We track 8 displays in St. Louis — the densest city for lights in Missouri. 5 of them are free to visit.
When to go
Displays here switch on around sunset. In St. Louis that means about 4:40 PM in early December and 4:41 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:11 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in St. Louis typically drop to around 25°F.
Date
Sunset
Fully dark
Dec 1
4:40 PM
5:09 PM
Dec 15
4:41 PM
5:11 PM
Dec 25
4:45 PM
5:15 PM
The St. Louis lights loop — 8 stops
We ordered every display in St. Louis into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 25.7 miles and 94 minutes of driving, before you count time spent parked and looking. Start wherever is closest to you and follow it round.
Driving estimate assumes a 25 mph average on residential streets plus four minutes stopped per display. Straight-line distances with a road-network allowance — treat it as a planning figure, not a satnav route.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 1200 Lynch St · St. Louis, Missouri
November 22 - December 30 · Timed entry at 5, 6, and 7 p.m.
Freeattractionmore than a million lights on historic brewery architecture40th annual eventcomplimentary beer for 21+Budweiser Clydesdalesnightly 10-minute light showfestive parade with vintage trucks and floatslight-up dance floornew VIP speakeasy with live jazz
Now in its 40th year, the brewery drapes more than a million lights over its Germanic-Romanesque buildings and runs a 10-minute light show plus a parade with vintage trucks, floats, and the Budweiser Clydesdales each night. Guests 21 and up get a complimentary beer, and 2025 adds a VIP speakeasy with cocktails, live jazz, and parlor games.
Tilles Park, 9551 Litzsinger Rd · St. Louis, Missouri
November 26 - January 3 (closed Dec 1, 8, 24, 31) · 5-9 p.m.
$20attractionmore than one million bulbs100+ winter scene and character displays75+ acrescanopy of lightsnew An Evening Under the Lights optioncarriage ridesadvance online tickets
This St. Louis County park show spreads more than a million bulbs and over 100 winter-scene displays across 75-plus acres, including a canopy of lights overhead. Tickets start at $20, carriage rides are available, and this season introduces a new 'An Evening Under the Lights' option.
Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut St · St. Louis, Missouri
November 22 · Noon-8:30 p.m.
Freeattractiongiant Salvation Army Tree of Lightsholiday performancesvendorsphoto ops with Fredbird and reindeerfireworks finale
This one-day downtown kickoff at Kiener Plaza lights the giant Salvation Army Tree of Lights, with performances and vendors running from noon until the evening. Families can grab photos with Fredbird and live reindeer before a fireworks finale caps the night.
Citygarden sculpture park, downtown · St. Louis, Missouri
Through February 16 · Nightly; vendor pop-ups 5-8 p.m. Fridays
Freeattractionthousands of warm white lights on sculpturesupgraded LEDs in Spray Plaza with nightly musicFriday Night Pop-Ups with local vendors and seasonal beveragestwo-block downtown sculpture garden
Downtown's two-block sculpture garden wraps its artworks in thousands of warm white lights nightly through mid-February, free to wander. Upgraded LEDs in the Spray Plaza run to a nightly music playlist, and Friday-evening pop-ups bring local vendors and seasonal drinks.
Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Dr · St. Louis, Missouri
Select nights November 28 - December 28; sensory-friendly night December 8 · 5-8:30 p.m.
$15attractionmillions of lights with animal themes40-foot walk-through lighted treethemed zones: Frosted Forest, Butterfly Grove, Toy Town, Arctic Alley, Peppermint Pathway, Gingerbread Laneseasonal 4-D theater movieSanta appearancessensory-friendly night
The zoo's after-hours walk-through fills the grounds with millions of animal-themed lights and a new 40-foot lighted tree visitors can walk through, organized into zones like Frosted Forest, Toy Town, and Arctic Alley. Admission is $15 for select nights, with a seasonal 4-D movie, Santa visits, and a sensory-friendly evening on December 8.
November 29 - January 10; Holiday Night Market Saturdays Nov 29 - Jan 3 · Light shows hourly 5-8 p.m. nightly
Freeneighborhoodlaser/light show projected on St. Anthony of Padua churchhourly shows 5-8 p.m.Saturday Holiday Night Marketlocal shops, Dad's Cookies, hot ciderfamily activities
The Dutchtown business district on Meramec Street pairs a free light show projected onto the St. Anthony of Padua church, running hourly from 5 to 8 p.m., with a Saturday Holiday Night Market. Visitors can shop local storefronts and pick up Dad's Cookies and hot cider along the block.
November 15 - January 3 (closed Nov 17, 27; Dec 24, 25) · Varies nightly
Freeattractionmore than two million lightsClimatron lit in red and greenprojections and immersive experiencess'mores and festive drinksprivate fire pit reservationsFamily Nights with discounted kids' admissionsensory nightadults-only Jingle and Mingle night
The Missouri Botanical Garden's signature walk-through show strings more than two million lights across the grounds, bathing the Climatron dome in red and green and adding projections throughout the garden. This season brings a new sensory-friendly night and an adults-only Jingle and Mingle evening, plus s'mores, festive drinks, and reservable private fire pits.
Select dates November 22 - December 30 · 5-10 p.m. (entry closes 9 p.m.)
$12attractiondrive-through route past the Busch family homeBauernhof courtyard lights50-foot LED tree synchronized to music on car radioTiergarten animal visitsSanta and Mrs. Clausprivate fire pits on Mirror Lakebreakfast with Santa$16 parking per vehicle
Grant's Farm offers both a drive-through route past the Busch family home and a walk-through of the lit Bauernhof courtyard, anchored by a 50-foot LED tree synchronized to music broadcast over car radios. Walk-through admission is $12 (kids 3 and under free) plus $16 parking, with animal visits, Santa meet-and-greets, and reservable fire pits on Mirror Lake.