Christmas Events for Kids in Ardmore (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 4 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the Christmas events for kids in Ardmore for 2026. The Festival of Lights glows across Regional Park through December 30, the Parade of Lights brings Mr. and Mrs. Claus downtown on Tuesday, December 1, and Depot Nights adds free carriage rides and live reindeer on Thursday, December 3. We check every date on the host’s own website or an official tourism listing and link straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Oklahoma Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Ardmore

  • 3 Christmas events for kids in Ardmore
  • Festival of Lights: nightly through December 30, free
  • Parade of Lights: Tuesday, December 1, 6 to 8 pm
  • Depot Nights: Thursday, December 3, 6 to 8 pm, carriage rides and reindeer
  • Dates checked on TravelOK, Oklahoma’s official tourism site, on Nov 11

Free Christmas events for kids in Ardmore

Drive-through lightsFree

Festival of Lights at Regional Park

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Ardmore’s Festival of Lights is a 1.5-mile drive through Regional Park past more than 150 animated displays, one of the largest holiday light shows in southern Oklahoma.

Admission is free, though donations help keep the lights on. Families can roll down the windows, crank up Christmas music and take it slow.

Parent tip: Have a few dollars ready for the donation box at the exit, and let the kids count the animated displays from the back seat.

Host
City of Ardmore (opens in a new tab)
Address
Ardmore Regional Park, 2704 N Rockford Rd, Ardmore, OK 73401 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom City of Ardmore (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

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Lighted paradeFree

Ardmore Parade of Lights

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The Ardmore Parade of Lights sends glowing floats, vintage cars, marching bands and performers who sing, dance, twirl and even bounce basketballs through historic downtown toward the Santa Fe Depot.

Downtown merchants light up their windows for the night, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus arrive in a horse-drawn carriage at the very end of the parade.

Parent tip: The same day, the Christmas Market opens at 11 am in Central Park and the tree is lit at 6 pm, so plan an early dinner downtown.

Host
Ardmore Main Street (opens in a new tab)
Address
Historic downtown Ardmore to the Santa Fe Depot, 101 W Main St, Ardmore, OK 73401 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Ardmore Main Street (opens in a new tab)

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Carriage rides and reindeerFree

Depot Nights and Christmas Lights

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Depot Nights turns Ardmore’s Depot District into a holiday evening out, with free carriage rides, live reindeer, live music and Christmas lights strung all through downtown.

Shops stay open late, so grown-ups can finish a few gifts while the kids visit the reindeer. It runs on three Thursday evenings in December.

Parent tip: Get in line for the free carriage ride right at 6 pm, then visit the reindeer while the line grows behind you.

Host
Ardmore Main Street (opens in a new tab)
Address
Depot District, Main Street, Ardmore, 101 W Main St, Ardmore, OK 73401 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Ardmore Main Street (opens in a new tab)

New Ardmore events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Ardmore daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Ardmore.

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We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Oklahoma Christmas train rides page.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Ardmore Christmas event for kids happens

Go downtown for the parade on December 1 and Depot Nights on December 3, and drive through the Festival of Lights any evening through December 30.

Looking further afield? Our Oklahoma Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Lawton, Midwest City, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. 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.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The story of Christmas in Ardmore

Ardmore's Festival of Lights started in 2001 with just a dozen displays in Regional Park. Today it is a 1.5-mile drive past more than 150 lit scenes, one of the largest holiday light shows in southern Oklahoma.

A dozen displays in 2001 that grew into 150 lit scenes along 1.5 miles of Regional Park

When Oklahoma Magazine visited in 2022, assistant parks director Alicia Henry explained that the city's seasonal light show began in 2001 with a dozen displays and has grown every year since. By then it filled more than 150 spots inside Regional Park at 2704 N. Rockford Road, and she called it arguably the largest holiday display in southern Oklahoma. The magazine also described an ice rink at the park during the season, with open skating and birthday parties.

The Festival of Lights is still free, though donations are welcome at the exit. The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce suggests tuning the car stereo to a favorite Christmas station and meandering through rows of animated scenes. It is open from 6 to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and in 2026 it runs November 14 to December 30.

