Posted in Arkansas November 07, 2021 by

11 Christmas Light Displays In Arkansas That Are Pure Magic

Christmas light displays are one of the very best things about the holiday season. The bright, twinkling lights and cheerful displays are guaranteed offer a big, old dose of holiday spirit sure to put a smile on your face. Below you’ll find 11 of the best Christmas light displays in Arkansas, and you should make this entire list your holiday light bucket list right now, because you won’t want to miss a single one.

1. Lights of the Ozarks (Fayetteville Square)
Fayetteville Farmer's Market & Historic Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Flickr/MRHSFan
Each year Fayetteville Parks and Recreation decorates the Fayetteville square with over 400,000 lights. The event stretches from mid-November until the end of December, so you have plenty of time to check it out. On the square you’ll find carriage rides, hot cocoa, Santa, and so much more magic, we can’t begin to list it all. You’ll find the Fayetteville Square at the intersection of Block, Mountain, East & Center Streets, and you can learn more at the Lights of the Ozarks event page.
2. Arkansas State Capitol
Arkansas State Capitol, 500 Woodlane St, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Flickr/Clayton Wells
In downtown Little Rock, the Capitol dazzles during the holidays. Visit the Capitol building at 500 Woodlane Street in Little Rock. Follow the Arkansas State Capitol on Facebook for more information about this epic event!
3. Saline County Courthouse (Benton)
Saline County Courthouse, 200 N Main St, Benton, AR 72015, USA
Flickr/Harold Wright
Located in Benton, the Saline County Courthouse is part of the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights. It makes that list because it’s absolutely fantastic. The lights generally turn on from mid-November through the end of December, and during this time, festivities such as the annual Christmas Parade, happen as well. You’ll find thousands of lights all over the block that holds the courthouse at 200 North Main Street in Benton.
4. Garvan Woodland Gardens
Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
Flickr/musicanys
If you’re looking for literally millions of lights, you need to go to Garvan Woodland Gardens. They’ve spread 4.5 million bulbs across 17 acres, and each acre is amazing. Their holiday lights last through the end of December, and it is a delightful holiday wonderland you simply must experience. Garvan Woodland Gardens is located at 550 Arkridge Road in Hot Springs.
5. White River Wonderland (Batesville)
850 Chaney Dr, Batesville, AR 72501, USA
Flickr/Dave Thomas
Riverside Park in Batesville is set right beside the White River, and there’s nothing quite like what happens to it around Christmastime. People come from all over to see the park illuminated by thousands of lights. There are also carriage rides and an amazing skating rink! You’ll find White River Wonderland in Riverside Park at 1850 Chaney Drive in Batesville.
6. Paris
Paris, AR 72855, USA
Flickr/AR NaturGal
You don’t have to go overseas to see Paris in the winter. Paris, Arkansas, is an adorable town and there’s no better time to see it than when it’s all lit up for the holidays. From the replica of the Eiffel Tower to the amazing lights at the Logan County Courthouse, you won’t want to miss this adorable Christmas town.
7. Downtown Bentonville
Bentonville City Square, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA
Flickr/Alfredo Carillo
Downtown Bentonville is a vision at Christmastime, when its square is alight in thousands of flickering, twinkling lights. The square is amazing during the holiday season, and there are plenty of small businesses lining it where you can finish up your shopping list. You can find downtown Bentonville at Main and Central Streets.
8. Finney’s Christmas Wonderland (Crossett)
Finneys Christmas Wonderland, 123 Goshen Rd, Crossett, AR 71635, USA
Facebook/Finney’s Christmas Wonderland
With over a million lights and literal miles of extension cords, Finney’s Christmas Wonderland certainly lives up to its (admittedly awesome) name. This place has over 150 cut outs and a biblical theme. You’ll find Finney’s Christmas Wonderland at 123 Goshen Road in Crossett.
9. Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends (Pine Bluff)
Regional Park, Pine Bluff, AR 71602, USA
Explore Pine Bluff
This is Arkansas’s largest drive-thru light display. At 1.3 miles with over 250 displays, this one is a wonder all its own. This display has been repeatedly lauded as among the best in the Natural State. You can visit it at Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park, which you’ll find on U.S. 65 B in Pine Bluff.
10. Lights of the Delta (Blytheville)
1405 South Air Base Highway, Blytheville, AR, USA
Facebook/Lights of the Delta
Lights of the Delta bills itself as the Mid-South’s largest holiday lighting festival, and they are not wrong. With over six million lights, this display is sprawling and spectacular. They have a Jingle Bell Park and Santa’s workshop. Be sure to check the website (linked above) for dates and details on this year's display. You’ll find them at 1405 Airbase Highway in Blytheville.
11. Downtown Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs, AR, USA
Facebook/Eureka Springs Downtown Network
If you can imagine a better place to spend your holiday time than in a Victorian village, congratulations, because we sure can’t! In downtown Eureka Springs, you’ll find all the holiday fun you can imagine: light displays, great food, and endless shopping. Eureka Springs is located in Carroll County.

