Christmas Events for Kids in Fayetteville, AR (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

7 min read

The Fayetteville, AR area has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Lights of the Ozarks in Fayetteville on November 20 to The Light Show NWA: A Drive-Through Christmas Light Experience in Fayetteville, which runs through January 2. 2 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in Arkansas, part of our guide for every state.

The short version

  • 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Fayetteville, AR for 2026, in Fayetteville
  • First: Lights of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, November 20. Runs latest: The Light Show NWA: A Drive-Through Christmas Light Experience, Fayetteville, through January 2
  • Free: Lights of the Ozarks and Sweets with Santa (Ages 3 to 10)
  • Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it

Christmas events for kids in Fayetteville

5 confirmed events for kids in Fayetteville, soonest first.

Holiday paradeFree

Lights of the Ozarks

  • When: Fri November 20 (5 pm to 1 am), Fri November 20 (6 pm), Thu December 3 (6:30 pm), Fri December 4 (6 to 8 pm), Fri December 11 (6 to 8 pm) and Fri December 18 (6 to 8 pm), 2026
  • Where: Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville
  • Cost: Free
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

Lights of the Ozarks turns Fayetteville's historic Downtown Square into a free holiday light display that shines nightly from 5 pm to 1 am, from November 20 through January 1. The season opens with Light Night on Friday, November 20, at 6 pm, when the lights come on for the first time with live music and performances.

The Lights of the Ozarks Parade steps off on Thursday, December 3, at 6:30 pm, traveling along East Avenue, clockwise around the Square and north on Block Avenue. Santa visits the Downtown Square from 6 to 8 pm on Fridays, December 4, 11 and 18. Everything is free and open to the public, so it is an easy evening to combine a lights walk with a Santa visit and dinner downtown.

Parent tip: Come on a Friday in December between 6 and 8 pm to pair the lights with a free Santa visit.

Host
Experience Fayetteville (opens in a new tab)
Address
Historic Downtown Square, Downtown Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Experience Fayetteville (opens in a new tab)

Holiday lights

The Light Show NWA: A Drive-Through Christmas Light Experience

  • When: Friday, November 20, 2026 to Saturday, January 2, 2027 (nightly)
  • Where: Washington County Fairgrounds, Fayetteville
  • Cost: $25 per vehicle Mon to Thu; $35 per vehicle Fri to Sun and Christmas week
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

The Light Show NWA is a drive-through Christmas light experience held at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Families stay in their own vehicle while the route winds more than a mile past nearly one million lights, hundreds of singing characters, Christmas trees more than 20 feet tall and a 300 foot tunnel of lights. The lights are synchronized to holiday music.

The 2026 season runs from November 20 through January 2. Tickets are sold per vehicle rather than per person, at $25 Monday through Thursday and $35 Friday through Sunday and during Christmas week. Because you watch from the car, it is an easy outing for toddlers and for cold evenings. Visit thelightshownwa.com for tickets, hours and the latest visitor information. The fairgrounds are at 2537 N. McConnell Avenue in Fayetteville.

Parent tip: Tickets are priced per vehicle, so bring everyone in one car. Check the website for hours before you go.

Host
The Light Show NWA (opens in a new tab)
Address
Washington County Fairgrounds, 2537 N. McConnell Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72704
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom The Light Show NWA (opens in a new tab)

Holiday lights

Visits with Santa on the Downtown Square

  • When: Fri December 4, Fri December 11 and Fri December 18, 2026, 6 to 8 pm
  • Where: Fayetteville Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville
  • Cost: No fee listed (Lights of the Ozarks is free to visit)
  • Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host

During the Lights of the Ozarks season, Santa is available for visits on the Historic Downtown Square in Fayetteville. The dates are Fridays, December 4, 11 and 18, from 6 to 8 pm.

The square is lit with more than 500,000 LED lights through January 1, so families can combine a visit with Santa with a stroll under the lights. Food trucks set up on East Avenue every night except Monday, and vendors around the square sell hot cocoa and seasonal treats. Public restrooms are inside the Fayetteville Town Center at 15 W. Mountain, open Tuesday through Sunday evenings. A mailbox in front of the Visitors Center on Block Avenue collects letters to Santa around the clock all season. Dress warmly, since the visit is outdoors in December.

Parent tip: East Avenue is closed to traffic on nights other than Monday, so park in a nearby public lot.

