Alabama has 4 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Galaxy of Lights in Huntsville on November 13 to Christmas Lights Festival in Montgomery, which runs through December 27. 1 of them is free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 4 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Alabama for 2026, in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery
- First: Galaxy of Lights, Huntsville, November 13. Runs latest: Galaxy of Lights, Huntsville, through December 31
- Free: Holiday Family Movie Night
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Alabama Christmas train rides page.
Alabama Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 4 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery
- Season
- November 13 to December 31, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- holiday lights, breakfast with Santa and holiday show
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each Alabama Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Galaxy of Lights in Huntsville on November 13; the last runs to December 27. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Galaxy of LightsHuntsville · Nov 13 to Dec 31
- Christmas Lights FestivalMontgomery · Dec 1 to Dec 27
- Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford UniversityHomewood · Dec 5
- Holiday Family Movie NightGrand Bay · Dec 15
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Alabama? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Birmingham
1 confirmed event for kids in Birmingham, including nearby Homewood, soonest first.
Homewood: Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University
Breakfast with SantaHomewood Chamber of Commerce · Homewood
- Host
- Homewood Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Rotunda Club at Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Homewood, AL 35229 (near Birmingham)
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 8 am to noon
- Cost
- Ticketed, price not listed
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Homewood's Breakfast with Santa takes place on Saturday, December 5, at the Rotunda Club on the Samford University campus. The morning runs from 8 am to noon and is presented by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce together with Samford University.
Each ticket includes the breakfast buffet, activities and a complimentary photo with Santa, so it is a simple way to fold a Santa visit into a family breakfast without a separate photo line elsewhere. Tickets are sold through the Chamber's online registration page, and the listing does not post a price or age range, so check the registration page for current ticket costs and any session times within the morning. The event is indoors, which makes it a reliable choice in any December weather.
Parent tip: Register through the Chamber's event page ahead of time; the Santa photo is included with each ticket.
See dates and details from Homewood Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Huntsville
1 confirmed event for kids in Huntsville, soonest first.
Huntsville: Galaxy of Lights
Holiday lightsHuntsville Botanical Garden · Huntsville
- Host
- Huntsville Botanical Garden (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
- When
- Friday, November 13, 2026 to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (select walking and driving nights)
- Cost
- Ticketed, see garden website
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Galaxy of Lights fills the Huntsville Botanical Garden with holiday light displays from November 13 through December 31. The local tourism board describes walking and driving experiences for guests of all ages, along with whimsical scenes that include a Santa Claus display riding a rocket, a nod to Huntsville's space heritage.
The season mixes walking nights, when families stroll the garden paths under the lights, with driving nights, when you tour the displays from your car. That makes it an easy option for little ones who tire quickly or for a cold evening. Specific walking and driving dates, hours and ticket prices are posted on the garden's own Galaxy of Lights page, so check which kind of night you are booking before you go.
Parent tip: Check the garden's schedule for walking versus driving nights and book the format that suits your family.
See dates and details from Huntsville Botanical Garden (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Mobile
1 confirmed event for kids in Mobile, including nearby Grand Bay, soonest first.
Grand Bay: Holiday Family Movie Night
Holiday showFreeMobile Public Library · Grand Bay
- Host
- Mobile Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Grand Bay Library, Meeting Room, 10329 Freeland Avenue, Grand Bay, AL 36541 (near Mobile)
- When
- Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4 to 6 pm
- Cost
- Free library program
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Grand Bay branch of the Mobile Public Library hosts a Holiday Family Movie Night on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, from 4 to 6 pm. The film is Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018, rated PG, 85 minutes), and families also make a Christmas ornament to take home.
The library provides popcorn, holiday cookies and a drink. Its listing notes that it cannot guarantee the snacks are free of tree nuts, soy or other allergens, so families managing allergies may want to bring their own. Grand Bay is about 20 miles southwest of downtown Mobile.
