Rochester MN Holiday Lights Guide 2026

Last updated November 8, 2026

Early in the season, our neighborhood lists carry over from the 2025 guide. We update them as displays are confirmed, so check back often!

A beloved holiday tradition is to bundle the entire family into the car, pack some snacks and hot chocolate, and drive around to look at Christmas lights. Rochester and the surrounding area have so many incredible displays, and many represent hours of personal time spent perfecting lights that are sure to WOW!

We checked this season’s dates, hours and prices for the big regional shows against each organizer’s official site, and we’ll keep updating as new details roll in. This year’s guide has four sections:

• Regional Holiday Light Shows: the big drive-thru and walk-thru displays worth the trip
• Rochester Lights Map: every neighborhood display, color-coded by quadrant
• Rochester Neighborhood Displays: reader favorites in NW, NE, SE and SW Rochester
• Outside Rochester: Byron, Kasson, Stewartville and more

All of the neighborhood displays have been submitted by readers and community members, or are displays we have seen ourselves. We do our very best to keep this guide updated, but we cannot guarantee that a display on this list will always be there or on.

Have a display or an update to add to our list? Here’s how to send it to us!

2026 REGIONAL LIGHT SHOWS AT A GLANCE

Prices are the lowest standard ticket and may not include taxes or fees. Drive times are approximate from downtown Rochester. Tap a display name to jump to its details.

From a campground glowing 15 minutes down the road to the Lake Superior shoreline, these are the big shows worth loading up the car for. A couple of them haven’t announced 2026 dates yet, so we’ve noted what to expect based on past seasons and will update as each one confirms.

CLOSE TO HOMEFREEDRIVE-THRU

E.L.F. (Employers of Olmsted Light Festival) | Eyota

Where: Chester Woods Park, 8378 Highway 14 E, Eyota, MN
When: Weekends in December 2026. Exact dates have not been posted yet.
Hours: Not yet announced for 2026. Last season ran Fridays through Sundays, 5 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free. Cash and food donations go to local food and housing assistance programs.
Good to know: Bring a nonperishable food item for the donation drop.

Local businesses and organizations each deck out a campsite, and you cruise the Chester Woods campground loop without leaving the warmth of your car. The festival debuted last December with 17 lit campsites and more than 51,000 lights, and it’s close enough to squeeze in on a school night.

FREESYNCED TO MUSIC

Carter Christmas Lights Show | Albert Lea

Where: 1905 Brookside Dr., Albert Lea, MN
When: 2026 dates have not been posted yet. The show typically runs from late November through December 30.
Hours: Typically 5 to 9 p.m., until 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Cost: Free. Donations benefit a local nonprofit chosen each season.
Good to know: Enter on Bayview Drive, circle around to park and dim your headlights.

Mike and Freddy Carter have programmed this show since 2014, first in Austin and in Albert Lea since 2018. Roughly 50,000 LED lights run a fully synchronized show every 10 minutes, and the house stays lit in between, so nobody misses the encore.

FREEWALK OR DRIVE

Rotary Lights | La Crosse, WI

Where: Riverside Park, 410 Veterans Memorial Dr., La Crosse, WI
When: November 27 through December 31, 2026
Hours: Opens at 5 p.m. nightly; gates close after the last car in line at 10 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 5 to 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve 5 to 11 p.m.
Cost: Free. Cash and nonperishable food donations support area food pantries.
Good to know: Santa is in the park nightly through December 23, 5 to 8 p.m. All Abilities Night, with subdued lights and music, is November 30 from 5 to 8 p.m.

More than 3 million lights fill Riverside Park along the Mississippi for the display’s 32nd season. Drive the loop or park and stroll, then track down the free s’mores near the giant snowman. Select nights add a live Nativity, carriage rides and hay rides, and the ice rink offers free skate rental when the weather cooperates. Opening night kicks off November 27 with a 5 p.m. parade and fireworks.

