By Brandon House, REALTOR®
Quick answer: What are the best Christmas things to do in OKC with kids? The top picks are The Polar Express Train Ride at the Oklahoma Railway Museum, OKC Ballet's The Nutcracker at Civic Center Music Hall, ice skating at the Devon Ice Rink, the free Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival, and a night at OKC Zoo Safari Lights or one of the metro's free drive-thru light shows. Book the Polar Express and The Nutcracker early, because popular dates sell out.
The holidays go fast when you have kids. Between school programs, family in town and the regular December chaos, the fun stuff is easy to miss if you don't plan it out.
Here's the short list of what's worth it in the OKC metro, from the big ticketed traditions to free nights out, plus a few options for kids who do better with smaller crowds.
The Polar Express Train Ride
2026 dates: Nov. 20 – Dec. 31, select days Where: Oklahoma Railway Museum, 3400 NE Grand Blvd., Oklahoma City Cost: Paid; prices vary by date and seat class
This is the state's licensed Polar Express ride, and for little kids it's hard to beat. It's about an hour on a real train. Conductors punch golden tickets, chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies, everyone reads along with the book, and Santa boards to hand each guest a silver sleigh bell. Kids are encouraged to wear pajamas, and most do.
The museum is in the Adventure District near the zoo and Science Museum Oklahoma, so you can make a day of it.
Tip: Weekend rides close to Christmas go first. If you have a specific night in mind, buy as soon as you can.
OKC Ballet's The Nutcracker
2026 dates: Dec. 11 – 13 and Dec. 17 – 20, plus a sensory-friendly show Monday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. Where: Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., Oklahoma City Cost: Paid; every guest needs a ticket, including kids
OKC Ballet's production debuted in 2024, with new sets, more than 195 handmade costumes and a live score from the OKC Philharmonic. If your kids have never been to a ballet, this is the one to start with. Matinees on Saturdays and Sundays are the easy pick for younger kids.
Downtown in December
When: Late November through January Where: Downtown OKC, Bricktown and Myriad Botanical Gardens Cost: Many events are free
Downtown in December is the city's umbrella for dozens of holiday events. Three are especially good with kids:
- The Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival: a free kickoff night with performances, photos with Santa and the countdown to lighting the Bricktown Christmas Tree.
- The Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Botanical Gardens: outdoor skating seven days a week, usually from mid-November into early February. Pair it with a walk through the gardens.
- Free OKC Streetcar weekends: In past Decembers the streetcar has been free on weekends, which kids love on its own and which makes it easy to hop between districts to see the lights.
Safari Lights and Breakfast with Santa at the OKC Zoo
Usual dates: Safari Lights runs mid-November through the first weekend of January Where: Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place Cost: Paid; reserve online
Safari Lights lets you drive through giant animal lanterns, then walk a second path with a musical light show and s'mores. Santa makes visits on select nights. The zoo has also hosted a sensory-friendly night with smaller crowds and fewer flashing lights.
On select Saturdays, the zoo's Breakfast with Santa at the Canopy Restaurant includes a holiday breakfast and a full day of zoo admission, which makes for an easy morning-to-afternoon plan.
For more on Safari Lights and every other display in the metro, see our guide to the best Christmas lights in OKC.
Yukon's Christmas in the Park
2026 dates: Nov. 21 – Dec. 31, 6 to 11 p.m. Where: Yukon City Park, Freedom Trail Park and Chisholm Trail Park Cost:Free; small fee for the train
The drive-thru is free, but the real kid hit is the Santa Express Train that loops through the lights. Opening night is also the Chill Your Cheeks 5K and a one-mile Jingle Walk that welcomes strollers and dogs. It's a fun first family "race" for little ones.
Chickasha Festival of Light
Usual dates: The Thursday before Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve Where: Shannon Springs Park, 2400 S. 9th St., Chickasha Cost: Free to enter
It's an hour's drive, but Chickasha turns its light show into a full festival with an ice rink, carnival rides and even camel rides. For kids who get bored after 10 minutes in the car, this is the light show that holds their attention.
More Places to See Santa
- Breakfast with Santa at The Station in Moore: an affordable city-run breakfast in early December with crafts, games and inflatables.
- Penn Square Mall: the classic Santa photo stop.
- Chisholm Creek's Christmas Village: photos with Santa and his reindeer.
- Saturdays in December at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art: drop-in holiday art activities.
Best Picks for Kids Who Don't Love Crowds
If your kids are sensitive to noise, lights or packed rooms, the metro has a few great options:
- OKC Ballet's sensory-friendly Nutcracker on Dec. 21, done with Autism Oklahoma, with a relaxed theater environment.
- OKC Zoo Safari Lights' sensory-friendly night, with smaller crowds, limited flashing lights and lower sound.
- Edmond's Luminance at Mitch Park, a short, free walk-through light display you can leave whenever you need to.
- Any drive-thru display on a weeknight. Staying in the car is a built-in quiet space.
Free Christmas Things to Do in OKC With Kids
- The Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival
- Yukon's Christmas in the Park drive-thru
- The Chickasha Festival of Light
- Midwest City's Holiday Lights Spectacular
- Edmond's Luminance
- Walking Heritage Hills and Mesta Park, or driving Nichols Hills
- Riding the OKC Streetcar on free December weekends
OKC Christmas With Kids FAQ
When does the Polar Express in OKC start? The Polar Express Train Ride at the Oklahoma Railway Museum starts Nov. 20 in 2026 and runs on select days through December. It usually opens in mid-November each year.
What age is the Polar Express best for? It's open to all ages but best for kids about 2 and up, who can enjoy the story, the songs and meeting Santa.
When is The Nutcracker in Oklahoma City? OKC Ballet performs The Nutcracker at Civic Center Music Hall Dec. 11 – 13 and Dec. 17 – 20, 2026, with a sensory-friendly performance Dec. 21.
Where can kids ice skate in OKC for Christmas? The Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Botanical Gardens downtown, the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink at Mitch Park, and the rinks at Chickasha's Festival of Light and Classic Christmas at Remington Park.
What are free Christmas activities in OKC? The Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival, the free light displays in Yukon, Chickasha, Midwest City and Edmond, and the neighborhood lights in Nichols Hills and Heritage Hills are all free.
The traditions you start now are the ones your kids will remember about growing up here. If your family is new to the metro, or you're relocating for a job or a PCS to Tinker, I'm always happy to talk about which neighborhoods put you close to the things you'll actually do. The House Collective Group helps families find the right home, and the right side of town, all year long.
