This Massive Arkansas Christmas Wonderland Has A 300-Foot Glowing Tunnel And A Magical Santa Village
A 300-foot tunnel of lights waits at the end of a city park road, and you get to drive straight through it. That alone would sell me.
But it’s also called one of the longest drive-through lighted tunnels in Northeast Arkansas.
The rest of the route keeps going for more than half a mile. Over 400,000 lights cover nearly 450 display pieces.
There’s even a forest where the tree canopy turns into a snowstorm of glowing flakes.
I like the idea of a holiday outing that starts with the heater on and your favorite songs playing. Then, on certain nights, you park the car and keep the fun going.
Santa is there, along with a petting zoo, fire pits, and a train.
I can’t imagine a kid sitting still for that drive. Can you?
Your Headlights Are About To Look Very Underdressed
More than 400,000 lights line the route at Christmas at the Park, and every one of them is there for your windshield. The drive stretches over half a mile through Joe Mack Campbell Park.
That’s a lot of sparkle for one slow cruise. The route holds more than 65 themed collections and nearly 450 individual display pieces.
The whole thing is called the Enchanted Drive, and the name fits. You stay in your car, roll along at an easy pace, and let the scenery do the work.
Kids in the back seat can admire the lights through the windows while staying safely buckled up.
On select evenings, the drive is the only experience offered. Santa’s Village stays closed on those nights, so the focus is all on the lights.
Other nights pair the drive with the full village experience.
Check the schedule before you head out so you know which version you’re getting. Admission is charged per vehicle, which makes a packed minivan feel like a smart move.
A Season Pass also covers unlimited visits for one passenger vehicle. That’s handy if your family treats this drive like a December habit.
Some folks clearly can’t stop at one lap.
Hold Your Breath For 300 Feet Of Pure Glow
Three hundred feet. That’s roughly the length of a football field, and here it’s covered in lights you drive right through.
The tunnel is one of the headliners at Christmas at the Park. It’s described as one of the longest drive-through lighted tunnels in Northeast Arkansas.
Organizers even suggest it could rank among the longest in the United States.
Driving into it feels a bit like entering a glowing snow globe. Lights wrap over the top and down both sides of the car.
Your passengers will probably grab their phones the second the hood goes in.
A quick tip helps here. Slow down a little and let the moment last, since the tunnel is meant to be enjoyed and not rushed.
Just keep pace with the car ahead so everyone gets a turn.
Families with little ones might want to crack a window for the full effect. Bundle up first, though, since December nights in Arkansas can bite.
A cozy blanket in the back seat never hurts.
Photos from inside the tunnel tend to blur, so try video instead. A short clip captures the rush of light much better.
It also makes a great holiday post later.
Somebody Made It Snow In The Treetops
Arkansas doesn’t always deliver a white Christmas. Christmas at the Park handles that problem with a section called the Snowflake Forest.
Here, the park’s own tree canopy gets transformed with lighted snowflakes. Instead of looking straight ahead, you’ll want to look up.
Passengers in the back seat may suddenly understand why sunroofs exist.
The best part is how it uses the real trees of Joe Mack Campbell Park. The setting feels natural rather than built from scratch.
The lights simply make the woods look like they’re caught in a gentle flurry.
Kids will likely start pointing out their favorite flakes right away. Adults may do the same, though they’ll pretend it’s for the kids.
Nobody’s judging.
For the driver, this is a smart place to ease off the gas a bit. The view is above you, so a slower pace lets everyone take it in.
Just stay alert to the cars nearby.
Want a fun game? Ask everyone to count snowflakes until they lose track.
It won’t take long, and that’s half the point. A forest full of glowing flakes isn’t meant to be counted.
Keep An Eye Out For Sloths And Some Familiar Mascots
Sloth displays are hiding along the route, and spotting them could win you something. It’s the Great Sloth scavenger hunt, a new addition for 2026.
Guests search for and count the sloths during the drive for a chance at weekly prizes. It’s a clever way to keep restless kids busy from start to finish.
Suddenly every display needs a careful second look.
Assign one person as the official sloth spotter. Or make it a team effort and split the windows by side.
Either way, the back seat gets a lot quieter and a lot more focused.
Sports fans get their own treat too. Displays feature Howl and Scarlet, the beloved mascots of Arkansas State University.
Since the campus sits right there in Jonesboro, the hometown pride makes plenty of sense.
Red Wolves fans will probably cheer at the sight. Even visitors who don’t follow A-State can enjoy two cheerful mascots dressed up for the season.
Little touches like these give the drive some personality. You’re not just staring at lights, you’re hunting, laughing, and spotting surprises.
That’s a pretty good recipe for a family night.
Santa Saved You A Spot In His Village
Once the drive ends, the night isn’t over on Full Experience evenings. That’s when Santa’s Village opens its gates at Christmas at the Park.
