Millions of lights along a 1.75-mile path at Huntsville Botanical Garden, plus Driving Nights, a tram ride, Dog Walking Nights and Sensory Hours. How tickets work and how to plan your visit.
Galaxy of Lights is Huntsville's signature holiday light show, held at Huntsville Botanical Garden from mid-November through New Year's Eve. You can walk a long, winding route through millions of lights, drive through on select nights, ride a tram, bring your dog on special nights, or even run a race through the displays. The 2026 season is its 31st.
Who Runs It
The show is produced entirely by Huntsville Botanical Garden, and every ticket supports the Garden's nonprofit mission. The Garden's own team designs and builds Galaxy in-house, working on it year-round. Installation starts in August, more than three months before opening night, and the Garden says the show takes more than 9,000 hours to create. The numbers are big: more than 3 million lights (the Garden says it stopped counting), more than 32 miles of cable and extension cord, and more than 190 larger-than-life scenes, some 30 feet tall and 60 feet wide.
When It Happens
Galaxy of Lights runs from mid-November through December 31, with dates split between Walking Nights and Driving Nights. The 2026 season runs November 13 to December 31, closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Walking Nights are November 13 to 25, November 27 to 29, December 2 to 5, December 16 to 24 and December 26 to 27. Driving Nights are December 6 to 15 and December 28 to 31. On Walking Nights the last ticketed entry is 8:45 p.m.; on Driving Nights cars enter from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The dates box at the top of this page shows the current or next season.
Ways to See It
- Walking Nights: the classic experience, an approximately 1.75-mile path through the Garden at your own pace, with concessions along the way. Enter through the Propst Guest Center.
- Driving Nights: see the lights from your car, with some displays exclusive to the driving route. The Driving Night entrance is on Phantom Road, just off Bob Wallace Avenue.
- Evergreen Express: a 50-minute open-air tram ride with holiday stories on select Walking Nights. It needs a special ticket, which in 2026 costs $6 more than regular Walking Night admission and includes a cup of hot cocoa. These sell out, so book ahead.
- Dog Walking Nights: on six select Walking Nights (in 2026: November 16, 17, 23 and 24 and December 21 and 22), leashed dogs can walk the full route with their families. Each dog needs its own ticket, $5 in advance or $6 at the gate in 2026.
- Sensory Hours: at 4:30 p.m. on four select Walking Nights (November 28 and 29 and December 2 and 3 in 2026), with reduced crowds and music turned down or off, offered with Autism Support of Alabama.
- The Galaxy of Lights races: a competitive 5K (Monday, November 30, 2026) and a family-friendly 3K fun run (Tuesday, December 1, 2026) through the lights, each with its own registration.
Tickets
Walking Night prices change by date. The Garden uses Non-Peak, Peak and Holiday Prime pricing, with Non-Peak nights the best value, and buying in advance (before 4:30 p.m. on the day of your visit) gets the best Walking Night rate. Driving Nights are a flat price per vehicle (up to 10 people) whether you buy ahead or at the gate.
2026 prices: Driving Nights are $40 per vehicle, or $30 for Garden members, for up to 10 guests. Children 2 and under are free on Walking Nights, and ages 3 to 15 pay the child rate. Garden members can buy a Galaxy Season Pass good for three Walking Night visits for $45 plus tax per adult and $27 plus tax per child age 3 to 15, sold in person only at the Admissions Desk. Groups of 20 or more get discounted tickets. Check the season calendar for each night's Walking Night price.
The Garden is cashless, so bring a card or Apple Pay for tickets, concessions and everything else.
Parking
Parking at the Garden is free during Galaxy of Lights. Walking Night guests use the Propst Guest Center entrance, and Driving Night cars use the Phantom Road entrance off Bob Wallace Avenue, so make sure you're headed to the right one.
What's New Each Year
No two seasons are the same. The team refreshes the displays and the soundtrack every year, which runs to more than 70 pieces of music across 18 musical landscapes. The 2026 season adds two new areas, Winter's Edge and Crystal Glade, with more than 200,000 new lights and about a quarter mile added to the walking route.
Tips
- Buy Walking Night tickets early. Popular dates and arrival times sell out, and advance tickets are cheaper.
- Pick Non-Peak nights for the best price and lighter crowds.
- Book the tram ahead. Evergreen Express tickets go quickly.
- Dress warmly. It's an outdoor walk of nearly two miles on a late fall night.
- Don't bring cash. The Garden doesn't take it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Galaxy of Lights?
From mid-November through December 31, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Check the dates box at the top of this page for the next season.
How long is the walking route?
About 1.75 miles.
Can I bring my dog?
Only on designated Dog Walking Nights, with a separate ticket for each dog.
Is parking free?
Yes. Parking at the Garden is free during Galaxy of Lights.
Can I buy tickets at the gate?
Yes, if they're not sold out. For Walking Nights, buying ahead is cheaper and safer. Driving Night prices are the same online and at the gate.
Planning the rest of the season? Our winter in Huntsville guide covers more holiday events.
Details about businesses mentioned in this article (hours, offerings, atmosphere, and more) may change or may not be fully accurate. Spot something that needs a correction? Let us know and we'll fix it right away.
