The main Myrtle Beach holiday lights event is The Great Christmas Light Show in North Myrtle Beach.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For a Christmas Light Show in Myrtle Beach, SC, the main paid event is The Great Christmas Light Show at North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex. The 2026 show runs from Monday, November 23 through Wednesday, December 30, with closures on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The decision is simple: choose The Great Christmas Light Show for a drive-through route with Santa’s Village, or choose Winter Wonderland at the Beach for a free walk-through display on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Families with young kids usually get more out of the North Myrtle Beach drive-through event because the car keeps the night easy, and Santa’s Village adds a second stop after the lights.
The paid light show sells entry at the gate, not online. If you want to add another ticketed Myrtle Beach holiday attraction to the same trip, compare nearby options here:
Myrtle Beach Christmas Light Shows: What Each Option Offers
Myrtle Beach has two main holiday light experiences: the paid drive-through Great Christmas Light Show in North Myrtle Beach and the free Winter Wonderland at the Beach in downtown Myrtle Beach. The right choice depends on whether you want a car-based night with paid extras or a no-cost oceanfront walk.
The Great Christmas Light Show is the stronger pick for a classic family lights night. The route covers about 2 miles inside North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex, with more than 2 million lights and over 500 displays, then lets visitors park for Santa’s Village on select nights.
Winter Wonderland at the Beach fits travelers staying downtown or near the Boardwalk. Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance lists the 2026 event from November 27 through January 2, with free walk-through lights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Plyler Park and the Boardwalk.
- Choose the drive-through show if you have kids, colder weather, mobility concerns, or a packed beach-day schedule.
- Choose the Boardwalk lights if you want a free stroll near restaurants, the SkyWheel area, and oceanfront hotels.
- Choose both if you are staying two nights; they feel different enough to avoid repeat value.
Dates, Hours, And Location For 2026
The Great Christmas Light Show runs Monday, November 23 through Wednesday, December 30, 2026, with gates open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The City of North Myrtle Beach says the event is closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, and Christmas Day, December 25, on the City of North Myrtle Beach event page.
The address is North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex, 150 Citizens Circle, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582. From central Myrtle Beach, the drive is usually easiest by car because the sports complex sits inland from the beach and north of the main hotel strip.
Santa’s Village has a shorter schedule than the drive-through route. The village is open Thursday through Sunday from November 27 through December 6, then nightly December 10 through December 30, with the same Christmas Day closure as the light show.
How Much Does The Great Christmas Light Show Cost?
The Great Christmas Light Show uses per-vehicle pricing, so a full standard car is much better value than buying per-person entry. Standard vehicles cost $20 on non-village nights through December 9 and $25 on village nights.
| Ticket Or Add-On | What It Includes | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard vehicle, village nights | Drive-through lights plus access to Santa’s Village after the route | $25 per vehicle |
| Standard vehicle, non-village nights | Drive-through lights on select nights through December 9 | $20 per vehicle |
| Oversized vehicle | Small bus or trolley under 30 feet | $50 |
| Charter bus | Large bus or trolley 30 feet and over, admitted Monday through Thursday only | $100 |
| Santa visit | Meet Santa in Santa’s Village on open village nights | Free after entry |
| Santa Express Train Ride | Short train ride with a close look at the lights | $3 per person |
| Interactive light game | 45-second game for two players | $3 |
| S’mores kit | Marshmallow roasting kit at the fire pits | $6 |
Gate rule: The official event page says there are no online ticket sales or advance ticket sales. Buy entry at the entrance before driving in.
Santa’s Village, Train Rides, And The Smartest Night To Go
Santa’s Village is the reason to choose a village night if your group wants more than a slow drive through lights. The village adds Santa photos, a petting zoo, fire pits, treats, photo spots, a lighted boardwalk, and small paid rides or games.
The cheapest standard-vehicle night is a non-village night before December 10, but that lower price comes with fewer extras. A village night is the better pick for families who want to stretch the outing into a full evening instead of a 30- to 60-minute drive.
For the smoothest visit, arrive close to 5:30 p.m. on a weeknight before schools let out for winter break. The week before Christmas is the safest bet for full holiday energy, but it also brings longer lines and more cars at the gate.
Where To Stay Near The Lights
North Myrtle Beach is the easiest base for The Great Christmas Light Show because it keeps the drive short and avoids backtracking after a late family night. Central Myrtle Beach works better if you also want Winter Wonderland at the Beach, the Boardwalk, and oceanfront restaurants in the same trip.
Families usually do well around North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove, or Barefoot Landing because those areas keep dinner, shopping, and the sports complex in a simple loop. Downtown Myrtle Beach is better for travelers who want to walk to the free Boardwalk lights and treat the North Myrtle Beach show as a one-night drive.
Compare Myrtle Beach stays on a map before choosing a base, especially if you want to split time between North Myrtle Beach and the Boardwalk:
What To Do Before And After The Lights
The best plan is dinner before the show, the drive-through route after dark, then Santa’s Village if it is open that night. The light show works poorly as the first stop of the evening if kids are hungry or you still need to cross town in beach traffic.
A simple family plan looks like this:
- Eat early in North Myrtle Beach or around Barefoot Landing.
- Drive to the sports complex before the heaviest gate rush.
- Keep snacks, water, and a warm layer in the car.
- Visit Santa’s Village after the drive if your ticket night includes it.
- Save Winter Wonderland at the Beach for a separate downtown evening.
Golf carts, pull-behind trailers, boats, and flatbeds are not allowed through the drive-through route. Large vehicles also have their own pricing, and charter buses are limited to Monday through Thursday.
Pick The Right Myrtle Beach Holiday Lights Night
The best overall choice is a village night at The Great Christmas Light Show, especially for families visiting Myrtle Beach for only one holiday lights outing. The lower-price non-village nights make sense for couples, locals, or travelers who want the lights without the extra stops.
- Best value: A full standard car on a $20 non-village night before December 10.
- Best family night: A $25 village night with Santa’s Village open after the drive.
- Best free option: Winter Wonderland at the Beach on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Best two-night plan: Drive The Great Christmas Light Show one night, then walk the Boardwalk lights the next.
- Best timing: A weeknight arrival near 5:30 p.m., before the pre-Christmas crowd peaks.
For one classic holiday outing, choose the North Myrtle Beach drive-through show and pay at the gate. For a no-cost lights walk near the ocean, choose Winter Wonderland and build the evening around dinner downtown.
References & Sources
- City of North Myrtle Beach.“The Great Christmas Light Show.”Confirms the 2026 dates, hours, address, vehicle prices, gate-ticket rule, Santa’s Village schedule, and add-on costs.