Since dated tickets went on sale Nov. 9, an adult ticket for a specific night costs $20, and an adult Any Day ticket costs $25. The flexible ticket is now the expensive one.

That changes how a December evening at Hudson Gardens gets planned. The garden sits at 6115 S Santa Fe Dr., on the far side of the South Platte from Columbine Valley's eastern edge. The light show runs Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. Most December dates on the calendar carry their own program, so the cheaper ticket rewards anyone who picks a night early.

The Flexible Ticket Carries the Premium

The pricing has three stages, and the first is over. The Any Day presale ran Nov. 6 through Nov. 8 at $15 for adults and seniors and $10 for youth ages 3 to 12. Here is where prices stand now.

The gap is largest for children. A youth Any Day ticket costs $5 more than a youth dated ticket. A senior Any Day ticket costs $2 more. For two adults and two children, dated tickets total $70 and Any Day tickets total $90.

The dated ticket's catch is the fee for changing it. Hudson Gardens charges $10 per order to move to a different date, and you request the change by emailing [email protected]. Because the fee applies per order, not per ticket, the family of four above would still spend $10 less with a dated order and one date change than with Any Day tickets.

Tickets are final regardless of weather. If Hudson Gardens cancels a night, buyers get an email and an Any Day ticket good for any remaining show. Tickets aren't timed, so you can arrive any time during show hours on your date. There is no re-entry.

Hudson Gardens also advertises a Cyber Monday flash sale of up to 50% off tickets for people on its ticket-alert email list. This year Cyber Monday is Nov. 30, the fourth night of the show.

Most December Nights Run Their Own Program

Most December nights have a program, and the programs differ a lot.

Storytimes on storyteller nights happen at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. at the storytellers chair, with photo opportunities between them. Those set times matter more than the 5 p.m. opening. A family that wants to see Elsa should plan around one of those three start times.

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who appear on three nights. Elsa appears on two, a Saturday and the Wednesday before Christmas. On the s'mores nights, Hudson Gardens sells s'mores kits. Trivia on Dec. 22 has three hosted rounds and prizes for teams. Bingo on Dec. 27 runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Pavilion. Cards cost $1 each, the grand prize is worth up to $100, and you need show admission to play.

The Quietest Night Comes Early in the Run

Wednesday, Dec. 2 is the one night set up for a different kind of crowd. Hudson Gardens describes it as calmer, for guests with sensory sensitivities, autism or PTSD. Music is turned down and attendance is capped. The garden also says plainly that it "is not a low-sensory event."

The cap stands out against the show's usual size. In its preview of an earlier season, the Littleton Independent reported about 38,000 visitors the year before and a goal of 40,000. Those figures are from earlier seasons, but they show how many people a regular night is built to handle. Dec. 2 is the only date with a stated limit.

The Week Santa Changes Shifts

Christmas week has its own schedule. Santa offers free photos in the Pavilion from 5 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23. On Dec. 24, Mrs. Claus and Jingle the Elf take his place. On Dec. 26 and 27, Santa comes back in what the garden calls "Vacation Mode." For bingo night on Dec. 27, the Pavilion is decorated as "the ultimate tropical escape."

Christmas Eve Pajama Night closes at 7 p.m., two hours earlier than the usual 5 to 9 p.m. The calendar doesn't list shows on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. If you're hosting visitors over the holidays, a family outing on Dec. 26 or 27 gets Vacation Santa and the full 5 to 9 p.m. hours.

What Every Night Shares

The theme sets the schedule. The walk itself is the same every night. Hudson Gardens describes the show as more than 20 acres of light displays, a 9,000-square-foot Holiday Maze and the Holiday Railroad. The route is about 0.65 miles, and the garden suggests planning 45 minutes to two hours.

Food and drinks are available along the way:

• Nixon's Coffee House, in the Candy Cane exhibit area, serves hot drinks and warm snacks.
• Pop-up bars around the grounds sell hot cocoa and adult beverages.
• The s'mores station sells kits in the Pavilion and online with tickets. You roast them at firepits in the courtyard outside the Pavilion.

Hudson Gardens is run by South Suburban Parks and Recreation, and the 2026 show is presented by AdventHealth. The garden also rents party rooms during the show for holiday gatherings and birthdays. Ask about discounts on rentals when you buy show tickets.

Getting There From the West Bank

Columbine Valley's Master Plan names the South Platte River as the town's eastern boundary and the Mary Carter Greenway as the trail along it. The same plan lists a goal to "investigate better and safer access to the Mary Carter Greenway and South Platte Park that avoids Bowles Avenue."

Parking is free, both at Hudson Gardens and at the overflow lot at Arapahoe Community College. Since dated tickets are good any time during show hours, you can arrive at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. storytime or come later in the evening. The price is the same either way.

If you're hosting family in December and want help finding a home with room for holiday guests, Rule Properties can help. Ben & Erin follow Columbine Valley's calendar as closely as its market. Connect with Ben & Erin for a tailored market valuation.