OKC Christmas lights
Christmas light displays around the Oklahoma City metro run from mid-November through early January, with ticketed walks and drive-throughs downtown and at the zoo plus free park and canal lights. Confirm hours and ticket windows before you go, especially on peak weekend nights.
Ticketed walks and drive-throughs
Safari Lights at the Oklahoma City Zoo runs Nov. 14 through Jan. 3, 2027, nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., with timed drive-through entry through 9:30 p.m. Drive-Thru Combo tickets start at $45 for ZOOfriends and $60 for nonmembers (one vehicle plus up to four walk-through admissions); walk-through only starts at $10 and $14. SPARKLE Holiday Walk at Scissortail Park runs Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 19 to Dec. 13, then nightly Dec. 17–31, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.; a portion of the park is ticketed while the rest stays open. Check with Scissortail Park for current SPARKLE ticket prices, and buy Zoo tickets in advance at okczoo.org/safarilights.
Free downtown lights and tree displays
The Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival is free on Nov. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Mickey Mantle Plaza in Bricktown, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive; the Bricktown Christmas tree lights at 6 p.m. and stays up through New Year's Day. Downtown in December also lists free public light displays along the Bricktown Canal and Lights on Broadway in Automobile Alley from November into the new year; check with the organizer for nightly hours. Red Earth TreeFest is free Nov. 13 through Jan. 1, 2027, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Red Earth Art Center in the BancFirst Tower lobby, 100 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 110. Street parking and paid lots still apply downtown; food and drinks at festival booths may cost money even when admission is free.
Free park and neighborhood drives
Yukon's Christmas in the Park opens Nov. 21 and runs nightly through Dec. 31 from 6 to 11 p.m., with a free drive-through or walk through City Park and Chisholm Trail Park; donations are accepted at the exits. The Santa Express Train is $5 per person and runs 6 to 10 p.m.; check with the city for ice rink and food pricing on site. Edmond, Norman, Midwest City, and other metro neighborhoods put up porch and yard displays each December, usually from dusk into the evening with no gate or ticket. Hours and which streets are lit change by year; check with neighborhood groups or residents before you plan a long drive.
Practical tips
Weeknights usually mean shorter lines than Fridays and Saturdays at Safari Lights and SPARKLE. The Zoo does not allow pets during Safari Lights except ADA service animals; check with each organizer before you bring a dog. If weather turns icy, check the organizer's page for delays or closures before you leave. Report a wrong date or closed display so we can fix this page.
Notes
Christmas lights around OKC open from mid-November through early January, from Safari Lights and SPARKLE to free canal, park, and neighborhood drives. Start with a verified ticketed stop or a free downtown loop, then add a suburb drive if traffic and weather allow.