Host
Experience Fayetteville (opens in a new tab)
Address
Fayetteville Historic Downtown Square, Block Avenue and Mountain Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Experience Fayetteville (opens in a new tab)

Holiday lights

Holiday Movie Nights at Lights of the Ozarks

  • When: Sat December 5, Sat December 12 and Sat December 19, 2026, 6 pm
  • Where: Fayetteville Historic Downtown Square, Fayetteville
  • Cost: No fee listed (Lights of the Ozarks is free to visit)
  • Ages: Family friendly
Details, tips and host

Lights of the Ozarks in downtown Fayetteville includes a series of Holiday Movie Nights. They begin at 6 pm on three Saturdays, December 5, 12 and 19, and the lineup features Frozen, The Grinch and The Polar Express.

The page does not say which film plays on which night or give an exact screening spot, so check with Downtown Fayetteville Coalition before you go. The Lights of the Ozarks display on the Historic Downtown Square is free and runs nightly from 5 pm to 1 am through January 1, with food trucks on East Avenue every night except Monday and hot cocoa from vendors around the square. Dress warmly if the screenings are outdoors, and consider arriving early to walk through the lights first. The Polar Express is shown as a movie screening only.

Parent tip: Confirm the screening location and film order before you go, since the page does not list them.

Host
Experience Fayetteville (opens in a new tab)
Address
Fayetteville Historic Downtown Square, Block Avenue and Mountain Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Experience Fayetteville (opens in a new tab)

Santa visitFree

Sweets with Santa (Ages 3 to 10)

  • When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10 am to noon
  • Where: Fayetteville Public Library, Event Center (1st Floor), Fayetteville
  • Cost: Free, registration required
  • Ages: Ages 3 to 10
Details, tips and host

Sweets with Santa is a holiday party for children ages 3 to 10 in the Event Center on the first floor of Fayetteville Public Library. Kids can make crafts, play games, enjoy sweets and meet a very special guest, Santa.

The party is free but limited to 50 children, and each child must be registered separately (adults should not register themselves). Registration opens Saturday, Nov 21, and the library notes that the event fills quickly, with a waitlist available. Families who miss a spot are invited to a holiday sing-along with Mr. Troy in the Story Time Room at 10 am the same morning.

Parent tip: Register each child as soon as signups open on Nov 21. For disability accommodations, contact the library 2 to 3 weekdays ahead at 479.856.7170.

Host
Fayetteville Public Library (opens in a new tab)
Address
Fayetteville Public Library, Event Center (1st Floor), 401 W Mountain St, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Sign-up
Required ahead of time
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Fayetteville Public Library (opens in a new tab)

Look inside the book

Story time with Santa in Fayetteville, AR? 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.

Page 1 of 8

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

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Every event above was confirmed on the host’s own page, 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 Arkansas Christmas train rides page.

Fayetteville, AR Christmas events for kids at a glance

Kids’ Christmas events
5 confirmed for 2026
Cities
Fayetteville
Season
November 20, 2026 to January 2, 2027
Free events
2
Kinds of events
holiday lights, holiday parade and Santa visit
Last checked
See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Fayetteville, AR Christmas event for kids happens

The first is Lights of the Ozarks in Fayetteville on November 20; the last runs to January 2. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

Looking further afield? Our Arkansas Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Little Rock, Hot Springs, Rogers, Conway, Fort Smith, Springdale and Jonesboro. 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)

2026 Christmas events are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November: unlock the list and we'll email you as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Fayetteville, AR

In Fayetteville, Christmas is strung up with fishing poles. When the first Lights of the Ozarks went up in 1993, crews cast lights over the downtown Square trees, and the glow has grown for more than 30 years.

How Fayetteville celebrates

Fayetteville's big tradition is Lights of the Ozarks, which lights the downtown Square every winter. Organizer Marilyn Heifner staged the first event in 1993 to bring December visitors downtown, and she remembered crews using fishing poles to cast lights over the trees. By 2012 the display had more than 450,000 LED lights, and parks crews began stringing them in the second week of October. Over the years camel rides were added, and University of Arkansas hospitality students helped plan events. A parade circles the Square, and the 2013 route grew to include Block Avenue and Dickson Street.

Christmas last year in Fayetteville

The 2025 season opened with Light Night on Friday, November 21, when the Square lit up. Two weeks later, on Thursday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m., the Lights of the Ozarks Parade wound through downtown, so what was one night of festivity became two. The lights shone nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. through January 1, with holiday music, hot cocoa, winter treats and vendors. Today the City of Fayetteville Parks Maintenance Division decorates the Square with more than 500,000 LED lights, spending more than 3,300 hours on the display.

