The Holiday Fantasy of Lights drive-thru at Tradewinds Park opens Nov. 21 and runs nightly to Jan. 2, 6 to 10 p.m. Early-bird tickets are $20 a car online.
Is it on this year? Yes. The 32nd Holiday Fantasy of Lights opens at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek on Saturday, Nov. 21, and runs every night through Saturday, Jan. 2, from 6 to 10 p.m., according to the organizer’s drive-thru page. It is open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Dates, prices and entrances come from the organizer’s own pages. The price for vans and buses carrying 15 or more people has not been announced; this page will be updated when it is.
The short version
- Drive-thru: nightly, Nov. 21 to Jan. 2, 6 to 10 p.m. You stay in your car.
- Tickets: $20 a standard car online (early bird, plus a fee); $34 at the gate.
- Walk it: Friday, Nov. 13, 6 to 9 p.m., $15 a person.
- Bike it: Sunday, Nov. 15, 6 to 9 p.m., $12 a bike.
- Where: Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek, at Sample Road and Florida’s Turnpike.
- Questions: 954-695-4232 or hfol@brandano.com.
What is confirmed and what is not
| Item | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-thru dates: Nov. 21 to Jan. 2, nightly | Confirmed | Organizer |
| Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. | Confirmed | Organizer |
| Early-bird price: $20 a car, plus a fee | Confirmed, “sale ends soon” | Organizer |
| Gate price: $34 a standard vehicle | Confirmed | Organizer |
| Stroll night, Nov. 13, and Bike night, Nov. 15 | Confirmed | Organizer |
| Price for 15 or more passengers or a bus | Not yet announced | Organizer |
| 5K run | Not held this year | Organizer |
The drive-thru
The organizer describes it as three miles of giant animated displays, built by Brandano Displays of Margate. It says the show draws more than 125,000 visitors in about 25,000 vehicles a season.
- It is a stay-in-your-car event.
- Pets may ride along inside the vehicle.
- No food or drinks are sold; the organizer says to bring your own snacks.
- Public restrooms are on the route.
- Holiday clothes and decorated cars are encouraged.
Cars enter at the park’s north entrance, 3600 W. Sample Road, the tickets page says.
Tickets and prices
From the organizer’s tickets page:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard car, early bird, online | $20 plus a processing fee |
| Standard vehicle at the gate | $34 |
| Special-effect glasses | $3 a pair, plus a fee |
| Vehicles or buses with 15 or more people | To be announced |
- Online tickets carry a 3% processing fee and arrive by email with a QR code. The organizer calls it the quickest way in.
- Cash is accepted at the gate, with change given. Cards at the gate carry a 3% fee.
- Joining the organizer’s mailing list gets a $4 coupon toward the drive-thru. It is the only discount the organizer lists, with no separate senior, military or student price.
- A Broward County park season pass does not cover it.
Walk or bike the route before it opens
Two one-night events let people out of their cars. Both use the park’s south entrance, 3600 W. Sample Road, where parking is free and attendants direct cars. Tickets are online only, no cash, and buyers pick a time slot. You can arrive any time after your slot.
Stroll Through the Lights, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. $15 a person plus a fee; children under 7 free with an adult. Strollers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are allowed. Running is not. Details: Stroll Through the Lights.
Bike Through the Lights, 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. $12 a bike plus a fee; the organizer’s page says children 7 and younger ride free with an adult. The route is about two and a half miles. Details: Bike Through the Lights.
- Pedal bikes only; no e-bikes or scooters.
- Florida law requires a helmet for riders and passengers under 16, the organizer notes.
- Strollers and wagons are allowed only if attached to a bike.
- Food trucks are at the start and finish, and picnics and coolers are welcome.
- Santa’s mailbox is on site for children’s letters.
- Service dogs are welcome; small dogs secured in a stroller or basket are allowed at the event’s discretion.
The organizer says there is no 5K run this year.
Getting there
Tradewinds Park is in Coconut Creek, in north Broward County, at Sample Road and Florida’s Turnpike, according to the organizer’s location page. From Fort Lauderdale, take Florida’s Turnpike north to the Sample Road exit. Buying online is the quickest way in, the organizer says.
Giving back
A portion of the proceeds goes to Gilda’s Club South Florida, which supports families affected by cancer, the organizer says. The event is an official drop-off for Toys for Tots: bring new, unwrapped toys.
More holiday lights in and near Fort Lauderdale
- The city’s free Light Up Lauderdale, Light Up the Galt and Light Up the Beach nights are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.
- Tree lightings and the full holiday calendar are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
- The boat parade is Dec. 12: see our Winterfest Boat Parade page.
- Parking in Fort Lauderdale is on our getting around page, and current lane closures on road construction and closures.
Have a holiday event to list? Send it through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Holiday Fantasy of Lights in 2026?
The drive-thru runs nightly from Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, to Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, from 6 to 10 p.m., including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the organizer says.
How much are Holiday Fantasy of Lights tickets?
The early-bird price online is $20 a standard car plus a processing fee, and the organizer says that sale ends soon. The gate price for a standard vehicle is $34. Special-effect glasses are $3 a pair.
Where is the Holiday Fantasy of Lights?
Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, at Sample Road and Florida’s Turnpike. The drive-thru uses the park’s north entrance, 3600 W. Sample Road.
Can you walk or bike through the Holiday Fantasy of Lights?
Only on two nights before the drive-thru opens: Stroll Through the Lights on Friday, Nov. 13, $15 a person, and Bike Through the Lights on Sunday, Nov. 15, $12 a bike. Both run 6 to 9 p.m. and are sold online only.
Does a Broward County park pass get you in?
No. The organizer says it is a private ticketed event and a park season pass does not cover it.
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