Ride The Rails To A Magical Christmas Village On The Creekmore Express In Arkansas
Creekmore Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas, offers a magical Christmas train ride through festive holiday lights, making it a must-visit seasonal attraction.
There are lots of ways to view holiday décor and Christmas lights in Arkansas. You can view them by foot, by car, and…by train! That’s right; you can hop aboard the Creekmore Park Christmas train and take a magical journey through a twinkling wonderland of holiday lights – and it’s as festively fun as it sounds.
Creekmore Park is one of Fort Smith’s best assets. Touted as a “specialty park,” it boasts a pool, tennis center, mini golf course, and a train, the Creekmore Express.
The park gets even better in late November when it’s transformed into a magical Christmas village. With thousands of animated lights and festive scenes, it's one of the best places to visit during Christmas in Arkansas.
There’s no cost to ride the Creekmore Holiday Express, which runs seasonally from late November through late December. (Train rides are offered on select dates and times.)
*The holiday lights at Creekmore Park, which are also free to visit, are another park perk that makes visiting during the holiday season a must. The lights are typically on display through early January.
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Merging the fun of a train ride with the magic of the season, the Creekmore Holiday Express is the perfect family-friendly holiday activity!
Can't wait to hop aboard the train? We knew it! For more info, call the Parks and Rec Dept. at (479) 784-2368. You can also visit the Fort Smith website. Before hopping aboard the Creekmore Park Christmas train, check out The Northface website, where you can stock up on all the outer gear you will need to stay nice and toasty during your festive ride.
So, did you know about this festive train ride? Ever viewed the lights from aboard the Creekmore Park Christmas train? If so, what’d you think? Tell us!
This is not the only place you can get your fill of holiday cheer. Check out our past article, highlighting Christmas light displays in Arkansas that are pure magic.
Christmas in Arkansas is a magical time. One of the most beloved holiday traditions any family can have is driving around local neighborhoods, ogling the vast array of Christmas lights bedazzling our community. Small towns all throughout Arkansas will light up this year with even bigger displays than in previous years - but these aren't just your typical suburban light displays! We've rounded up some of the best drive-through Christmas lights in Arkansas, many of which you never even need to leave the comfort of your car. In no particular order, let's hop around the state to see the magnificent Christmas lights in Arkansas that await us this season. If you've been itching to get your White Christmas on, these are just a few of our state's best drive-through Christmas lights:
Pro tip: These holiday light displays are the perfect setting to capture family photos and use them for annual Christmas cards. We all know these spots become jam-packed as it gets closer to Christmas Day, so do yourself a favor and visit these light displays early in the season. This way, you can beat the crowds and take your time getting family photos.
1. Enchanted Forest Trail of Lights, Sherwood
Throughout the holiday season, families can drive through the enchanted Forest of Lights in Sherwood. This light trail has over a mile of twinkling holiday scenes! Admission is free (donations are encouraged), and guests will even receive a free candy cane.
While this festive drive-thru display typically runs the entire month of December, be sure to check out the City of Sherwood website for this year's dates and times. Get a closer look at this drive-through lights display:
2. Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends, Pine Bluff
For over 20 years, the Pine Bluff Festival Association has put on one of the biggest displays of Christmas lights in Arkansas. The Enchanted Land of Lights and Legends is a mile-and-a-half drive-thru Christmas light show, making it officially the largest show in the Natural State! Along the drive, you'll pass nearly 250 different holiday scenes, many of which are animated. The trail is free (donations are encouraged) and the path zigzags all through the Jefferson County Regional Park. It's open from mid-November all the way until New Year's Eve.
Another incredible Arkansas Christmas light display can be found shining brightly in the far northeast corner of the state. Blytheville's Lights of the Delta boosts over six million lights spread out along a mile and a half of trail. The park has quite a few activities in addition to the light show, including photos with Santa. The 2024 season runs from November 25 until December 27, 2024.
Can't make it in person? Check out all the magnificent lights at Lights of the Delta:
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4. Van Buren's Christmas at the Parks, Van Buren
Van Buren's Christmas at the Parks originally started as a private residence's yearly display. It was incredibly popular and has now been taken over by the city. It's now a massive display throughout the municipal park in Van Buren. This lovely Christmas lights display in Arkansas runs from November 15, 2024 until January 1, 2025.
Go behind the scenes of the fun festivities at this wonderful holiday event:
5. White River Wonderland, Batesville
It's impossible to pick a favorite Arkansas Christmas lights display since each one is so different. However, Batesville's White River Wonderland might just top our list. In addition to driving by the 1.5 million lights, you can also enjoy other holiday activities like ice skating, train tours, and carriage rides! The lights are up at all four of Batesville's parks, but the other festivities are in Riverside Park. And if we had to pick a favorite activity...well, it might just be the Christmas Ferris wheel!
