Grant’s Farm lights offer two choices in 2026: a walk-through on select nights and a drive-through on four December dates. Santa’s Magical Kingdom offers a drive every night from November 20 through January 3, with one family-vehicle price starting at $35.
Choose the farm for a walking evening with animals and the Busch estate. Choose our Kingdom in Eureka when a warm car, flexible date, and predictable admission make the outing easier. We operate Santa’s Magical Kingdom; this comparison uses both venues’ published information, checked November 2, 2026.
If you’re considering other driving routes, our St. Louis drive-through lights comparison covers the wider choice. This page focuses on the farm’s two formats and how they compare with our visit.
Grant’s Farm Lights vs. Santa’s Magical Kingdom at a Glance
The farm has separate walking and driving tickets. Compare the format before choosing your date; a walk-through ticket does not book the drive.
| Grant’s Farm walk-through | Grant’s Farm drive-through | Santa’s Magical Kingdom | |
| Format | Walk, after a tram from parking | Drive, stay in your car | Drive, stay in your car |
| 2026 nights | Select nights, Nov 21 to Dec 30 | Dec 9, 10, 15, and 16 only | Every night, Nov 20, 2026, to Jan 3, 2027 |
| Hours | 5 to 10 p.m., last entry 9 p.m. | 5:30 to 8 p.m., last timeslot 7:30 p.m. | 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. (10 p.m. from Dec 25) |
| Price | $15 per person, 3 and under free | $30 per vehicle | $35 per carload Sun to Fri, $40 Sat |
| Parking | Separate parking purchase; check checkout total | Covered by vehicle ticket | Carload price covers the car |
| Vehicle limit | Not applicable | No vehicles over 8 feet; no passenger vans | Up to 12 feet high, 30 feet long |
| Santa | Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Tiergarten | Wave from your car | Santa photos inside Kringle’s nightly to Dec 23; extra purchase |
| Thanksgiving | Confirm the selected-date calendar | Not running | Open 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. |
Is Grant’s Farm Holiday Lights a Walk-Through or a Drive-Through?
Both formats run on their own dates. For the walking event, you park on Grant Road, take a tram into the event, and follow lit paths past the Tiergarten animals, the carousel, and the Busch family home, where carolers sing on the steps. The farm also lists a 50-foot animated tree set to music, food and drinks for sale, and paid fire pits and carriage rides. The standard walk-through does not include the Deer Park.
The published season runs from November 21 through December 30, with entry from 5 to 9 p.m. and closing at 10 p.m. That range does not mean every night is available. Use the official walk-through event page to reach the current ticket calendar and select your night.
The Grant’s Farm Holiday Lights drive-through runs only four nights: December 9, 10, 15, and 16, with timed entry from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. You see some animals, wave at Santa and Mrs. Claus, and pass through a light tunnel with the tree’s music on your radio. You must stay in your car once the route begins, and the drive-through rules turn away RVs, limos, passenger vans, buses, and anything taller than 8 feet.
What a Family of Five Pays at Each Show
This table prices one night for two adults and three kids ages 4 and up, using each venue’s published 2026 rates.
| Option | What you pay | Total for five |
| Grant’s Farm walk-through | 5 tickets at $15 | $75 before parking and any fees |
| Same, with one child 3 or under | 4 tickets at $15 | $60 before parking and any fees |
| Grant’s Farm drive-through | One vehicle ticket | $30, four nights only |
| Santa’s Magical Kingdom, Sunday to Friday | One carload, tax included | $35 |
| Santa’s Magical Kingdom, Saturday | One carload, tax included | $40 |
Grant’s Farm parking is separate for the walk-through. Check its price and any fees in the ticket checkout before paying; the $75 above is admission, not an all-in total. Nearby guests who walk in still need individual admission tickets, according to the farm’s holiday FAQs.
For five paying visitors, our Sunday-through-Friday drive costs $40 less than the farm’s walking admission alone. On the farm’s four driving nights, its $30 vehicle ticket is $5 below our $35 rate. The cheaper drive and the walking event offer different experiences, so compare the one you actually want.
Food, photos, shopping, and optional activities can change either outing’s total. At the Kingdom, the listed vehicle admission includes tax; a letter order is a separate purchase.
Want a ride instead? Our shared wagon is $18 per rider, and booking two or more riders waives vehicle admission. Five paid riders have a listed $90 ride subtotal with vehicle admission waived, and children 2 and under ride free on an adult’s lap. Shared wagons have blackout dates and need a reservation; they are open-air rides, so dress for the weather. For the drive alone, bring cash, since you pay at the exit booth.
Thanksgiving Week: Who Is Open?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Our Kingdom drive is open that evening from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the regular $35 family-vehicle rate.
The farm advertises selected walking dates and four December driving dates. Its drive-through is therefore not a Thanksgiving option. Confirm November walking availability in its live calendar rather than assuming the full season range includes the holiday.
You don’t need an advance reservation for our vehicle drive. That leaves room to decide after dinner, provided you allow time for travel and a possible entrance queue. Our Thanksgiving lights guide covers that evening in more detail.
