Christmas Lights Near Providence 2026: Zoo Holiday Lights and More
Holiday light shows near Providence in 2026: the zoo’s Holiday Lights Spectacular, the new RI Lights Festival in Pawtucket and La Salette.
Three big holiday light shows are within about 20 minutes of downtown Providence this season. Dates and hours are from each organizer; prices are listed only where they’ve been posted for 2026.
Holiday Lights Spectacular, Roger Williams Park Zoo
Nightly November 27 to January 3, 5 to 9:30 PM, including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. A walk-through of more than 3½ million lights across 40 acres of the zoo, rain or shine, taking about an hour to an hour and a half. Tickets are sold online in advance only, and the zoo hadn’t posted 2026 prices as of October 26. Free parking, first come; traffic off I-95 is heaviest 5 to 8 PM. Details.
Rhode Island Lights Festival, Pawtucket (new this year)
Centreville Bank Stadium, nightly November 27 to January 3, 5 to 10 PM, closed December 24 and 25: light displays on the field, light shows in the stands, a vendor village, s’mores and Santa. Tickets go on sale November 10. Details.
La Salette Festival of Lights, Attleboro
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, nightly November 21 to January 3, 5 to 9 PM, including Christmas: more than a million lights. Free entry (donations welcome); carousel and hayride Friday to Sunday. Bring a small flashlight, since parts of the grounds are dark. Details.
Downtown, WaterFire lights the Waterplace Park basin for the holidays on Friday, December 11 (see WaterFire), and the tree lightings run November 27 to December 5.
Sources: Roger Williams Park Zoo; Centreville Bank Stadium; La Salette Shrine, checked October 26, 2026.