WALK-THRU

GLOW Holiday Festival | St. Paul

Where: CHS Field, 360 N. Broadway St., St. Paul, MN
When: Select nights, November 19, 2026 through January 3, 2027
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m., with hourly entry times from 5 to 8 p.m.
Cost: $22.75 ages 13 and up, $12.75 ages 3 to 12, free for 2 and under. Fees extra. Buy online in advance.
Good to know: GLOW is cashless, yet several Lowertown lots and ramps take cash only. Bring both.

More than a million lights take over the home of the Saints. New this year is the Merry Carousel, and Vixen’s Zip Line and the Snowy Slide are back for another season. Wander the tunnels, catch the light show on the field, warm up at the fire pits and plan on 60 to 90 minutes.

NEW NAMEDRIVE-THRU

Trista Lights at Sever’s | Shakopee

Where: 3121 150th St. W., Shakopee, MN
When: November 26, 2026 through January 3, 2027, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. nightly; last arrival at 9 p.m.
Cost: Advance online only, on sale Saturday, November 14. Per car: $15 on Tuesdays (except December 22); $25 Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; $35 Friday, Saturday and every night December 20 through 24. Vehicles with more than eight passengers pay $35 or $50. Plus tax.
Good to know: Pick a one-hour arrival window when you buy. Dogs are welcome in the car, and vehicles must be under 10 feet tall.

Sever’s Holiday Lights has a new name and a new crew. The team behind Minnetrista’s Trista Lights, of Great Christmas Light Fight fame, has taken over the two-mile route with more than 2 million lights. The drive takes 30 to 45 minutes. Food trucks and the photo stop are not part of this year’s setup, so pack your own cocoa.

FREEDRIVE OR WALK

Kiwanis Holiday Lights | Mankato

Where: Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave., Mankato, MN
When: November 27 through December 31, 2026
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost: Free for all vehicles and walkers. Cash and food donations are collected inside the park only.
Good to know: Dogs can ride along in the car but aren’t allowed in the park. The display includes strobe lights.

Billed as Minnesota’s longest drive-thru light show, Sibley Park glows with roughly 2 million LED lights, and you can drive through or park and walk. Past seasons have added live reindeer at Sibley Farm and visits with Santa in his workshop on weekends.

NEW FOR 2026WALK-THRU

Northern Lights at the Arboretum | Chaska

Where: 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN
When: November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027 (closed November 26, December 24 and December 25)
Hours: 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $35 nonmembers, $25 members. Kids 15 and under are free but still need a reserved ticket. Gate tickets, when available, cost $10 more.
Good to know: Parking is free. Reserve a date and time in advance.

Winter Lights has taken its final bow, and Northern Lights moves in with the Arboretum’s trees as the headliners. Follow a one-way route through 18 interactive installations with music-synced lighting, a 60-foot shadow wall and Prince’s Paisley Path. When toes go numb, head inside for cocoa and s’mores at the Warming Hut or dinner at Rootstock.

WALK-THRUDRIVE-THRU DEC. 14 & 15

Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour | Somerset, WI

Where: 710 Spring St., Somerset, WI
When: November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027 (closed November 30 through December 2, December 7 through 9, and Christmas Eve; open Christmas Day)
Hours: Gates open 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Lights stay on one hour after the gate closes.
Cost: Walk-thru: $25 adults, $20 ages 4 to 10, free for 3 and under, $12 military. Drive-thru nights: $15 per person.
Good to know: Walk-thru parking is $10, cash only. Tickets are good for any open night.

More than 26 million lights wind through 80 wooded acres on the Apple River. Beyond the light tour you’ll find a European-style Christmas market (Thursday through Sunday), live reindeer, free tubing on the sledding hill, bonfires and heated S’more Cabins you can reserve. Santa is in the market nightly through December 27.