Parent tip: Snacks may contain allergens; call the branch at 251-494-2207 with questions.
See dates and details from Mobile Public Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Montgomery
1 confirmed event for kids in Montgomery, soonest first.
Montgomery: Christmas Lights Festival
Holiday lightsMontgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum · Montgomery
- Host
- Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, AL 36110
- When
- Tuesday, December 1, 2026 to Sunday, December 27, 2026 (nightly), 5 to 9 pm
- Cost
- $15 ages 3 and up, free for 2 and under and zoo members
- Ages
- All ages, free for 2 and under
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Montgomery Zoo turns its pathways into a nightly lights festival from December 1 to 27, with a stroll past light displays, themed zones and a Christmas Tree Village of nearly 30 trees decorated by local groups inside the Mann Museum. Local school, church and dance groups perform at the Overlook Cafe, and food trucks visit on select nights.
Santa is at the Mann Museum each night through December 23 at no extra charge, with keepsake photos available for a fee. Night admission is listed at $15 for ages 3 and up, children 2 and under are free, and zoo members get in free. Gates welcome guests from 5 pm, last entry is at 9 pm, and everyone exits by 9:30 pm. The animals are in their night quarters during the event, so this is a lights outing rather than an animal visit.
Parent tip: Last admission is at 9 pm. The zoo train is not running during the festival, and Christmas Day is the final night of lights.
See dates and details from Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in Mississippi, Christmas events for kids in Georgia and Christmas events for kids in Tennessee list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonAlabama Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Alabama in 2026?
We confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Alabama for 2026 on each host’s own page: Galaxy of Lights in Huntsville (November 13), Christmas Lights Festival in Montgomery (December 1), Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University in Homewood (December 5) and Holiday Family Movie Night in Grand Bay (December 15). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Birmingham, Alabama?
For families in and around Birmingham, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University (in Homewood, Sat, Dec 5, 8 am to noon, ticketed, price not listed). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Birmingham section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Huntsville, Alabama?
For families in and around Huntsville, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Galaxy of Lights (Nov 13 to Dec 31, ticketed, see garden website). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Huntsville section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Mobile, Alabama?
For families in and around Mobile, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holiday Family Movie Night (in Grand Bay, Tue, Dec 15, 4 to 6 pm, free library program). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Mobile section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Montgomery, Alabama?
For families in and around Montgomery, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Christmas Lights Festival (Nightly, Dec 1 to 27, 5 to 9 pm, $15 ages 3 and up, free for 2 and under and zoo members). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Montgomery section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Alabama?
Yes. 1 of the 4 events here are free: Holiday Family Movie Night in Grand Bay. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in Alabama this December?
Santa appears at Christmas Lights Festival in Montgomery (December 1) and Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University in Homewood (December 5). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where can we have breakfast or a meal with Santa in Alabama?
Meals with Santa confirmed for 2026: Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University in Homewood (Sat, Dec 5, 8 am to noon). These usually sell out, so book as soon as you pick a date.
Are there kids' Christmas events in Alabama on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes: Galaxy of Lights in Huntsville (through December 31) and Christmas Lights Festival in Montgomery (through December 27).
How much is Galaxy of Lights in Huntsville?
Ticketed, see garden website. Galaxy of Lights is on Friday, November 13, 2026 to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (select walking and driving nights) at Huntsville Botanical Garden. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Christmas Lights Festival in Montgomery?
$15 ages 3 and up, free for 2 and under and zoo members. Christmas Lights Festival is on Tuesday, December 1, 2026 to Sunday, December 27, 2026 (nightly), 5 to 9 pm at Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University in Homewood?
Ticketed, price not listed. Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University is on Saturday, December 5, 2026, 8 am to noon at Rotunda Club at Samford University. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Holiday Family Movie Night in Grand Bay?
Free library program. Holiday Family Movie Night is on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 4 to 6 pm at Grand Bay Library, Meeting Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Alabama?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Alabama Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
