Looking for a professional Christmas light display you can drive through? The 2026 Upstate Holiday Light Show will be a spectacular display of lights throughout Easley’s District Park. Plus, there is an indoor petting zoo you can visit before you leave. Check out why this light show is one of the best in the Upstate!
Our contributors were provided with tickets in order to facilitate this review.
For more holiday light displays, see our Guide to Holiday Lights Near Greenville
Plan Your Trip to See the Show
- Where: District Park, 148 Crumpton Lane, Easley, SC 29640
- When: Thanksgiving Day through December 31, 2026. Open 7 days a week, rain or shine.
- Hours: Sunday – Thursday 6 – 10 pm and Friday – Saturday 6 – 11 pm
- Admission (per vehicle, not per person): Cars, minivans, trucks, and SUVs $35; passenger vans $75; buses $100
- Included: The light show and petting zoo. Carnival ride tickets, corral tickets, fast passes, premium parking, and concessions sold separately.
- Radio: 106.5 FM
- Tickets: Buy in advance online or at the ticket booth when you arrive (cash and cards accepted).
- Website: The Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park
Visiting The Upstate Holiday Light Show at District Park
In 2023, The Upstate Holiday Light Show moved to its new location at District Park. Though the light show is no longer at the Greenville Pickens Speedway, the location at District Park in Easley will bring the same spectacular experience that your family will love.
Tune in to 106.5 FM
You’ll want to tune your radio to 106.5 FM for the accompanying holiday music because the show is synchronized. The lights dance to an ongoing playlist of classic and new Christmas carols. The song list includes lots of classics, including ‘Deck the Halls,’ ‘Carol of the Bells,’ and ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,’ along with a variety of other Christmas and holiday-themed songs.
Heading into the Light Show
Admission is based on vehicle type/capacity, not the number of passengers. So going on your own is the same as a minivan full of kids. Large passenger vans and buses are extra. Carpooling is encouraged to save on costs per person. You can buy tickets in advance.
After you enter the park, you’ll be asked to turn off your headlights. You’ll pass by many static and animated light displays before coming to the light tunnel, which is a real treat! You’ll want to go through this part slowly, so you can catch some of the fun changes.
This show is great and momentarily dims or explodes in brightness depending on the dramatics of the music. The sheer variety of colors and movement is astonishing. Resist thinking it’s not impressive if you just see a few low lights in passing. The full brilliance of this display is only seen if you watch it for at least one or two songs, if not the whole playlist, which lasts about 30 minutes. You’ll want to squeeze it into your holiday plans. It was a great way for my family to kick off the season.
Take a Drive Around a Few Times
After you leave the light tunnel, you’ll come across a humongous light display board that is really fun to watch as it syncs up to the music. You’ll then head around the corner and find the open field that has several large trees (a couple of trees that like to chat to each other – you’ll see what I mean), all set to the backdrop of the display board. This is where you can drive around the circle as many times as you want.
The radio music syncs up perfectly, and we drove slowly around four times before exiting and pulling into the parking spots that let you watch while parked. This was our favorite part of the entire show! My young daughters loved watching the two trees that talked to each other, which was silly and had us giggling.
Head Indoors for the Petting Zoo and Carnival Rides
The Upstate Holiday Light Show also has a Winter Wonderland you can visit toward the end of the light show. The wonderland has small carnival rides and a petting zoo, with animals like mini horses, cows, ducks, rabbits, and donkeys. There is also a pony corral your kids can enjoy (corral tickets are sold separately).
The best part is the open space where you can walk in to meet the goats. The goats are hilarious and very friendly, though I do recommend holding younger kids so they don’t get bombarded. They also may nibble on your clothes, so be gentle when you move them away.
Petting zoo access is included in the ticket price, and you can interact with the animals for free, or pay a little extra for a bag of feed. Carnival rides are ticketed separately: each ride is 3-5 tickets, and ride tickets are $1.25 each, $20 for 20, or $40 for 45 (cash and credit cards accepted).
Admission Fees to Upstate Holiday Light Show 2026
Cars, minivans, trucks, and SUVs – $35
Passenger vans – $75
Buses – $100
FastPass – Skip the line; only available on specific days and sold separately. See the website for detailed pricing.
Upstate Holiday Light Show FAQ
When is the Upstate Holiday Light Show open in 2026?
The show runs from Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026) through December 31, 2026. It’s open 7 days a week, rain or shine.
What are the hours?
Sunday – Thursday 6 – 10 pm and Friday – Saturday 6 – 11 pm.
How much does The Upstate Holiday Light Show cost?
Admission is per vehicle, not per person: $35 for cars, minivans, trucks, and SUVs; $75 for passenger vans; and $100 for buses. You can buy tickets in advance online or at the ticket booth when you arrive.
What radio station plays the music?
Tune your radio to 106.5 FM to hear the music synchronized to the lights.
Is the petting zoo free?
Yes. General admission includes the light show and petting zoo access. Carnival ride tickets, corral tickets, fast passes, premium parking, and concessions are sold separately.
Can you drive through more than once?
Yes. The show lasts about 30 minutes, and the operator says you can drive around the track as many times as you’d like, or park your vehicle and watch the dancing light show.
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Has your family ever seen The Upstate Holiday Light Show?
No, we have not seen this light show and wondered if you park and watch to get the full effect?
There needs to be police here to help with traffic! CRAZY!! Lights are beautiful but the LONG wait is a little much.