A tree lit in Central Park and the 26th Parade of Lights on December 2, 2025

The 2025 season began with the Festival of Lights opening on November 15. On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the Ardmore Christmas tree was lit in Central Park at 6 pm, and the 26th annual Parade of Lights followed at 6:15, heading east along Main Street to Depot Park. Over three Thursday evenings, December 4, 11 and 18, Depot Nights and Christmas Lights brought free carriage rides and late-night shopping to the Depot District, and the Goddard Center staged A Christmas Carol on weekends from November 20 to December 14.

In 2026 the Ardmore Parade of Lights is Tuesday, December 1, from 6 to 8 pm. The three Depot Nights and Christmas Lights Thursdays bring free gingerbread houses on December 3, live reindeer on December 10, and a chance to meet Santa on December 17.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus by horse-drawn carriage and basketball-bouncing performers since about 2000

The Parade of Lights was billed as the 25th annual on December 3, 2024, which places its start around the turn of the century. Ardmore Main Street Authority calls it the kickoff for the Christmas season and the town's annual nighttime Christmas parade. TravelOK describes glowing floats, vintage cars, marching bands and performers who sing, dance, twirl and even bounce basketballs as they travel through the historic downtown toward the Santa Fe Depot. The grand finale is Mr. and Mrs. Claus riding in a horse-drawn carriage at the very end.

Downtown merchants join in, too. Shops decorate their windows and string lights so families can stroll the streets after the parade, and Oklahoma Magazine noted in 2022 that the Main Street Authority sponsors a whole series of downtown holiday events. The parade, tree lighting and Festival of Lights together make up what the magazine called one of the state's biggest holiday extravaganzas.

Carriage rides and live reindeer by the Santa Fe Depot, and a Polar Express up I-35

Ardmore's Christmas has a railroad heart. The Parade of Lights rolls toward the Santa Fe Depot, a fitting finish in a town that, as Oklahoma Magazine put it, owed much of its early existence to the Santa Fe Railroad. The streets around the old depot, now called the Depot District, host Depot Nights every December, with free carriage rides, live reindeer, live music and Christmas lights throughout downtown, and the Main Street Authority points out the district's view of the Mercy Train.

For a real Christmas train ride, families drive north on I-35 to Oklahoma City, where the Oklahoma Railway Museum runs the licensed Polar Express from November 20 to December 31, 2026, with fares from $54. Smaller holiday trains run at Yukon's Christmas in the Park, a $5 Santa Express through millions of lights, and on Muskogee's Depot Green for $2.

Traditions today

  • Festival of Lights: A free 1.5-mile drive past more than 150 lit displays in Regional Park, open nightly from November 14 to December 30, 2026.
  • Christmas tree lighting in Central Park: The city's tree is lit just before the parade on the first Tuesday evening of December.
  • Parade of Lights: Ardmore's nighttime Christmas parade down Main Street toward the Santa Fe Depot, ending with Mr. and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage.
  • Depot Nights and Christmas Lights: Three Thursday evenings in the Depot District with free carriage rides, reindeer and late-night shopping.
  • A Christmas Carol at the Goddard Center: A holiday stage production of Dickens' story, staged across several weekends in 2025.

A fact for kids

Ardmore's Festival of Lights started in 2001 with only 12 light displays. Now there are more than 150, and it takes a 1.5-mile drive to see them all.

Questions about Christmas in Ardmore

When did the Ardmore Festival of Lights start?

The Festival of Lights began in 2001 with a dozen displays, Ardmore's assistant parks director told Oklahoma Magazine in 2022, and it has grown every year since. Today it has more than 150 lighted displays along a 1.5-mile drive through Regional Park, one of the largest holiday light displays in southern Oklahoma.

How many displays are in the Ardmore Festival of Lights?

TravelOK lists more than 150 animated displays at the Festival of Lights in Regional Park, along a 1.5-mile drive. That is more than ten times the dozen displays the show started with in 2001.

What are the Ardmore Festival of Lights hours?

