and date nights. Zoo Lights adds carousel and train rides and hot cocoa bundles built for kids. If you would rather skip the drive north and the crowds, Hudson Holidays on South Santa Fe Drive is the big show on the south side, an easy trip from Englewood, Hampden and southern Denver.

Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens: Dates, Hours and Tickets

Blossoms of Light fills the York Street gardens with light displays for the winter. The Gardens lists this season as Nov. 20 to Jan. 10, open nightly from 4:30 to 9 p.m., and closed on Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) and Dec. 25. The Gardens says a full walk through the display takes about 60 to 75 minutes.

Ticket prices: As of Oct. 20, 2026, the Gardens lists ticket prices as “TBA.” For a sense of scale, 5280 Magazine listed last season’s tickets at $22 to $33 in December 2025. Everyone over age 2 needs a ticket, and members get a discount, though the Gardens notes that membership does not guarantee a ticket.

When tickets go on sale: Member presales run by level at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6. The public sale opens Monday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. There are no tickets sold at the door, and the Gardens expects most nights to sell out several days or even weeks ahead.

Booking tips from the Gardens:

• Buy only through the Gardens’ own ticket site. The Gardens warns that it cannot help with tickets bought from resellers.
• Entry is timed. Arrive within 30 minutes after the time on your ticket.
• Need a different date? Exchanges cost $5 per order up to 72 hours before your entry time, free for members, and depend on what is left.
• The Sensory Friendly Night is Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m., with limited capacity.
• Parking in the Gardens’ structure is free but fills quickly. Some nearby streets require a residential permit on posted dates, so read the signs before you leave your car. RTD routes 10 and 24 stop nearby.
• The event runs in rain, snow or shine. Paths can be icy, coat check is limited, and tripods and drones are not allowed.

From most of South Denver, the easiest route is north on University Boulevard or Downing Street toward Cheesman Park. Give yourself a cushion so you make your 30 minute entry window.

Zoo Lights at Denver Zoo: This Season’s Nights and Prices

Zoo Lights runs select nights from Nov. 23 to Jan. 3. The zoo lists hours of 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and it is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Westword’s 2025 roundup described the event as about 80 acres and more than three million lights.

Ticket prices for 2026: The zoo splits the season into two price levels.

• Admission nights (Nov. 23 to 25, Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 3 to 5, Dec. 10 to 12, Dec. 17 to 24 and Dec. 26 to 30): adults and seniors $29.95, youth $22.95. Members pay $25.95 and $20.65.
• Value nights (Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, Dec. 6, Dec. 8 and 9, Dec. 13 to 16, and Jan. 2 and 3): adults and seniors $25.95, youth $18.95. Members pay $23.35 and $17.05.
• Children 2 and under are free on every night.

When tickets go on sale: The zoo says tickets go on sale Nov. 5, with members getting early access on Nov. 2 and 10 percent off. A Zoo Lights Bundle adds a souvenir cup of hot cocoa and two ride vouchers for the Conservation Carousel or the Denver Zoo Railroad. Bundles are limited each night, so pick it at checkout if you want it.

Special nights: Adult Nights for guests 21 and over are listed for Dec. 7 and Jan. 1, from 5:30 to 10 p.m., at $34.95 ($31.50 for members). A Sensory Friendly Night is listed for Dec. 31 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at value night prices.

If you have young kids, value nights early in the week are the easiest pick on price, since adult tickets are $4 less than on admission nights. Families who want a fuller holiday outing can pair Zoo Lights with the Denver Christkindl Market on a different evening.

Lights South of Denver: Hudson Holidays and Trail of Lights

You do not have to go north for a big light show. Two of the region’s ticketed displays are in Littleton, and both are an easy drive from Hampden, University Hills and the rest of southern Denver.

Hudson Holidays at Hudson Gardens

Hudson Holidays runs Nov. 27, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027, from 5 to 9 p.m., closing at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. Hudson Gardens sits on South Santa Fe Drive, so from Platt Park, Overland or Englewood it is mostly one straight road south.

Hudson Gardens posts three price tiers this year:

• Any Day presale, from Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. to Nov. 8 at 11:59 p.m. or while supplies last: adults $15, seniors 65 and over $15, youth 3 to 12 $10, children 2 and under free.
• Dated tickets, on sale Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.: adults $20, seniors $18, youth $15, children free.
• Any Day tickets after the presale: adults $25, seniors $20, youth $20, children free.

Date changes cost $10 per order. The presale is the best deal on this list, so if you know you will go, buy during that three day window.

Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms

Trail of Lights is the Botanic Gardens’ second light show, held at its Chatfield Farms site out near Deer Creek Canyon. This season runs Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, with entry from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and the site closing at 9:15 p.m. It is closed on Nov. 26, Nov. 30, Dec. 2, Dec. 7, Dec. 8 and Dec. 25, so check the calendar before you plan around a weeknight.

Ticket prices are listed as “TBA” for now. Sales follow the same schedule as Blossoms of Light: member presales Nov. 4 to 6 and the public sale Monday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m., only through the Gardens’ website. Parking is free. There is no coat check and not every path is paved, so dress for the cold and wear boots with good grip.

Because it shares a ticket schedule with Blossoms of Light, Trail of Lights is a good backup if your preferred York Street night sells out.

Where to See Free Christmas Lights in South Denver Neighborhoods

Some of the best lights cost nothing. Local coverage over the last two seasons keeps returning to the same few places in and near South Denver.

• Platt Park. Westword’s 2024 and 2025 holiday light roundups both named Platt Park as a neighborhood worth a slow drive or walk, and suggested exploring the side streets. Park near Old South Pearl Street, grab a hot drink and wander. Our Platt Park neighborhood guide has more on the area.
• South Washington Street. Westword’s December 2024 roundup called the 1200 to 1700 blocks of Washington Street exceptional and noted large Santas on the stretch between Alameda Avenue and Interstate 25, on the west side of Washington Park.
• Country Club. Just north of Cherry Creek, this neighborhood of large older homes was singled out by Westword in both 2024 and 2025 for its displays.
• Highlands Ranch and Centennial. 5280 Magazine’s December 2025 list of residential displays included several homes in Highlands Ranch and one long running display in Centennial. Homeowners decide each year whether to light up, so check this season’s local roundups before you drive out.

A few manners go a long way on residential streets. Drive slowly with your headlights low, park only where it is legal, keep voices down after 9 p.m., and stay on the sidewalk. These are people’s homes, not ticketed venues.

For another free evening downtown in Littleton, the Downtown Littleton Candlelight Walk is set for Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Littleton Downtown Development Authority describes a holiday parade, free hot cocoa and warm cider, photos with Santa and a drone show to close the night. For more ideas through the rest of the year, see our list of free things to do in South Denver.

How to Plan a Christmas Lights Night From South Denver

A little planning turns a cold, crowded night into a good one.

• Put the sale dates on your calendar now. Zoo Lights tickets go on sale Nov. 5, the Hudson Holidays presale runs Nov. 6 to 8, and public tickets for both Botanic Gardens shows go on sale Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.
• Go early in the season or early in the week. Zoo Lights value nights fall mostly on Sundays through Wednesdays, and they cost less.
• Buy only from the venue. Both Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Zoo send buyers to their own ticket pages, and the Gardens says it cannot help with tickets from other sellers.
• Dress for an hour or more outside. All four shows are outdoors and run in cold weather. Boots with good traction matter, since paths can ice over.
• Pick one big show per night. Blossoms of Light alone takes about an hour or more to walk, and the drive between York Street and Littleton adds more.

If you are already planning fall weekends, our fall things to do in South Denver guide covers the weeks before the lights come on.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Blossoms of Light 2026 start?

Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens opens Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 10, 2027, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. each night. It is closed Nov. 26 and Dec. 25. The public ticket sale opens Monday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.

How much are Denver Zoo Lights tickets this year?

On admission nights, adults and seniors pay $29.95 and youth $22.95. On value nights, adults and seniors pay $25.95 and youth $18.95. Children 2 and under are free, and members save about 10 percent. Tickets go on sale Nov. 5.

Which big Christmas lights show is closest to Englewood and southern Denver?

Hudson Holidays at Hudson Gardens, 6115 S Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, is the large ticketed show closest to Englewood, Hampden and the southern edge of Denver. It runs Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, and presale adult tickets are $15 from Nov. 6 to 8.

Can you buy Blossoms of Light tickets at the door?

No. Denver Botanic Gardens does not sell Blossoms of Light tickets at the door. Every ticket is timed and bought in advance on the Gardens’ website, and the Gardens expects most nights to sell out days or weeks ahead.

Where can you see free Christmas lights in South Denver?

Platt Park and the 1200 to 1700 blocks of South Washington Street, near Washington Park, have both drawn mentions in Westword’s recent holiday light roundups. Country Club, just north of Cherry Creek, is another neighborhood local writers recommend for a slow evening drive.