Santa’s Corner is the big draw for most families. Kids can visit Santa, and families can snap photos using their own phones.
That’s a nice break from the usual photo package pitch.
Right nearby sits Christmas Square, home to a towering 30-foot Christmas tree. It makes a perfect backdrop for a group picture.
Line everyone up and let the tree steal the show.
On Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m., local readers share holiday tales during Christmas Stories Around the Tree. It’s a sweet, slower moment in a busy season.
Little listeners may actually sit still for once.
The 2026 season brings a big first. For the first time ever, the attraction opens on Christmas Eve.
The first 200 children who visit Santa that night will receive a gift.
Plan your arrival with time to spare. The entrance gate closes at the posted time, while Santa’s Village remains open for another 30 minutes.
Arriving well before closing gives families more time to enjoy the attractions. Santa’s busy, but he does keep a schedule.
Goats, Trains, And A Mechanical Bull Walk Into A Park
Few Christmas villages can claim a petting zoo and a mechanical bull. This one has both.
The Wild Ones Ranch petting zoo is free to walk through. Feed cups are sold separately if your kids want to make a few furry friends.
Expect lots of giggles.
Next up is the Jingle Express train ride, available for an extra fee. It’s a classic holiday touch that little ones tend to adore.
Grown-ups can ride along for the memories.
For 2026, the lineup grows even bigger. New attractions include an inflatable obstacle course and a multi-game inflatable.
There’s also a mechanical bull for anyone feeling brave, at an added cost.
Crafty kids can head to Reindeer Games for Christmas crafts. A slime bar lets guests create custom slime for a fee.
Your car seats may never fully recover, but the smiles will be worth it.
Face painting by Blossom adds some color to the night. A balloon artist named Trick-E offers creative balloon art and Gospel illusions.
Budget a little extra, since several activities carry separate fees. That way nobody gets surprised at the end.
Warm Hands, Hot Cocoa, And A S’mores Situation
Cold fingers have a fix here. Fire pits around Santa’s Village give everyone a cozy place to warm up.
Even better, s’mores kits are sold at the gift shop. Fire pit spots are first come, first served, so grab one when you can.
Melted marshmallow on a mitten is basically a holiday tradition.
Hungry? The concession stand serves hot chocolate and other bites under the name Blitzen’s Bites.
It’s run by the City of Jonesboro’s City Stars program. All proceeds support local athletic programs, so your snack helps young athletes too.
The stand accepts cash and major credit or debit cards. That makes life easier for parents juggling kids and gloves at the same time.
New this season, Howler’s Smash Co. Food Truck brings more eats and treats.
Santa’s Sweet Stop handles sugary holiday goodies for anyone with a sweet tooth. Between all three, nobody should leave grumbling about an empty stomach.
Before heading home, swing by Santa’s Gift Shop. You’ll find stuffed animals, light-up headbands, and Christmas at the Park ornaments.
An ornament makes a smart souvenir that returns every December.
A Dad, His Daughters, And One Big Bright Idea
Back in 2018, Adam Sartin took his daughters to see a holiday light display. The trip sparked an idea that grew into one of the brightest traditions in Arkansas.
Sartin runs Ground Crew, a landscaping company known for installing Christmas lights. He knew how to make a yard glow.
So why not a whole park?
Christmas at the Park officially began in 2019. From the start, the plan was to add more lights and displays every year.
Judging by today’s numbers, that plan clearly stuck.
Ground Crew helps bring Christmas at the Park to life with support from the City of Jonesboro, St. Bernards Medical Group, and other sponsors. Joe Mack Campbell Park provides the setting.
Together, their contributions help turn a familiar green space into a glowing winter escape.
The giving spirit shows up in more than lights. Some dates feature Pay What You Can Night.
Free admission is also offered to DCFS foster homes in surrounding counties.
The 2026 season includes A Season of Giving with six social media giveaways. For a project that started with a family outing, that’s a pretty generous way to grow up.
Mark Your Calendar Before The Lights Flip On
Timing matters with a show this popular. Christmas at the Park runs from Thursday, November 26 through Wednesday, December 24, in 2026.
Head to Joe Mack Campbell Park at 600 Harry Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. every night.
Through December 17, closing time is 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Friday and Saturday nights run until 9:30 p.m. From December 18 through Christmas Eve, every night stays open until 9:30 p.m.
The gate closes right at the posted time, so don’t cut it close. The event also runs weather permitting.
Updates get posted on Facebook, which is worth a quick check before you load up the car.
Paying with cash at the gate skips the booking fee. Card purchases, online or at the gate, may include one.
Prefer to leave the driving to someone else? The Christmas at the Park Expressway offers trolley service through the city’s JET public transportation system.
The published fare includes the ride and park admission, and kids 12 and under ride free. Check the event schedule for service dates.
Special nights add extra fun. Watch for car club nights and the Santa Shuffle Fun Run on December 8, benefiting Rock Steady Boxing.