Fun facts about Christmas in Fayetteville

In 2014, organizers expected about 300,000 visitors over the six weeks the lights were up, and around 450,000 lights were hung by parks workers, who started in October. The lights extended to Block Street that year. In 2013 the parade took place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and began and ended at the Fayetteville Public Library. Admission to the lights is free, and the display shines until New Year's Day, so kids can stroll the Square after dinner.

Trains and Christmas near Fayetteville

Families near Fayetteville can find a holiday ride close by. The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad runs vintage passenger excursions from Springdale and Van Buren, including a Holiday Express Pajama Train, so book ahead. In Fort Smith, the Trolley Museum lets kids ride a 1926 Birney streetcar and see Frisco steam locomotive 4003 in the car barn, open Friday to Sunday. Farther east, the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway offers narrated rides from a depot with a working turntable, but its season runs April to October.

Traditions today

  • Lights of the Ozarks: More than 500,000 LED lights glow on the downtown Square nightly from Light Night until January 1, and admission is free.
  • Light Night: The opening night of the display, held in 2025 on Friday, November 21, when the Square is switched on.
  • Lights of the Ozarks Parade: A parade with floats that circles the Square, held two weeks after Light Night in 2025.
  • Nightly Square activities: Holiday music, hot cocoa, winter treats and vendors fill the Square on display nights.
  • Lights up by hand: City parks crews spend thousands of hours stringing lights, starting in October.
  • Holiday Market: The Community Creative Center holds a holiday market in December, in its 18th year in 2026.

A fact for kids

When Fayetteville's Lights of the Ozarks began in 1993, workers used fishing poles to cast lights over the trees. Today the Square has more than 500,000 LED lights.

Questions about Christmas in Fayetteville, AR

What is the best known Christmas tradition in Fayetteville?

Lights of the Ozarks is the best known long-running tradition. Organizer Marilyn Heifner staged the first event in 1993 to draw December visitors downtown. The display now fills the Fayetteville Square with more than 500,000 LED lights every winter, and the city calls it a season highlight for families.

When did Lights of the Ozarks start?

It started in 1993, which makes it more than 30 years old. It began as a way to bring December visitors and business to downtown Fayetteville, and the display has grown ever since. In 2012 it had more than 450,000 lights, and today the city counts more than 500,000 LED lights on the Square.

How did Lights of the Ozarks begin?

Marilyn Heifner organized the first event in 1993 to bring visitors to Fayetteville in December. She remembered how crews used fishing poles to cast lights over the trees. Over time camel rides were added, and University of Arkansas hospitality students helped plan events.

How many lights are on the Fayetteville Square?

The City of Fayetteville decorates the Square with more than 500,000 LED lights, and parks crews spend more than 3,300 hours on the display. Back in 2012 the count was more than 450,000, so the glow has grown. The display is free to visit.

When do the Fayetteville Christmas lights go up?

Crews start stringing lights in October, and in 2012 more than 20 parks employees began in the second week of October. The display switches on at Light Night, which fell on November 21 in 2025, and stays on until January 1.

When is the best time to see the Fayetteville lights?

The lights shine nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Light Night through January 1, so there is no single best night. In 2014 organizers expected about 300,000 visitors over six weeks, so an early evening visit may leave more room for little ones to look around and enjoy hot cocoa.

What is Light Night in Fayetteville?

Light Night is the opening night of Lights of the Ozarks, when the Square is switched on. In 2025 it fell on Friday, November 21. The parade followed two weeks later on December 4, which turned what had been one night of festivity into two separate nights.

What is the Lights of the Ozarks Parade?

It is a Fayetteville parade with floats that circles the downtown Square. In 2025 it was held on Thursday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. The route has changed over time, and in 2013 it grew to include Block Avenue and Dickson Street.

Has the Fayetteville parade always been on the same night?

No. In 2013 the parade took place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and it used to share an evening with the light switch on. By 2025 it was held two weeks after Light Night, on a Thursday, which gave the lights two separate celebrations.

How many people visit Lights of the Ozarks?

In 2014, organizers expected about 300,000 visitors over the six weeks the lights were up. That year workers hung around 450,000 lights and added lights on Block Street. Admission to the display is free, which helps families come back more than once.

Is Lights of the Ozarks free?

