Promised Land Zoo Let There Be Lights: Christmas Lights, Animals & Santa in Branson

If you’re looking for something fun to do with kids at Christmas in Branson that isn’t going to cost you a small fortune, put Promised Land Zoo’s Let There Be Lights on your list!

I’ve done this one a couple of times, and what I like about it is that you’re getting a lot more than a drive-through Christmas light display.

For $30, you can bring up to six people in one vehicle. You’ll drive through two miles of Christmas lights, see animals throughout the sanctuary, and then park and get out to visit the exotic petting zoo, Animal Adventure Building and Santa.

A family of six is basically doing all of that for $5 a person.

And if you’ve got a kid who loves animals, you can even add one of their animal encounters.

That’s a LOT of Christmas fun for $30!

Promised Land Zoo Let There Be Lights at a Glance

📍 Location: 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson, Missouri

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best For: Families with kids and animal lovers

💲 Cost: $30 per vehicle for up to 6 people; $45 for 7 or more

🎄 Christmas Highlight: Drive-through Christmas lights, animals, exotic petting zoo and Santa

⏰ Time Needed: Plan on 1–2 hours if you want to do everything

⭐ My Take: One of my favorite Christmas recommendations for families looking for something fun AND affordable.

Satirah’s Tip

Go just after sunset, when there’s still the tiniest touch of light left in the sky.

You’ll still get to enjoy all of the Christmas lights, but here’s what I don’t want you to forget.

You’re driving through an animal sanctuary!

Look beyond the lights as you’re driving because there are animals out there too!

That little bit of light left in the sky can make it easier to see what’s going on around you while it’s still dark enough to enjoy all of the Christmas lights.

What Is Let There Be Lights at Promised Land Zoo?

Let There Be Lights is Promised Land Zoo’s annual Christmas event in Branson, Missouri.

For 2026, it runs November 1 through January 4 from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM each night.

You’ll start by driving through approximately two miles of Christmas lights that wind through the zoo’s 74-acre property.

The drive-through portion normally takes around 20–30 minutes, although it can take longer depending on traffic.

But don’t look at that and think this is only a 30-minute Christmas activity.

You’re definitely not done when the drive ends!

Christmas Lights AND Animals

This is one of the things that makes Let There Be Lights different from a regular drive-through Christmas light display.

You’re driving right through the animal sanctuary.

It’s easy to get caught up looking at the Christmas lights directly in front of you, but make sure you’re looking around too. There are all kinds of animals throughout the property!

That’s also why I like going just after sunset.

You want it dark enough to really enjoy the Christmas lights, but if you can catch that little window where there’s still just a touch of light left in the sky, it can make the animals easier to see too.

Take your time, enjoy the drive and see what you can spot!

When the Drive Ends, Get Out!

Once you finish driving through the lights, you’ll come to an area where you can park.

Don’t leave yet!

You can get out and visit the exotic petting zoo and then head inside the Animal Adventure Building to see even more animals.

There’s also a playground if you’ve got kids who need to burn off some energy, and you can grab something from the food truck.

We’ve gotten hot cocoa here before, which is exactly what I want when I’m walking around looking at animals at Christmas!

This is also why I would plan one to two hours for Let There Be Lights instead of looking at the drive time and assuming you’ll be in and out.

You could absolutely make an evening out of this.

Make Sure You Go See Santa!

Santa has his own building, so don’t leave without going in to see him.

Mrs. Claus has normally been there when we’ve visited too.

The last time we went, we were able to take pictures with our own cell phones. They even had someone there who took the picture with my phone so everybody could get in it.

It’s simple, you don’t have to make a huge production out of it, and you’ve already got Santa worked into your Christmas night!

If Your Kid Loves Animals, Ask About an Animal Encounter

This is where I’d be VERY tempted to spend a little extra.

I’ve done the animal experiences at Promised Land Zoo several times during my daytime visits, and I normally do VIP Gold.

With their regular daytime VIP experience, you sit in a big circle with a group while the handlers bring out a handful of different animals. You actually get to hold them! The handler puts the animal in your lap, lets you have your turn, and then picks it up and moves on to the next person.

VIP Gold is a more private experience where you get more time with one of their more exotic animals.

I’ve done some fantastic animal encounters here over the years.

Suki, the little serval I met when she was a baby, is all grown up now, and they have another baby!

They also have Milo the monkey, a lynx and, of course, the lemurs.

Promised Land Zoo does offer nighttime animal encounters during Let There Be Lights. I haven’t personally done one of their Christmas encounters, and the animals available can change, so I’m not going to tell you exactly which animal you’ll get to meet.

Just ask what encounters they’re offering when you go.

But here’s how I look at it.

If I just got my whole family into a Christmas activity for $30, and I’ve got a kid who would absolutely lose their mind over getting up close with an exotic animal, this is where I’d be willing to spend a little extra.

If you want to know more about the animal experiences I’ve personally done during the day, I have a whole Promised Land Zoo guide.

[COMING SOON: My Complete Promised Land Zoo Guide]

Is Promised Land Zoo Let There Be Lights Worth It?

For families with kids, absolutely!

You’re getting so much in one place.

You get the Christmas lights, animals throughout the sanctuary, exotic petting zoo, Animal Adventure Building and Santa.

And up to six people can do it for $30.

That’s why this one stays on my Christmas list, especially for families trying to find fun things to do in Branson without spending a fortune.

Frequently Asked Questions About Promised Land Zoo Let There Be Lights

How much is Let There Be Lights?

For 2026, admission is $30 per vehicle for up to six people and $45 for seven or more people.

That means a family or group of six is paying just $5 per person!

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When is Let There Be Lights open in 2026?

Let There Be Lights runs November 1 through January 4, from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM nightly.

How long does Let There Be Lights take?

The drive-through portion normally takes around 20–30 minutes, although it can take longer depending on traffic.

If you want to get out afterward, see the animals, visit Santa and take your time, I’d plan on one to two hours total.

What time should you go?

I like going just after sunset, when there’s still the tiniest touch of light left in the sky.

It’s dark enough to enjoy the Christmas lights, but that little bit of remaining light can make it easier to see the animals throughout the sanctuary too.

Can you see animals during Let There Be Lights?

Yes!

You’re driving through an animal sanctuary, so look beyond the Christmas lights as you go. There are animals throughout the property.

You’ll also get to see more animals once you park and visit the exotic petting zoo and Animal Adventure Building.

Is Santa included?

Yes!

Santa has his own building, and Mrs. Claus has normally been there when we’ve visited too.

The last time we went, we were able to take pictures with our own cell phones. They even had someone there who took the picture for us so everybody could be in it.

Can you do an animal encounter during Let There Be Lights?

Yes. They offer nighttime animal encounters for an additional charge.

The animals available can change, so I’d ask what’s available when you visit rather than getting your heart set on one particular animal ahead of time.

Before You Go

If you’re doing Christmas in Branson with kids, I think Let There Be Lights is one of those activities where you can get a lot for your money.

Go just after sunset.

Take your time driving through the lights and don’t forget to look for the animals!

When you get to the end, park the car. Go see the animals. Visit Santa. Grab a hot cocoa.

And if you’ve got a kid who is completely obsessed with animals, ask what encounters they’re offering that night.

For $30 for up to six people, you can make a whole Christmas evening out of it without spending a fortune.

That’s a pretty fantastic deal at Christmas in Branson!

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