Galaxy of Lights runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 31 at Huntsville Botanical Garden. Walking tickets from $17, driving $40 a car, plus dog nights and sensory hours.
Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Galaxy of Lights page and its 2026 season calendar.
Galaxy of Lights opens Friday, Nov. 13, and runs through Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, at Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. SW. It is the Garden’s 31st season of the show. Most nights you walk the lights; on 14 nights in December you drive through instead.
Quick answers
- Is it on this year? Yes. The Garden has published the full 2026 calendar and is selling tickets.
- Walking Nights: Nov. 13-25, Nov. 27-29, Dec. 2-5, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-27.
- Driving Nights: Dec. 6-15 and Dec. 28-31, first entry 5:30 p.m., last entry 9 p.m.
- Closed: Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, and Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
- Tickets: Walking from $17 for adults who are not members; Driving $40 a vehicle.
- Parking: free at the Garden.
- Questions: tickets@hsvbg.org.
What is new for 2026
The Garden says two new areas, Winter’s Edge and Crystal Glade, add more than 200,000 lights and about a quarter mile to the walking route, now about 1.75 miles. Some displays are only on the Driving Night route. The Garden also added more Evergreen Express tram rides and more Sensory Hours this year.
The 2026 calendar
Walking Night prices depend on the night. From the Garden’s season calendar:
| Dates | What runs | Price tier |
|---|---|---|
| Fri. to Sun., Nov. 13-15 | Walking | Peak |
| Mon. to Thu., Nov. 16-19 | Walking (dogs Nov. 16-17) | Non-Peak |
| Fri. to Tue., Nov. 20-24 | Walking (dogs Nov. 23-24) | Peak |
| Wed., Nov. 25 | Walking | Holiday Prime |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Closed for Thanksgiving | |
| Fri. and Sat., Nov. 27-28 | Walking (Sensory Hour Nov. 28) | Holiday Prime |
| Sun., Nov. 29 | Walking (Sensory Hour) | Peak |
| Mon., Nov. 30 | Galaxy of Lights 5K only | |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | 3K Fun Run only | |
| Wed. and Thu., Dec. 2-3 | Walking (Sensory Hours) | Non-Peak |
| Fri. and Sat., Dec. 4-5 | Walking | Peak |
| Sun., Dec. 6, to Tue., Dec. 15 | Driving | Per vehicle |
| Wed., Dec. 16, to Mon., Dec. 21 | Walking (dogs Dec. 21) | Peak |
| Tue. to Thu., Dec. 22-24 | Walking (dogs Dec. 22) | Holiday Prime |
| Fri., Dec. 25 | Closed for Christmas | |
| Sat., Dec. 26 | Walking | Holiday Prime |
| Sun., Dec. 27 | Walking | Peak |
| Mon. to Thu., Dec. 28-31 | Driving | Per vehicle |
The Evergreen Express tram runs on most Walking Nights; the calendar marks each one.
Ticket prices
Walking Night prices below are for tickets bought before 4:30 p.m. on the night of your visit. They do not include tax. Children are 3 to 15; children 2 and under are free.
| Walking Night | Adult, not a member | Child, not a member | Adult, member | Child, member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Peak | $17 | $10 | $13 | $7 |
| Peak | $21 | $13 | $18 | $11 |
| Holiday Prime | $24 | $16 | $21 | $14 |
| At the gate, after 4:30 p.m. | $25 | $16 | $25 | $15 |
- Driving Nights: $40 a vehicle for up to 10 people, or $30 for members, the same in advance or at the gate. Each passenger over 10 is $3. Advance Driving tickets are good on any 2026 Driving Night.
- Evergreen Express: a 50-minute open-air tram ride with hot cocoa, $6 on top of Walking admission in advance or $7 at the gate. Children 2 and under ride free on a lap. It can sell out.
- Dogs: $5 each in advance, $6 at the gate, on Dog Walking Nights only.
- Museums for All: $3 a person, up to four tickets per valid photo ID and EBT card, bought at the gate. The Garden guarantees these tickets even on sold-out nights.
- Military discount: on Dec. 7 and 14, service members and veterans get $5 off Driving admission with a valid military ID.
