Branson Christmas Light Displays 2025

Venturing around town to see all the homes and businesses decked out in thousands of colorful twinkling lights is a favorite Christmastime activity in Branson.

This year, there are several drive-through light displays that welcome guests from dusk until late-night — perfect for the after-show crowd!

If you prefer to let someone else do the driving, Branson VIP Holiday Lights coach tour takes you through two light displays, a view of the Branson lighted nativity scene, and ends with hot chocolate and treats from the Backstage Cafe at the historic Branson Hotel. The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour Christmas Lights Tour is also a new option, combining comedy with a bus tour.

For an aerial view of the lights, there are holiday helicopter tours available from Branson Helicopter Tours or Chopper Charter.

Branson’s Lights of Joy

Branson’s Lights of Joy (formerly known as Gift of Lights) drive-through display debuted in 2015 but its location off Shepherd of the Hills Expressway is the same as the former Festival of Lights, which was held there for almost 25 years prior. The entrance is located just north of Sight & Sound Theater.

Branson’s Lights of Joy contains more than 250 displays with over one million twinkling LED lights throughout the 1.25 mile drive. The display was completely overhauled in 2021, and new displays are added each year.

You can also visit with Santa on weekends from Nov. 1 through Dec. 23.

LOCATION: 700 Expressway Lane, Branson, MO 65616
DATES OF OPERATION: Nov. 1 – Jan. 5
HOURS: 5 to 11 p.m.
PRICE: Starting at $23.29 per car with up to 9 passengers if purchased online in advance. Prices are $25-30 at the gate.

The Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills

Home to the famous outdoor theatre, the 160-acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead transforms into a holiday paradise. Rated by the Travel Channel as one of the top five drive through Christmas displays in the U.S., the Trail of Lights features a series of story-telling animated characters surrounded with millions of Christmas lights.

LOCATION: 5586 W Highway 76, Branson, MO 65616
DATES OF OPERATION: Nov. 2 – Jan. 4
HOURS: 5:30 to 10 p.m. (open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays, or later as traffic dictates)
PRICE: $25 per car with up to 8 passengers if purchased online in advance.

Let There Be Lights at Promised Land Zoo

Branson’s Promised Land Zoo is home to the area’s longest drive-through light display. The two-mile display is open nightly beginning Nov. 1. The Zoo is also home to the region’s only live reindeer herd, giving patrons the opportunity to pet, feed, and take photos with the Sven, Rudolph, Prancer, and more with the VIP “Yeti Express” option. Every admission includes the light display, ‘Candyland Courtyard’ complete with dancing trees timed to your favorite Christmas tunes, ‘Animal Adventures’ building with dozens of animals on display, Elves’ Secret Gift Shop, and more.

LOCATION: 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, MO 65616
DATES OF OPERATION: Nov. 1 – Dec. 31
HOURS: 5 to 11 p.m.
PRICE: $30 per car with up to 6 passengers; $45 per car with 7 or more passengers

Visit the Let There Be Lights website for further details.


SEE ALSO: Branson Christmas Attractions & Activities


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Deck The Trails at Big Cedar Lodge

Big Cedar Lodge has always been well decorated during the holidays, but the hotel and resort introduced a paid drive-through display in 2022 with a record number of lights. You’ll journey through the story of Christmas as you travel from Top of the Rock to Big Cedar.

Separate from this self-guided drive-through, you can also book a 25-minute holiday tram tour of the lights (priced at $25-30/person). Once there, head into the main lobby to see their gingerbread village and train display, large trees, and other holiday decor. There’s also a synthetic ice skating rink with a large tree programmed to “dance” along with a selection of favorite Christmas songs.

Located near Big Cedar, Top of the Rock also offers the popular Nature At Night golf cart tour on the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail.

Check out all the Christmas activities at Big Cedar here. Note that some activities are only open to hotel guests.

