World of Illumination Rockin' Christmas Review

Crank up the music and go full-throttle with Rockin’ Christmas, a musical drive-through holiday light experience to amp up your holiday. Check out my review of World of Illumination Rockin’ Christmas here.

This musical light show is an entire sensory experience with light displays synchronized to music and a fun theme. Take a drive through this musical holiday light show for a rockin’ start to the season!

We visited on opening weekend and it was a blast. This Christmas event will quickly become your family’s favorite! Here’s everything you need to know before visiting the World of Illumination’s Rockin’ Christmas this holiday season.

A special thanks to World of Illumination for hosting at Rockin’ Christmas in Marietta. As always, all opinions are my own.

A white car drives through a tunnel of bright, colorful LED lights shaped like large headphones and iPods at the World of Illumination Rockin' Christmas holiday light display in Marietta, Georgia.

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What is World of Illumination?

World of Illumination is billed as the world’s largest drive-through animated light show. They create uniquely themed drive-through light displays for an unforgettable experience.

They started in 2019 with only two light displays in Arizona. This year, they have 5 different shows in 5 locations including Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

Each year, they rotate the displays through each location so you can have a new experience. They have themes like Reindeer Road, Enchanted Safari, Cosmic Sleighride, Candy Rush, and Rockin’ Christmas.

A nighttime scene featuring a dazzling light display with tall, colorful wind instrument figures lining a pathway with strings of red and blue lights overhead at the World of Illumination Rockin' Christmas holiday light display in Marietta, Georgia.

Rockin Christmas Animated Light Show

World of Illumination’s Rockin’ Christmas is a mile-long holiday light show that’s a symphony of sight and sound. You’ll see displays like giant musical notes, a retro Santa spinning it old school, and more.

This year’s Rockin’ Christmas is at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Tickets and Getting There

Tickets cost $39.99 per car on Tuesdays-Thursdays and $49.99 per car on Fridays-Sundays and holidays. You can purchase tickets online and at the gate.

The gates don’t open until 6 p.m. So if you arrive early for your 6 p.m. ticket, you’ll have to sit outside the gates.

From there, you’ll drive through a long lane before coming to a split between ticket holders and those who still need to purchase tickets. For those with tickets, you’ll be directed to one of many lanes to have your ticket scanned for entry.

Vibrant cone-shaped Christmas tree light displays in hues of purple, red, and white illuminate a dark night sky at the World of Illumination Rockin' Christmas holiday light display in Marietta, Georgia.

What You’ll See During Rockin’ Christmas

Once you’ve scanned your ticket, you’ll tune your radio to the provided channel, turn off your headlights, and drive at 3 mph through the world’s largest drive-thru animated light show.

Rockin’ Christmas is like a journey through time in music. The displays start with simple woodwind instruments and little drummer boys, then move to 70s disco dancers and iPods.

All the lights are synchronized to the music on the radio. And the music playing is cool music that the kids will love. There was “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” by Gwen Stafani and Blake Shelton; Lindsey Stirling’s “Carol of the Bells”; and even “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.

There are only a few songs, so you’ll likely hear them multiple times on your trip through. When the show resets, the lights and music go dark for a few seconds before starting over at the beginning again.

Santa sits in a comfy chair in the middle by the giant Christmas trees. He waves and “Ho ho ho’s” while you drive past. Sometimes elves will be there to take his place if Santa is busy in the workshop that night.

Depending on how fast or slow you drive, or how crowded it is when you visit, it can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes to go through the light show. It took us about 40 minutes because we were behind someone who stopped at every single display; please don’t be that person. They specifically tell you not to stop, and you’re causing the people who haven’t gone through yet to wait even longer.

Illuminated musical notes made of lights hang against a dark night sky at the World of Illumination Rockin' Christmas holiday light display in Marietta, Georgia.

Tips for Visiting Rockin’ Christmas

During the busy season, you can expect longer wait times. Pre-Thanksgiving is probably the best time to go for no wait.
If you really don’t want to wait, book a 6 p.m. ticket. We had only 3 cars in front of us right at 6 p.m.
There is a bathroom pull-off just before you scan your tickets.
Since tickets are priced per car, feel free to (safely) pack your car with friends and family and split the cost.

Rockin’ Christmas 2025 Info

Location: Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W Alameda Dr, Tempe, AZ 85282

Price: Tickets range from $39.99 to $126.99 depending on the visit date and ticket type.

Dates: Tuesdays through Sundays from November 15, 2025 through January 4, 2026.

Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

More Festive Holiday Events

Get into the holiday spirit with these top festive events.

Ready to take a vacation? Plan your trip with these tips.

Find cheap accommodation: Use my tips for finding cheap accommodation for travel every time.
Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
Pack for your vacation: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need by checking out my packing list resources.

Cheers!

Paige

World of Illumination Rockin' Christmas Review

Have you experienced World of Illumination Rockin’ Christmas? Let me know what you thought of this drive-thru animated light show in the comments!

World of Illumination Rockin’ Christmas Review

What is World of Illumination?