The Best Public Christmas Light Displays in Arkansas

Garvan Gardens, located in Hot Springs, decorates for the holidays like no other place. The large gardens showcase more than 1.7 million holiday lights featuring butterflies & garden scenes, holiday scenes and more. Admission is $15.00 for Adults, $5.00 for Children 6 to 12.  Nov 17-Dec 31.  I think it's the best display in the state. More

Bonus: While you're in Hot Springs, be sure to check out bathhouse row's lights and the great indoor decor at the Arlington Resort Hotel. This year, Mid-America Science Museum is hosting a Dino-Lites holiday lighting display to be hosted on the Oaklawn Foundation DinoTrek too, so there is a lot to see in Hot Springs.

While the lights on the Capitol are a must see, if you've never been inside the Capitol for the holidays, check it out too. They have it nicely decorated every year.  Starts the first weekend in December, after the parade.  The Capitol lighting is the only time you'll ever see fireworks over the capitol (if the weather holds). The lighting ceremony is a great way to kick off the holiday season.

From November 30 to December 30, visit Sherwood Forest for a 1.5 mile drive-thru stretch of holiday lights. Displays for the trail are provided by the Sherwood A&P Commission, businesses and individuals. You can drive through from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. No admission fee, donations accepted.

This is Arkansas' largest drive-thru holiday light display. Over a mile of lights, totalling over 150 displays, some of which are animated. It's open from 6-9 pm nightly from November 20 - December 31 at Pine Bluff's Regional Park. No admission fee, donations accepted. More

The Promenade has a great Christmas display in the center of the shopping center with an animated tree that flashes a light show to music.  The tree gives several shows an hour.  Located at 17711 Chenal Parkway.

Finney's Christmas Wonderland won the "Great Christmas Light Fight" in 2015.  This is a private residence, and most of the decorations are handcrafted.  The display has over over 1 million mini LED lights, 100 floodlights and 100 LED incandescent lights.  The display takes him six weeks to put together and has been growing in Crossett for 30 years. It spans 2 acres of property.  It's quite a drive from Little Rock, but worth it.  There's no admission fee.  More

North Little Rock has a tree across from the Argenta Community Theater at 405 Main Street and dozens of additional live trees lining both sides of Main Street from the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce at 100 Main Street to 7th Street.  

This is a unique light display because you get to see them from a miniature train. The Holiday Express runs December 3 to December 26 (excluding Sundays) from 5:30pm-8:30 p.m. This steam engine is the only one of its type in the US and only runs a few times a year.  There are also more than one million lights on Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith. More

Lights of the Ozarks may be a long drive, but Fayetteville's downtown square comes to life with 450,000 lights.  Events around the square include carriages, camel and pony rides. Special days for choirs and parades.  Cocoa and coffee served.