LOCATION: 190 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, MO 65739
DATES OF OPERATION: Nov. 10 – Dec. 30
HOURS: 5 to 10 p.m.
PRICE: Drive-through is free for Big Cedar hotel guests with hang tag. All others are $35 per car if purchased online here

Silver Dollar City

While not a drive-through display, Silver Dollar City is decked out in over 6.5 MILLION lights during the annual An Old Time Christmas festival. The theme park — styled as an 1880s mining city — continually receives recognition for its incredible illuminated displays, 1,000 decorated trees, two Broadway-style Christmas shows, an eight-story LED special effect Christmas tree, Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas light parade, thrilling amusement rides, festival foods, and more.

Visit our Ultimate Guide to Christmas at Silver Dollar City for a full rundown of all the park has to offer.

LOCATION: 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway, Branson, MO 65616
DATES OF OPERATION: Select days from Nov. 2 – Jan. 4
HOURS: Varies
PRICE: Varies. Purchase online here.

Jingle! (Ozark, Mo.)

A short 30-minute drive from Branson, Jingle is an all-new experience debuting at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo for the 2024 season.

Jingle features a walk-through Christmas light path, snow tubing on real snow, an ice skating trail, festive tunes at Bah Humbug’s Sing-A-Long Piano Bar, and holiday beverages at the Tipsy Tree Lodge.

LOCATION: 4400 N 19th St Ozark, MO 65721
DATES OF OPERATION: Select dates Nov. 22 – Dec. 30
HOURS: Varies; Daytime and Nighttime tickets available
PRICE: $26-34. Purchase online here.

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FREE Neighborhood Light Displays

Check out these free displays in the Branson area that would make even Clark Griswold jealous.

Downtown Branson
Many businesses in Downtown Branson extensively decorate for the season. The streets are decorated in all-new lighted snowflakes on the lamp posts. Chick-Fil-A (607 W Main St, Branson, MO 65616) has covered their exterior in hundreds of thousands of lights (which can be seen from Highway 65) and added a light tunnel in the drive-through. Steak ‘N Shake (503 W Main St, Branson, MO 65616) has also covered their restaurant in lights, and a larger-than-life illuminated snowman greets guests from the road. Also check out all the beautiful trees Downtown and across the area as part of the Branson Christmas Tree Tour.

Branson Landing
There are of course plenty of shopping and dining opportunities at the Branson Landing, but it’s also a great place to simply walk around and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. The focal point is a 63-foot animated Christmas tree, which features shows every 20 minutes from 5:15 to 10 p.m. (exact schedule varies). The fountain and fire show also takes place at the top of every hour.

Branson Theatre District
Many of Branson’s music theaters and attractions decorate inside and out. Take a drive down Hwy 76 (also known as “The Strip”) to enjoy everything the city has to offer. One example: the exterior of Presleys Country Jubilee (2920 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616) is covered in lights and features massive toy soldiers that were once part of the decor at the Grand Palace Theatre.

Bennett Christmas Lights
The Bennett family goes all out for the holiday and you can enjoy their Christmas light display from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31. Located at 321 Sherry Lane, Branson, MO 65616, the display is illuminated from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., and 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Fri. and Sat. nights. Tune your radio to 96.3 FM to hear music synchronized to the lights. While not required, monetary and pet supply donations to the Branson Humane Society are accepted at the collection box in the driveway.

Christmas Lights of Ozark at Finley River Park
This free drive-through display is located in Ozark, Mo., which is 30 minutes north of Branson and 15 minutes south of Springfield. Located at 891 N Riverside Rd., Ozark, MO 65721, the display is open Nov. 9 through Dec. 25. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., and 5 to 11 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Donations are accepted to support the display and other park needs.

Bagwell Lights (Springfield)
This light display has been featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight” national TV show and is a favorite in the Springfield area (about 45 minutes north of Branson). Located at 2008 E Cambridge St., Springfield, MO 65804, the display is on from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., and 5 to 11 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Tune your radio to 105.5 FM to hear music synchronized to the lights.

More Branson Christmas Info

For more information about holiday activities and attractions in Branson, check out these popular articles:

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