Updated November 2nd, 2026 by Aaron McFarland
Tis’ the season! The lights are going up across the Treasure Valley!
Late November and December are the time for bundling up and wandering Winter Garden aGlow with a cocoa in hand. Others are made for pajamas, a warm car and the radio turned up at Christmas in Color. And some of the best ones won’t cost you a thing, like the 900,000 lights at Scentsy Commons in Meridian or a walk along Indian Creek in Caldwell after dark.
Below are the big light displays, the tree lightings and holiday events worth planning around, and where to find the best home displays, with 2026 dates, hours and prices. A few organizers haven’t posted 2026 details yet, but we’ll update when they do.
Big Christmas Light Displays
Winter Garden aGlow
Boise’s big walk-through light show fills the Idaho Botanical Garden with about 800,000 lights, and this year it expands into the garden’s new space with a Lake of Lights on Outlaw Field. Free cocoa and cookies, Gingerbread Lane, and a silent disco run every night, with Santa and the 21-and-over Yuletide Bar on select nights.
It’s the garden’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and popular nights sell out, so book ahead. Tickets are timed entry, but you can stay until close. Plan on 60 to 90 minutes, dress for icy paths, and leave the dog at home.
Dates
November 27th – December 30th
Closed select nights
Admission
$20 adults
$16 youth; $16 and $11 on discount nights; under 3 free
Hours
Most nights run 6pm – 9pm, with 5pm – 8pm on Santa and discount nights and 6pm – 8pm from December 27th – 30th. It’s closed most Mondays and some Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus Christmas Day, so check the calendar for your night. Active military get in free, and veterans are free on November 29th, December 15th, and December 28th.
Where
Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise. Parking is free in the new Parking Garden at the entrance, with a shuttle to the ticket kiosks.
Winter Wonderland at Indian Creek Plaza
Downtown Caldwell strings more than a million lights along Indian Creek and across the blocks around Indian Creek Plaza, and it’s one of the biggest free displays in Idaho. Opening weekend brings Santa, vendors, food trucks and a winter market, and the lights turn on automatically at dusk every night after that.
A major draw is the Ice Ribbon, Idaho’s only skating ribbon, which opens the same night and runs through February. It’s $17 with skate rental, $9 if you bring your own, and $8 for ages 5 and under.
Dates
Opens November 20th
Lights run into January
Admission
Free
Skating is ticketed
Hours
Opening weekend runs 6pm – 9pm nightly, with the winter market opening at 3pm Saturday and Sunday. After that, the lights are on from dusk each night.
Where
Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S Kimball Ave, Caldwell. The city recommends parking along the railroad between 5th Avenue and 12th Avenue.
Scentsy Commons Christmas Lights
This corporate campus is a seasonal favorite in the valley. Scentsy wraps its Meridian campus in more than 900,000 lights every year, including a 250-foot light tunnel and a 75-foot Christmas tree. It’s completely free; there are no tickets or reservations, and the lights stay on from sunset to sunrise.
The 10th annual lighting ceremony is November 13th, with a countdown at 6:15pm and about a dozen food trucks on site. No pets, no smoking, and no alcohol.
Dates
November 13th – January 18th
Lighting ceremony November 13th
Admission
Free
Hours
Sunset to sunrise, usually open nightly through December.
The lighting ceremony runs 6pm – 8pm on November 13th.
Where
Photo: Shindig Farms
Lost in Christmas at Shindig Farms
Shindig Farms in Nampa turns its grounds into a walk-through Christmas light maze, with wagon rides, hot cocoa and Christmas trees for sale. It’s a little more hands-on than the big displays, and kids love finding their way through.
Dates
November 20th – January 2nd
Fridays and Saturdays in November, plus Thursdays in December
Admission
$12 – $14
Depends on the night; 3 and under free
Website
Hours
5pm – 10pm. Wagon rides are $5.
Where
Photo: Susan Graham
The Village at Meridian
The Village turns Fountain Square into a Christmas village every year, with tens of thousands of lights, a musical fountain show, Santa’s cottage, and an ice rink around the tree. Pair it with a holiday movie or some shopping, since everything is steps away.
The season kicks off with a tree lighting and Santa’s arrival in Fountain Square. The 2026 date isn’t posted yet, and last year’s lighting was the Thursday before Thanksgiving week.
Dates
Tree lighting TBD
Lights run through the season
Admission
Free
Skating and Santa photos are extra
Hours
TBD. Check The Village’s site for the tree lighting, skating and Santa hours.
Where
Christmas in Color
The valley’s drive-through light show, with more than a million lights synced to holiday music you tune in on your car radio. It moved from Expo Idaho to the Roaring Springs parking lot in Meridian in 2024, right off I-84 at the Meridian Road exit, and the drive takes about 30 minutes.
It’s a good pick for little kids, cold nights, or anyone who’d rather see the lights in comfy clothing. Tickets are sold online only, by time slot, and all sales are final.
Dates
TBD
Last season ran November 14th – December 29th
Admission
$35 per car
Last season’s price, plus fees
Hours
2026 hours are TBD. Last season ran 5pm – 9:30pm nightly, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, with a $15 Party Pack upgrade and $5 peak pricing the week of Christmas.
Where
Tree Lightings and Holiday Events
Downtown Boise Holiday Tree Lighting
Boise’s grand holiday tree lights up in The Grove Plaza the night after Thanksgiving, with performances and a countdown. It’s free, and it’s the easy way to start the season before the Boise Holiday Parade the next morning.
Date
November 27th
The night after Thanksgiving
Admission
Free
Hours
5pm – 6pm.
Where
Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees
Boise's big holiday fundraiser fills the Boise Centre with professionally decorated trees, plus Santa, a LEGO display and a scavenger hunt for kids. It's in its 42nd year, and it's a solid indoor option if the weather turns.
Dates
November 25th – 29th
Public days
Admission
$16 adults
$11 kids, seniors and military
Hours
Check the festival's site for daily hours. Family Day is November 28th, and it's card or contactless payment only.
Where
Eagle Country Christmas
Eagle's small-town Christmas fills Heritage Park and State Street with a holiday market, free hot cocoa, Santa in his sleigh and live reindeer. Grab a candle for the tree lighting countdown at 6pm. It's outdoors, so dress warm.
Hours
2pm – 6pm, with the tree lighting at 6pm.
Where
Neighborhood and Home Displays
Candy Cane Lane
This Eagle neighborhood display has become a holiday tradition of its own, with homes decked out and lights that switch on Thanksgiving night. It's free to visit and raises money for Make-A-Wish Idaho. Please be respectful of the neighbors while you're there.
Dates
November 26th – December 31st
Nightly
Admission
Free
Donations to Make-A-Wish Idaho
Hours
5:30pm – 11pm nightly.
Where
Find More Home Displays
For a constantly updated guide to hundreds of home light displays across the valley, check the Boise Christmas Lights Project map before you head out. It marks which homes have music and gets updated through the season. Idaho News 6 also features standout displays on its Valley Lights page.
Pick a night, tune the radio to a Christmas station, and make a loop through a few neighborhoods. It's free, and most displays are up from Thanksgiving through New Year's.