- Season pass: Garden members can buy a three-visit Walking pass, $45 for adults and $27 for children plus tax, in person at the Garden’s admissions desk.
- Groups of 20 or more: $16 a Walking ticket plus tax; email tickets@hsvbg.org.
Buy tickets on the Garden’s Galaxy page. The Garden is cashless; cards and Apple Pay are accepted.
Times, parking and getting in
- Walking Nights: tickets are for a set arrival time. The last ticketed entry is 8:45 p.m., the gates close at 9 p.m. and the walk closes at 10 p.m. Most people take 60 to 90 minutes. If your time slot sells out online, the gate will not sell more for that slot.
- Where to go: on Walking Nights, drive in by the main Garden entrance or by Phantom Road off Bob Wallace Avenue, park where staff direct you and enter through the Propst Guest Center. On Driving Nights, the entrance is on Phantom Road.
- Parking: free. The Garden says to allow an extra 20 to 40 minutes for parking and entry on Peak and Holiday Prime nights.
- Access: the route mixes paved road, brick and gravel and takes strollers and wheelchairs. Some stretches are dark, so the Garden suggests a flashlight. A limited number of wheelchairs and scooters are lent free at the Guest Center.
- Weather: the show runs rain or shine. If severe weather cancels a night, the Garden posts it by 3:30 p.m. on its website and social media, and tickets move to another night at no charge.
- Changing a date: all sales are final. Walking tickets can move to another night for $5 a ticket by email to tickets@hsvbg.org.
Dog nights, Sensory Hours and races
- Dog Walking Nights: Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 16-17; Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 23-24; and Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 21-22. Dogs stay leashed.
- Sensory Hours: 4:30 p.m. Nov. 28 and 29 and Dec. 2 and 3, before regular entry, with the music turned down or off. The Garden runs them with Autism Support of Alabama.
- Galaxy of Lights 5K: Monday, Nov. 30. 3K Fun Run: Tuesday, Dec. 1. Each needs its own registration on the races page.
Food and drink
Fern & Feast Bistro in the Guest Center sells snacks and hot drinks before you set off. On the route, the Garden lists the Polar Bar in Winter’s Edge and the Fireside Bar at The Outpost for adults 21 and over, food truck meals and s’mores kits at The Outpost, and Cocoa Castle for hot cocoa. The Chrysalis gift shop stays open until 8:30 p.m. on Walking Nights.
What this means for you
- Buy Walking tickets before 4:30 p.m. on the day; after that the gate price applies, up to $8 more for an adult.
- The cheapest nights are Nov. 16-19 and Dec. 2-3.
- To see the lights from your car, go Dec. 6-15 or Dec. 28-31.
- Tinsel Trail in Big Spring Park is free and runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 31; see our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
More on the season: holiday lights and Christmas events, things to do this month, parking and getting around and road construction and closures.
Frequently asked questions
When is Galaxy of Lights in 2026?
Nov. 13 to Dec. 31, 2026, at Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. SW. Walking Nights run Nov. 13-25, Nov. 27-29, Dec. 2-5, Dec. 16-24 and Dec. 26-27. Driving Nights run Dec. 6-15 and Dec. 28-31. It is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the Garden says.
How much are Galaxy of Lights tickets?
Walking Night tickets bought ahead are $17 for adults and $10 for children 3 to 15 on Non-Peak nights, $21 and $13 on Peak nights and $24 and $16 on Holiday Prime nights, before tax, for people who are not Garden members. After 4:30 p.m. on the night, the gate price is $25 and $16. Driving Nights are $40 a vehicle, or $30 for members. Children 2 and under are free.
Can you bring your dog to Galaxy of Lights?
Only on the six Dog Walking Nights: Nov. 16, 17, 23 and 24, and Dec. 21 and 22, 2026. Each dog needs its own ticket, $5 in advance or $6 at the gate, and must stay on a leash.
Is parking free at Galaxy of Lights?
Yes. Parking at the Garden is free, and the Garden says to allow an extra 20 to 40 minutes for parking and entry on busy nights.
Is Santa at Galaxy of Lights?
No. The Garden says Santa is not at Galaxy of Lights. Our holiday lights page lists where to see Santa in Huntsville.
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