6. Lights of the Ozarks, Fayetteville
Much like the White River Wonderland, Fayetteville's light display is much more than a drive-by. You can certainly enjoy the lights while driving around the square, but the best part about Lights of the Ozarks is getting out and strolling under the twinkling trees. The square is packed with over 400,000 lights and has all sorts of to-dos. Sip on hot chocolate while devouring some indulgent food truck desserts before taking a carriage ride around the village. Kids can also ride the ponies, write letters to Santa, and even meet the jolly old fella! The lights will run from November 22, 2024, until January 1, 2025.
Catch a sneak peek of the magical festivities, courtesy of AllThingsNWA:
Do you have any favorite or overlooked Christmas light displays in Arkansas? Share this article with someone you can't wait to get into the holiday spirit with.
Are you feeling the holiday spirit yet? I know I am! ‘Tis the season, it’s in the air! And this season, we’ve put together a list of the best Christmas light displays in Arkansas that will become your new family tradition. From drive-thru celebrations to award-winning winter wonderlands, we have millions of twinkling lights that are pure holiday magic. So, if you've searched for holiday lights near me, here are seven of the best Christmas lights in Arkansas that belong on your list this year.
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1. Finney Christmas Wonderland, Crossett
We can’t celebrate Christmas in Arkansas without a visit to the most extravagant display in our state. Finney Christmas Wonderland in Crossett is an award-winning light celebration that will enchant you in the best way. What began as a boyhood dream for Sam Finney, has become a favorite tradition for folks in our state. With millions of dazzling lights, bubble machines as well as hundreds of handmade displays, this whimsical wonderland is the best drive through Christmas lights in Arkansas. It’s free to attend, but donations are certainly welcome. The celebration starts on Thanksgiving night, but be sure to visit the Finney Christmas Wonderland website for more information.
2. Lights at Harding, Searcy
It might not be your traditional winter wonderland, but Harding University has some of the prettiest Christmas lights in our state. The university teams up with the town of Searcy for a dazzling holiday display. During the Holiday of Lights celebration, the front lawn of the campus is illuminated with thousands of dripping white lights and features lots of holiday festivities for the family. This stunning event kicks off on Nov. 18 and the lights will remain until the new year. You don't want to miss this magical celebration! If you ask me, it's the best Christmas lights in Searcy, Arkansas.
3. Stewart Family Christmas Light Display, Fayetteville
With over 6 million twinkling lights as well as train rides, pony rides, camel rides, and more, this stunning Christmas village belongs on your list this year. The Stewart Family Christmas Light Display has become a family tradition for locals and visitors alike. The fun kicks off on Nov. 16, but there is also a FREE preseason show "Light the Night for ALL Abilities!" for accessible folks on Nov. 14. Mark your calendars to visit the most festive Christmas lights in Fayetteville, Arkansas this year!
4. White River Wonderland, Batesville
Another must-visit magical display is the White River Wonderland in Batesville. Featuring over 1.5 million sparkling lights as well as a Ferris wheel, ice skating rink, train and carriage rides, and more, it's easy to see why Batesville is called the "Christmas Capital of Arkansas." This award-winning celebration kicks off on Nov. 27 and has tons of holiday fun for the entire family. This might just be our favorite pick for winter wonderlands and, of course, the most dazzling Christmas lights in Batesville, Arkansas.
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5. Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs
Who wouldn't want to spend the holiday exploring a serene garden dripped in pretty, glowing lights? If you have never witnessed the spectacular Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens, then you'll want to add it to your list this year. Stroll through the themed garden oases as you marvel at millions of lights, mystical creatures, fun holiday characters, as well as musical light shows, for one magical night you won't forget. Beginning on Nov. 23 through Dec. 31, stop by to kick off your holiday season in the most spectacular way at the prettiest Christmas lights in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
6. Lights of the Ozarks, Fayetteville
For 30 years, the Lights of the Ozarks has been one of the most beloved Christmas lights in Northwest, Arkansas. Each year, the Fayetteville Historic Downtown Square is illuminated with over 500,000 twinkling lights that spread Christmas cheer to locals and visitors alike. The holiday extravaganza kicks off on Nov. 22 with the lighting ceremony, a parade, food trucks, and more. Of course, the jolly Saint Nick will be there as well, so be prepared to tell him if you've been naughty or nice this year.
7. Christmas At The Park, Jonesboro
Cruise through the longest drive-through lights in Arkansas and perhaps in all of the U.S. at the Christmas At The Park extravaganza in Jonesboro. Not only does the celebration include a football field-length lighted tunnel, but there will be hot cocoa, a snowflake forest, as well as photo ops with Santa. Mark your calendars for Nov. 27 to see the best Christmas lights in Jonesboro, Arkansas this year.
So, this holiday season, be sure to add these winter wonderlands to your list. We believe that they're the best Christmas lights in Arkansas, and if you ask me, all are truly magical in their own unique way.
