Each winter season, Fayetteville’s downtown square is lit up for the holidays for Lights of the Ozarks. This enlightening experience is pure magic, but the enchantments won’t be over in just one night. In my opinion, Christmas lights in Arkansas don’t get any better than this! Let’s take a dazzling walk around Fayetteville Square to see the twinkling beauty around every corner.

Every year the Historic Downtown Square in Fayetteville is turned into a spectacular holiday extravaganza.
Christmas lights in Arkansas
Facebook/Lights of the Ozarks
No Hallmark movie magic was used here! The square is illuminated with 500,000 twinkling lights. Workers from the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation clock-in about 3,300+ hours to achieve this jaw-dropping light display.
The festive scenes and dazzling trees will bring back a sense of wonder to folks of all ages.
Facebook/Experience Fayetteville
Walk under the large umbrellas of light while zigzagging through every little lit up path along the square. One of the most entrancing parts of this experience is how the lights are layered between the sidewalk and buildings with small walkways between the scenes.

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The lighting ceremony is much more than a simple flip of the switch.
Facebook/Experience Fayetteville
Opening night (Friday, Nov. 17, 2023) kicks off with a festive parade filled with floats sponsored by local groups and businesses. In addition to the parade, Santa will be making a special appearance as well! He will be visiting a couple of other times before the end of the year, so don't fret if you can't attend opening night.
The lights are pure magical bliss but they're not the only reason to visit the square.
Christmas lights in Arkansas
Facebook/Experience Fayetteville
As you admire the thousands of twinkling lights, be sure to grab a cup of hot chocolate and fair-inspired food for your trek. For a more romantic route, there might be carriage rides around the square, which would be an awesome date night adventure. Families can take advantage of all the other fun activities around the Square as well!
Even if you can't attend the opening ceremonies, a stroll around the square is a time-honored tradition for Arkansans.
Facebook/Experience Fayetteville
The dazzling illuminations will be on until January 1st, 2024. Since the lights will be on for a solid season it'll be easy to plan for a trip or two before the new year. For more information about the festivities happening around the square, visit Experience Fayetteville's website.

Take a look at the YouTube video by KCVids816 showing all the dazzling displays at Lights of the Ozarks in Fayetteville.

Will you be making plans to see these Christmas lights in Arkansas this year? What’s your favorite holiday tradition in Arkansas? Share with us in the comments below! We would love to see your stunning photos of the square (or any of the state’s outdoor light displays) on our OnlyInYourState Facebook page. You should join the community to stay on top of all the upcoming events in Arkansas.

Here are some other drive-thru light displays to tour during this festive season. Or if you’re searching for more fun while you’re in town, check out these attractions in Fayetteville that will be a blast during the winter months.

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Experience Christmas In Arkansas

William Suphan | November 02, 2022

What are the unique holiday traditions that take place in Arkansas?

Arkansas brings its own style of charm to the holidays with several traditions that aren’t generally seen elsewhere. For instance, rather than pumpkin or rhubarb pie, they enjoy possum pie. There’s no actual possum in it, just four layers of sweet goodness, including cream cheese, chocolate, a butter pecan crust, and whipped cream with toasted pecans on top. Sounds delicious! In Arkansas, turkeys aren’t put in the oven, but in the deep fryer. While biscuits are a Southern staple, in Arkansas they are enjoyed with chocolate gravy. The one thing locals won’t forget is to eat some Hoppin’ Johns, which is black-eyed peas, pork, and greens and the dish is said to bring prosperity and progress for the new year.

What are the best Christmas towns in Arkansas?

Arkansas is lush and beautiful, and becomes even more stunning when several of the towns light up with festive cheer. Fayetteville holds Lights of the Ozarks which is definitely a must-see. The town also is filled with wonderful shops full of crafty gifts and a whole host of scrumptious food. The mountain spa town of Hot Springs lights up its Bathhouse Row where you can soak among the lights. There’s no shortage of amazing shopping to be had as well. Then there’s Pine Bluff where the Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends takes place and is a stupendous display. 

Where can the most festive light displays in Arkansas be seen?

Arkansas certainly knows how to put on an amazing light display. Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs has over four million lights across 17 acres and is truly a winter wonderland. The little town of Paris has a lit-up replica of the Eiffel Tower as well as a decorated courthouse that is truly stunning to see. The State Capitol building in Little Rock becomes quite a spectacle when it is aglow with a ton of Christmas lights. Wherever you go in Arkansas, you’ll find gorgeous light displays during the holidays.

What are some fun winter day trip ideas in Arkansas?

Here are several winter day trip ideas in Arkansas that we recommend:

  • Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs
  • Mount Magazine State Park, Paris
  • Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock
  • The Old Mill, North Little Rock
  • Blanchard Springs Caverns, Fifty-Six

Be sure to read our previous article telling you more about these fun winter day trip ideas in Arkansas.

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Fayetteville Farmer's Market & Historic Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA