Big Cedar Lodge Christmas Lights & Home for the Holidays 2026

Big Cedar Lodge is basically Branson’s rich auntie, so you already know they don’t do Christmas halfway. 😂 Buildings are covered in lights, glowing animals are tucked throughout the woods, covered bridges are wrapped in lights and there’s an entire 12 Days of Christmas display done in Christmas lights.

And you do not have to stay at Big Cedar Lodge to visit at Christmas. You can come down for the lights, eat at one of the restaurants, go skating or tubing, take the kids to Fun Mountain or make an entire evening out of it.

Big Cedar Lodge Christmas Lights at a Glance

📍 Where: Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri, about 20–25 minutes from the Branson Strip and 15 minutes from Branson Landing

🎄 What Is It? Home for the Holidays is Big Cedar Lodge’s Christmas celebration with Christmas lights throughout the resort and seasonal activities.

📅 2026 Christmas Lights: November 14–December 30

🚗 Can You Drive Through? Yes. Big Cedar offers a self-guided Christmas light tour in your own vehicle.

💰 2026 Drive-Through Price: Big Cedar currently lists it at $35 per car or SUV.

🎟️ Reservations: This is changing for 2026. Big Cedar now says reservations are strongly recommended because drive-up availability is limited and not guaranteed.

🏨 Do You Have to Stay at Big Cedar? Nope!

⏰ Time Needed: You can drive through the lights in about 30 minutes, but plan longer if you’re eating or doing other activities.

⭐ My Take: If you’re already coming down to Big Cedar for dinner or Christmas activities, you’re going to see a LOT of the lights just driving around the resort.

What Is Home for the Holidays at Big Cedar Lodge?

Home for the Holidays is what Big Cedar calls its Christmas season.

And Big Cedar goes ALL IN on the lights.

Buildings are covered. There are glowing animals throughout the woods, covered bridges wrapped in lights and the 12 Days of Christmas done completely in Christmas lights.

It’s gorgeous!

You can pay for the self-guided Christmas light tour and drive through in your own vehicle, or you can take the Holiday Tram Ride through the same lights.

But here’s something important to understand before you start buying tickets for everything.

Big Cedar is a resort, and these lights are all over the property.

If you’re driving down to go skating, tubing, eat dinner or do other activities and then driving back out, you’re already going to see a bunch of Christmas lights along the way.

So think about what you actually want to do before you start booking everything.

CHECK BIG CEDAR’S CURRENT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SCHEDULE

Satirah’s Tip

Get there around sunset!

There’s a gorgeous overlook as you’re driving into Big Cedar where you can stop. Time it right and your sunset pictures can be phenomenal.

Then it gets dark, the lights come on and you can start your Christmas evening from there.

Big Cedar Lodge Christmas Light Drive

We’ve done the self-guided Christmas light drive, and if you’re just driving through, I’d plan on about 30 minutes.

You stay in your own vehicle and drive through the property looking at the displays.

But something is changing for 2026.

Big Cedar’s website currently lists the self-guided Christmas light tour at $35 per car or SUV, and they’re now saying reservations are strongly recommended because drive-up availability is limited and not guaranteed.

That’s different from how this has worked when we’ve gone in previous years, so definitely check the current information before you go.

CHECK 2026 CHRISTMAS LIGHT PRICING & AVAILABILITY

What Is the Big Cedar Holiday Tram Ride?

We’ve done the Holiday Tram Ride, too.

When we went, “tram” was basically a tractor pulling a big open trailer. 😂

And here’s the important part: the tram takes you through the same Christmas lights you can drive through yourself.

You’re basically choosing how you want to experience them.

For 2026, Big Cedar currently lists the tram at $30 for the public and $25 for overnight guests, and reservations are required.

Personally, I don’t think you need to pay for both.

What Else Can You Do at Big Cedar at Christmas?

There’s a small ice-skating rink around a big Christmas tree and a little snow tubing area. They also have different Christmas activities happening throughout the season.

Big Cedar has done Christmas fireworks, too. I’ve watched them before, and they were fun, but the show I saw lasted maybe a minute. I wouldn’t plan my whole evening around them.

Check the current schedule if fireworks are important to you.

And if you’re staying at Big Cedar, there’s even more going on. We stayed during Christmas a couple of years ago and had a full-size seven-foot Christmas tree in our room!

I’m going to save everything about actually staying at Big Cedar at Christmas for another blog because that can be an entire thing on its own.

Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock Are NOT the Same Place

This one needs clearing up because people get these two confused.

Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock are sister properties owned by the same company and located right next door to each other.

But they are not the same place.

Big Cedar Lodge is the resort. This is where you’ll find Home for the Holidays, the Christmas lights we’re talking about here, Fun Mountain and the restaurants.

Top of the Rock is next door. It’s a golf course, but it’s also home to the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail and Nature at Night.

When you reach the gate, Big Cedar is to the left and Top of the Rock is to the right.

Those roads take you in completely different directions. They aren’t connected once you’re inside.

Big Cedar Christmas Lights vs. Nature at Night

I’ve done both, and I really want people to understand that these are two completely different Christmas experiences.

Home for the Holidays is at Big Cedar Lodge.

Nature at Night is next door at Top of the Rock along the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail.

And if you made me choose just one?

Nature at Night. Every single time. For me, it doesn’t even compare.

But you don’t necessarily need to choose. They’re right next door to each other, and you can absolutely do both in the same evening.

READ MY NATURE AT NIGHT AT TOP OF THE ROCK GUIDE

If Christmas lights are a big part of your Branson trip, I also have an entire guide to the displays I think are worth seeing.

SEE MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN BRANSON

Bringing Kids? Go to Fun Mountain!

If you have kids, definitely check out Fun Mountain while you’re at Big Cedar.

The under-the-sea-themed bowling alley is so much fun! There’s an arcade, and the newer downstairs area looks like something straight out of Tron.

And Blue Fin has surprisingly good food.

My husband and I have actually had several date nights down here ourselves. Bowling and nachos from Blue Fin works for me!

Where I’d Eat at Big Cedar at Christmas

Big Cedar has some of my favorite food around Branson, and those cozy lodge vibes are even better at Christmas.

Devil’s Pool

This is usually where we eat when we come down for Christmas.

It’s nicer than your typical chain restaurant without being full-on fine dining, and it’s perfect for a cozy Christmas dinner.

We’ve made dinner reservations during Christmas, driven onto the property and essentially seen those same Christmas lights while making our way through Big Cedar.

Make sure you tell the attendant you have a reservation!

Buzzard Bar

Buzzard Bar is downstairs from Devil’s Pool. You can eat, grab a drink and catch some live entertainment.

Apparently Big Cedar believes every restaurant needs a bar downstairs. 😂

I’m certainly not complaining.

Worman House

If you want something more upscale, go to Worman House.

The view is spectacular. If you can get a reservation around sunset with a table by the windows, DO IT!

Just make that reservation well in advance.

Harry’s Cocktail Lounge

And underneath Worman House?

Another bar. 😂

Harry’s is one of my favorite places at Big Cedar, especially at Christmas. It’s cozy, the views are beautiful, and Worman House followed by Harry’s makes a fabulous Christmas date night.

READ MY FULL GUIDE TO HARRY’S COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Are the Big Cedar Lodge Christmas Lights Worth It?

Here’s how I’d look at it.

If you’re already coming down to Big Cedar to eat, go to Fun Mountain, skate, tube or do something else, you’re already going to see a lot of Christmas lights while you’re driving around the property.

If you specifically want to see the entire light route, you can book the self-guided drive or the tram.

And if you’re trying to choose between paying for the Big Cedar Christmas light experience and Nature at Night, I’m spending my money on Nature at Night.

Either way, Big Cedar is fabulous at Christmas and absolutely worth adding to an evening while you’re down this way.

If you’re still planning your trip, these will help:

SEE MY BRANSON CHRISTMAS CROWD CALENDAR

SEE MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN BRANSON

SEE ALL OF MY BRANSON DISCOUNTS

SEE MORE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS THINGS TO DO IN BRANSON

Big Cedar Lodge Christmas Lights FAQs

Can you see the Big Cedar Christmas lights without staying at the resort?

Yes. You do not have to stay at Big Cedar Lodge to visit during Home for the Holidays or book the public Christmas light experiences.

You can also come onto the property to eat at the restaurants and enjoy other public activities.

How much are the Big Cedar Lodge Christmas lights in 2026?

Big Cedar currently lists the 2026 self-guided Christmas light tour at $35 per car or SUV.

Their website is also showing a change this year: reservations are strongly recommended because drive-up availability is limited and not guaranteed.

Because this is different from our previous visits, I would check Big Cedar’s website again before you go.

Can you drive through the Big Cedar Christmas lights yourself?

Yes. Big Cedar offers a self-guided Christmas light tour that you drive in your own vehicle.

If you’re only driving through, I’d allow about 30 minutes.

Is the Big Cedar Holiday Tram different from the drive-through Christmas lights?

Not really in terms of what you’re going to see. The tram takes you through the same Christmas lights.

The difference is how you experience them. With the self-guided tour, you’re driving your own vehicle. On the Holiday Tram Ride, you sit back and let them take you through.

I personally wouldn’t pay to do both.

Is Big Cedar Lodge the same as Top of the Rock?

No. They’re sister properties located right next door to each other, but they’re separate.

Big Cedar Lodge is to the left when you reach the gate. Top of the Rock is to the right.

Home for the Holidays is at Big Cedar Lodge. Nature at Night and the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail are at Top of the Rock.

When is the best time to visit Big Cedar at Christmas?

I like getting there around sunset.

You can stop at the overlook for pictures before dark and then enjoy the Christmas lights afterward.

But if you’re trying to avoid the busiest days during Christmas in Branson, check my crowd calendar before you choose your dates.

SEE MY BRANSON CHRISTMAS CROWD CALENDAR

What should I wear to Big Cedar at Christmas?

That depends entirely on our Missouri weather!

You’ll be warm in your own vehicle for the self-guided drive, but the tram, skating and tubing put you outside.

Check the forecast before you head down and dress accordingly.

READ MY BRANSON WEATHER GUIDE

Where can I find discounts for my Branson Christmas trip?

I keep all of my current Branson discounts in one place, including shows, attractions, lodging and other things you may want to add to your Christmas trip.

SEE ALL OF MY BRANSON DISCOUNTS