When Grant’s Farm Lights Are the Better Night
Choose the farm when walking around the grounds is part of the appeal. Children who enjoy animals and stopping at displays may prefer that freedom to a seated drive. They can feed select animals, ride the carousel for free when weather allows, and hear carolers at the Busch family home. If you want walk-through Christmas lights in St. Louis with a historic setting, this is a strong pick.
Grant’s Farm Christmas lights also make sense if you live close enough to walk in and skip parking. Couples and friend groups get holiday cocktails and fire pits.
Match the outing to your family’s walking stamina and the forecast. A stroller, suitable layers, and an earlier entry can matter more than choosing by age alone. Before you book a walking night, read our St. Louis Christmas lights weather plan.
Why the Drive in Eureka Fits a Flexible Plan
Santa’s Magical Kingdom is open every night from November 20 through January 3, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. When Grant’s Farm lights don’t fit your available date, our nightly schedule gives you another option. Hours run 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. through December 24, then until 10 p.m. Our general info page has prices, directions from I-44 Exit 261, and vehicle limits.
The drive covers our 35-acre display and takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Kids stay buckled in and warm, and pajamas are welcome. You pass four-story Kingdom Doors, a 300-foot waterfall of light, and our Tunnel of Dancing Lights, about as long as a football field. A 12- to 15-passenger van gets in for $60, for a larger family group.
Santa visits inside Kringle’s General Store every night through December 23. Professional photos cost extra and arrive by text; check the Santa visit details before planning that stop. For an open-air outing, reserve a wagon ride with blankets provided. A wagon is an outdoor experience, unlike the drive in your own heated vehicle.
Bring a Letter for the North Pole Mailbox, Then Plan Santa’s Reply
Bring a wish list or drawing for the North Pole mailbox along our route. Your child gets to send the letter during the outing, and you can arrange a personalized reply to enjoy at home.
Our Letters from Santa are ordered separately. Dropping a wish list into the mailbox does not place an order or arrange delivery of a purchased reply.
The order form lets you share your child’s name, age, interests, a proud achievement, and Christmas wish. Choose a classic and warm, playful and funny, or heartfelt voice, then preview the letter before continuing.
You can choose digital email delivery or a printed-and-mailed letter. The email options include right away, Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning. For physical delivery, review the package and current shipping terms when ordering; an email delivery choice does not establish a postal arrival date.
A small, specific detail gives Santa something personal to mention: learning to swim, welcoming a sibling, or helping with a pet. Choose the detail your child will recognize. Payment takes place through Square checkout.
Questions About the Farm and the Kingdom
Are Grant’s Farm Lights a Walk-Through or a Drive-Through?
The walk-through runs on selected nights; the drive-through runs on four December dates. Buy the ticket for your intended format.
What Are the Grant’s Farm Holiday Lights Dates?
The walking season spans November 21 to December 30, 2026, on selected nights. Confirm your date in the official ticket calendar.
What Does the Grant’s Farm Holiday Lights Drive-Through Cost?
The listed price is $30 per vehicle. The four dates are December 9, 10, 15, and 16, with entry slots ending at 7:30 p.m.
Does Grant’s Farm Parking Come With Walking Admission?
Parking is a separate purchase. Five visitors ages 4 and older pay $75 in walking admission before parking and any fees; check the checkout total.
Are Grant’s Farm Christmas Lights Suitable for Toddlers?
Children 3 and under enter the walk-through free. Choose it if your toddler enjoys outdoor exploring; a drive may fit better when warmth and seated comfort matter.
Can Passenger Vans Use the Farm’s Driving Route?
Passenger vans, RVs, limos, shuttles, buses, and vehicles over 8 feet are excluded. Check vehicle eligibility before buying a driving ticket.
Which Grant’s Farm Lights Option Costs Less for Five People?
The $30 vehicle drive costs less than five $15 walking tickets. Santa’s Magical Kingdom charges $35 Sunday through Friday or $40 Saturday for a family vehicle.
Is the Kingdom Open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve?
Our lights drive is open both nights, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Santa photos finish December 23, so they are unavailable on Christmas Eve.
Are There Other Walk-Through Christmas Lights in St. Louis?
Garden Glow is another walking option. Our Garden Glow comparison covers that choice separately.
Can We Pay for the Kingdom Drive by Card?
Vehicle admission is cash only, paid at the exit. An ATM is available inside Kringle’s General Store.
Can We See Santa During a Kingdom Visit?
Santa is scheduled inside Kringle’s General Store nightly through December 23. Professional photos are a separate purchase and are delivered digitally by text.
Does the Mailbox Drop Automatically Include a Purchased Reply?
No. The mailbox drop and personalized reply order are separate. Order a letter online if you want to arrange a reply.
How Do We Order Our Child’s Reply?
Create your child’s letter from Santa, add personal details, choose delivery, and preview the letter before completing checkout.
Pick Your Night, Then Plan Santa’s Reply
Choose Grant’s Farm lights for a walking evening with animals and the Busch estate, or its four-night drive if those dates suit you. Choose Santa’s Magical Kingdom when you need any night of the season, Thanksgiving included, one carload price, and Santa every evening through December 23. Check tonight’s hours on our general info page, then create your child’s letter from Santa to follow the mailbox drop with a reply you arrange separately.