Yes, the display on the Fayetteville Square is free, and the lights shine nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. through January 1. Nightly activities have included holiday music, hot cocoa, winter treats and vendors. For this season's schedule, see our Fayetteville Christmas events guide on this page.

Who puts up the Fayetteville lights?

City of Fayetteville Parks workers hang the lights. The Parks Maintenance Division spends more than 3,300 hours decorating the Square today. In 2012 the Advertising and Promotion Commission bought the lights, while Parks and Recreation designed and installed them, and more than 20 parks employees did the work.

What has Fayetteville added to Lights of the Ozarks over the years?

Over the years camel rides were added, and University of Arkansas hospitality students helped plan events. In 2013 the parade route expanded to include Block Avenue and Dickson Street, and in 2014 the lights stretched to Block Street. The display itself has grown from a first event in 1993 to more than 500,000 LED lights today.

How can I explain Lights of the Ozarks to my kids?

Tell them that in 1993 a few people wanted to light the town for Christmas and cast the lights over trees with fishing poles. Now thousands of lights glow every night. Kids can count the colors, look for the biggest tree and warm up with hot cocoa.

What can kids look for at the Fayetteville Square at night?

Kids can walk the downtown Square after dinner and see more than 500,000 LED lights glowing, with holiday music, hot cocoa, winter treats and vendors on display nights. The lights are free to visit and shine until January 1, so families can pick a calm evening and take their time.

Is there a holiday market in Fayetteville?

Yes. The Community Creative Center holds a Holiday Market each December, and its 18th annual market is scheduled for December 1 through 21, 2026. For this season's confirmed dates and vendors, see our Fayetteville Christmas events guide on this page.

Where can I see a train near Fayetteville at Christmas?

The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad in Springdale runs vintage passenger excursions, including a Holiday Express Pajama Train, and you should book ahead online or by phone. The Fort Smith Trolley Museum, open Friday to Sunday, lets kids ride a 1926 Birney streetcar.

Is there a train museum in Eureka Springs?

Yes. The Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway offers hour-long narrated train rides from a depot on North Main Street. It has a working turntable and steam engines on display, but the season runs from April to October, so it is not a December stop.

What can kids see at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum?

Kids can ride an authentic 1926 Birney streetcar through downtown Fort Smith, then look around a car barn with Frisco steam locomotive 4003, vintage buses and more trolleys under restoration. The museum is open Friday to Sunday, so plan a weekend day trip.

What makes Christmas in Fayetteville different?

Fayetteville celebrates with a lighted downtown Square rather than a single big tree. Lights of the Ozarks began in 1993 and now has more than 500,000 LED lights, a parade and winter treats. The display is free and shines nightly until January 1, so families can visit on more than one evening.

Sources

  1. Lights of the Ozarks, Experience Fayetteville
  2. Lights of the Ozarks will light up Fayetteville Friday, 5NEWS
  3. Officials say holiday light costs are worth it, Talk Business & Politics
  4. Lights of the Ozarks Parade, Arkansas.com
  5. Lights of the Ozarks Parade Expands to Block Avenue and Dickson Street, Arkansas.com
  6. Lights of the Ozarks Parade, Experience Fayetteville
  7. Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, Rally Takes the Train
  8. Fort Smith Trolley Museum, Rally Takes the Train
  9. Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway, Rally Takes the Train

Fayetteville, AR Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Fayetteville, AR this year?

We confirmed 5 for the 2026 season, and 2 of them are free. Good places to start: The Light Show NWA (Nov 20 to Jan 2), Lights of the Ozarks (Nov 20 to Jan 1) and Sweets with Santa (Ages 3 to 10) (Dec 12). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Fayetteville, AR?

Yes, 2 of the 5. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.

Where can kids meet Santa in Fayetteville, AR?

3 events here include a visit with Santa. Popular picks are Visits with Santa on the Downtown Square (Dec 4 to Dec 18). Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.

Is anything on for kids in Fayetteville, AR on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?

Yes, two events run on Christmas Eve or later. The Light Show NWA runs through Jan 2 and Lights of the Ozarks runs through Jan 1.

Do we need tickets or reservations?

For 4 of the 5 events, yes: they sell tickets or ask you to sign up ahead. Meals with Santa and ticketed shows fill up first. Most library and park events are walk-in, and each listing says which is which.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Fayetteville, AR?

Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Fayetteville, AR 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 4, 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.

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Christmas Events for Kids in Portland, ME (2026)
Next

Christmas Events for Kids in Ann Arbor (2026)