Well, what do you think? Which of these best Christmas light displays in Arkansas have you visited before? Any epic displays we missed? Share them in the comments below! And for some Arkansas towns that are full of holiday spirit, click here. Happy holidays, Arkansas!

Address: 1405 South Air Base Highway, Blytheville, AR, USA
Address: Eureka Springs, AR, USA
Address: Arkansas State Capitol, 500 Woodlane St, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Address: State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Address: Fayetteville Farmer's Market & Historic Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Address: Paris, AR 72855, USA
Address: 850 Chaney Dr, Batesville, AR 72501, USA
Address: Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
Address: Bentonville City Square, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA
Address: Finneys Christmas Wonderland, 123 Goshen Rd, Crossett, AR 71635, USA
Address: Saline County Courthouse, 200 N Main St, Benton, AR 72015, USA
Address: Regional Park, Pine Bluff, AR 71602, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

best Christmas light displays in Arkansas

November 12, 2021
Sarah

What’s Christmas in Arkansas like?

While we don’t (generally) get a White Christmas here in the Natural State, that doesn’t mean we’re lacking in holiday cheer! Come wintertime, there’s all sorts of holiday cheer here in Arkansas. All across the state, towns both big and small bring out their festive decorations and holiday cheer, making for a delightful experience for all who visit their decked-out streets and halls! Click over to this list for some fun ways to celebrate Christmas in Arkansas.

What are some fun Christmas traditions in Arkansas?

With the holiday season comes tradition, but some of the ones we Arkansans take for granted are actually pretty weird to anyone outside of the South. Let’s take a look at some of Arkansas’ more unique holiday traditions, shall we? Most of these are food-related because any Arkansans knows good and well that food traditions are most the important. For starters, we don’t just do turkey… we deep-fry our turkey! (Because here in the South, everything is deep fried!) When capping off our deep-fried turkey dinner, pumpkin pie is nice and all, but we enjoy a slice of possum pie as well. But it’s not how it sounds! Also known as a Four-Layer Delight, this confection is made up of a butter-pecan crust, a cream cheese layer, a chocolate layer, and topped with a whipped cream layer sprinkled with toasted pecans. It’s a perfectly sweet way to celebrate the holidays. And in non-food related traditions, you’ll notice an abundance of deer all over the Natural State come November and December. Arkansans can get creative with showing a festive love of deer season. Maybe it’s a playful display of a snowman hunting the lit-up deer, or maybe some of the decorations seem to be target deer instead of a standard store-bought Santa.

What are some fun things to do during the holidays in Arkansas?

Well, in addition to venturing out to all 12 of the best Christmas light displays in Arkansas, you’ll want to check out the Holiday Express, a festive train ride offered by the Arkansas Missouri Railroad that the whole family will enjoy. The beloved railroad has the best holiday train in Arkansas, and you won’t want to let the season pass without climbing aboard this whimsical locomotive. The real question is: What will you ask Santa for during this magical holiday train ride?

Address: 1405 South Air Base Highway, Blytheville, AR, USA
Address: Eureka Springs, AR, USA
Address: Arkansas State Capitol, 500 Woodlane St, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Address: State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Address: Fayetteville Farmer's Market & Historic Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Address: Paris, AR 72855, USA
Address: 850 Chaney Dr, Batesville, AR 72501, USA
Address: Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
Address: Bentonville City Square, Bentonville, AR 72712, USA
Address: Finneys Christmas Wonderland, 123 Goshen Rd, Crossett, AR 71635, USA
Address: Saline County Courthouse, 200 N Main St, Benton, AR 72015, USA
Address: Regional Park, Pine Bluff, AR 71602, USA