The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce lists the Festival of Lights at Regional Park, 2704 N. Rockford Road, as open from 6 to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday and 6 to 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays during the holiday season. In 2026 it runs nightly from November 14 to December 30.

Is there an ice rink at the Ardmore Festival of Lights?

Oklahoma Magazine's 2022 holiday feature described an ice rink at Regional Park alongside the Festival of Lights, offering open skating, corporate and birthday events, and skating packages. Check with Ardmore Parks and Recreation before you go to see whether the rink is set up this season.

When is the Ardmore Christmas tree lighting?

The Ardmore Christmas tree is lit in Central Park just before the Parade of Lights. In 2025 it was Tuesday, December 2, at 6 pm, and in 2024 it was Tuesday, December 3, at 6 pm. In 2026 the parade is Tuesday, December 1, so plan for the lighting at the start of the evening.

How long has Ardmore had a Parade of Lights?

The Parade of Lights was billed as the 25th annual in 2024 and the 26th annual in 2025, so it dates back to about 2000. Ardmore Main Street Authority calls it the kickoff for the Christmas season and the town's annual nighttime Christmas parade.

What happened at the 2025 Ardmore Parade of Lights?

The 26th annual Parade of Lights was Tuesday, December 2, 2025. It began at 6:15 pm, right after the Christmas tree lighting in Central Park, and headed east along Main Street to Depot Park with glowing floats, vintage cars and marching bands.

What is the Ardmore Parade of Lights route?

The parade starts near Central Park after the tree lighting and travels east along Main Street through the historic downtown toward Depot Park and the Santa Fe Depot. Merchants decorate their windows along the route, so families can stroll Main Street after the floats pass.

How does Santa arrive at the Ardmore Christmas parade?

Mr. and Mrs. Claus ride in a horse-drawn carriage at the very end of the Parade of Lights, according to TravelOK. Before they arrive, families see glowing floats, vintage cars, marching bands and performers who sing, dance, twirl and even bounce basketballs.

What is Depot Nights in Ardmore?

Depot Nights and Christmas Lights is a series of three Thursday evenings in December in Ardmore's Depot District, with free carriage rides, live reindeer, late-night shopping, live music and lights throughout downtown. In 2025 it ran December 4, 11 and 18. In 2026 it is December 3, 10 and 17.

When can kids see live reindeer in Ardmore?

Live reindeer are part of Depot Nights and Christmas Lights. In 2026, Ardmore Main Street Authority lists live reindeer on Thursday, December 10, from 6 to 8 pm on Main Street, between a free gingerbread house night on December 3 and a meet Santa night on December 17.

Where can kids meet Santa in downtown Ardmore?

Santa visits the Depot District on Thursday, December 17, 2026, the third Depot Nights and Christmas Lights evening, from 6 to 8 pm. He and Mrs. Claus also ride in a horse-drawn carriage at the end of the Parade of Lights on December 1, 2026.

Are there free gingerbread houses at Christmas in Ardmore?

Yes. Ardmore Main Street Authority lists free gingerbread houses provided by SOBR at the first Depot Nights evening, Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 6 to 8 pm on Main Street. Come early, since free supplies at downtown holiday events tend to go fast.

Is there a Christmas play in Ardmore?

Yes. In 2025 the Goddard Center staged A Christmas Carol on November 20 to 23, November 28 to 30 and December 11 to 14, according to the Chickasaw Country holiday guide. Check the Goddard Center's calendar for 2026 performances of holiday shows.

Why does the Ardmore Christmas parade end at the Santa Fe Depot?

The parade travels through the historic downtown toward the Santa Fe Depot and Depot Park, the heart of what is now called the Depot District. Ardmore owed much of its early existence to the Santa Fe Railroad, so the holiday parade finishes beside the station that helped build the town.

Is there a Polar Express train near Ardmore?

The closest licensed Polar Express runs at the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City, up I-35, from November 20 to December 31, 2026, with fares from $54. Oklahoma also has a $5 Santa Express at Yukon's Christmas in the Park and a $2 Christmas train on Muskogee's Depot Green.

Do the Ardmore Festival of Lights take donations?

Yes. Admission to the Festival of Lights is free, but the city welcomes donations, and families can drop a few dollars in the donation box at the exit. The show has grown from a dozen displays in 2001 to more than 150 today.

What else is in the Chickasaw Country holiday lineup near Ardmore?

The Chickasaw Country holiday guide pairs Ardmore's Festival of Lights with nearby celebrations, including Ada's Trail of Lights in Wintersmith Park, with its Forest of the Trees and a blue Memory Tree, and Ada's Pat Taylor Memorial Parade of Lights. Ardmore's own lineup includes the tree lighting, parade and Depot Nights.

Do Ardmore shops decorate their windows for Christmas?

Yes. TravelOK notes that downtown merchants pull out all the stops with window decorations and lights during the Parade of Lights season, so families can walk the streets of the historic downtown after the parade. The Depot Nights Thursdays add late-night shopping.

How do I enter a float in the Ardmore Parade of Lights?

Ardmore Main Street Authority organizes the Parade of Lights and takes entries through registration linked from its events page. Because it is a nighttime Christmas parade, floats should be lit. The 2026 parade is Tuesday, December 1, starting at about 6 pm on Main Street.

What music should we play at the Ardmore Festival of Lights?

The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce suggests tuning your car stereo to a favorite Christmas music station as you drive the 1.5-mile route through Regional Park. Kids can sing along while they count animated holiday displays from the back seat, and there is no ticket or reservation needed.

What is the Depot District in Ardmore at Christmas?

The Depot District is the downtown area around Ardmore's historic Santa Fe Depot and Depot Park, managed with help from Ardmore Main Street Authority. Each December it hosts Depot Nights and Christmas Lights, and the Parade of Lights heads there. The Main Street Authority also points out the district's view of the Mercy Train.

Is the Ardmore Festival of Lights open on Christmas Day?

The Festival of Lights runs nightly through December 30, and the city's listings do not mention a Christmas Day closure. In 2026 it opens November 14. Call 580-223-4844, the number on the TravelOK festival listing, to confirm holiday hours before you go.

Sources

  1. Merry and Bright Ardmoreites, Oklahoma Magazine
  2. Ardmore Festival of Lights, Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
  3. Festival of Lights, TravelOK
  4. Ardmore Parade of Lights, TravelOK
  5. Depot Nights and Christmas Lights, TravelOK
  6. Chickasaw Country Celebrates the Holidays 2025, Chickasaw Country
  7. Chickasaw Country Celebrates the Holidays (2024), Chickasaw Country
  8. Ardmore Parade of Lights (December 2, 2025), Chickasaw Country
  9. Events, Ardmore Main Street Authority
  10. Christmas Train Rides in Oklahoma (2026), Rally Takes the Train

Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Oklahoma city.

Ardmore Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Ardmore this year?

Rally Takes the Train has confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Ardmore for 2026: the Festival of Lights through December 30, the Parade of Lights on December 1 and Depot Nights and Christmas Lights on December 3.

When is the Ardmore Parade of Lights in 2026?

Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 6 to 8 pm in historic downtown Ardmore, heading toward the Santa Fe Depot. Mr. and Mrs. Claus close the parade in a horse-drawn carriage.

Is the Ardmore Festival of Lights free?

Yes. The 1.5-mile drive through Regional Park, 2704 N. Rockford Road, is free, and donations are appreciated.

What happens at Depot Nights?

Free carriage rides, live reindeer, live music, late shopping and Christmas lights in the Depot District. TravelOK lists Thursday, December 3, from 6 to 8 pm, one of three Thursday evenings in December.

Who do I contact about Ardmore holiday events?

Ardmore Main Street at admin@ardmoremainstreet.com for the parade and Depot Nights, and the City of Ardmore at ahenry@ardmorecity.org for the Festival of Lights.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Oklahoma?

Yes. Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Oklahoma Christmas train rides page.

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 Ardmore on November 11, 2026. Rally is also contacting each organizer to confirm details like parking, restrooms and bad-weather plans.

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.

Kelsey Cecil
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