ROAD TRIPFREEWALK-THRU

Bentleyville Tour of Lights | Duluth

Where: Bayfront Festival Park, 700 W. Railroad St., Duluth, MN
When: November 21 through December 26, 2026, open every night including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost: Free admission. Parking is $12 per vehicle, or $10 cash.
Good to know: Kids 12 and under who visit Santa (nightly through December 23, 5 to 9 p.m.) get a knit hat and a bag of cookies. Weekend parking can crawl, so pad your timeline.

America’s largest free walk-through light display takes over the Lake Superior shoreline for its 23rd season. The three-quarter mile loop takes 30 to 45 minutes, with free cocoa, coffee, cookies, popcorn and marshmallows to roast at the fire pits along the way. Watch for Santa’s helicopter arrival, Tuesday Animal Nights and the closing night fireworks.

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Here’s how to use our map:

• We color-coded the areas of town for convenience and ease when driving around.
• We also took into consideration how close the displays are to each other when we typed out the addresses.
• Filter the areas you’d like to visit by clicking the layers on the left-hand side of the map (on desktop) or tapping “view map legend” on mobile.

Legend: NW: Red | NE: Purple | SE: Blue | SW: Green | Highlights: Yellow

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• Chippewa Dr NW and Itasca Ct NW (The Enchanted Forest!)
• 152 Majestic Rd NW
• 249 Majestic Rd NW
• 7010 Indigo Ct NW
• 6375 Granite Dr NW
• Knotting Hill Lane NW
• 4337 Knotting Hill Ln NW
• 5718 48th Ave NW
• 6364 Sunset Hill Place NW
• Hillsboro Drive NW (the Grinch!)
• 5900 Manor Ct NW
• 5329 54th Ave NW
• 5619 Kingsbury St NW
• 5348 51st St NW
• 3415 Arbor Dr NW
• 5603 23rd Ave NW
• 3915 46th Ave NW
• 1627 46th St NW
• 1500 38th St NW
• 35th Street NW (cul de sac)
• 1123 Knoll Ct NW
• 1138 Knoll Ct NW
• 1143 Knoll Ct NW
• Elton Hills Ct NW
• 1127 33rd St NW
• 3011 5th Ave NW
• 28th Street NW between 30th Street NW and 9th Ave NW
• 2551 13th Ave NW (two for one at this house!)
• 2525 17th Ave NW
• 2422 18th Ave NW
• 1605 28th St NW
• Oak Knoll Lane NW
• 2012 Valkyrie Dr NW
• 702 Westwood Ct NW (Blue Christmas!)
• Vanir Ct NW
• 910 Elton Hills Dr NW
• 1405 3rd Ave NW (Santa in Tree!)
• 19th Street NW and Viking Drive NW
• 827 10th St NW
• 23 9th St NW
• 1003 2nd St NW
• 705 9th Avenue NW (Tune your radio to 92.1. Show runs nightly 5-9 pm until New Year’s)
• 2209 22nd St NW
• 1842 17 1/2 St NW
• 3805 7th St NW
• 3932 7th St NW (Tune your radio to 92.1. Show runs nightly 5-9 pm until New Year’s)
• Manor Dr NW
• Manor Woods Dr NW
• 4414 6th St NW
• 328 36th Ave NW
• 154 Interlachen Lane NW
• 4784 Manor End Lane NW
• 176 Westchester Dr NW
• 5515 St Marys Dr NW
• 4822 3rd St NW
• 4707 4th St NW

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• 1229 East Center St
• 642 15th St NE
• 1537 8th Ave NE
• 1108 12th Ave NE
• 950 13th Ave NE
• 728 12th Ave NE
• 1854 Kerry Dr NE
• 1442 Century Point Ln NE
• 2711 Osjor Ct NE
• 1434 13th Ave NE
• 1828 Wilshire Dr NE
• 1664 Wilshire Dr NE
• 1435 City View Ct NE
• 604 23rd St NE
• 1739 Northern Valley Dr NE
• Ridge Cliff Lane NE
• Northern Heights neighborhood
• Northern Heights Drive NE just off of Broadway (The Crystal Forest)
• 914 Sierra Lane NE (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ft. Cousin Eddie!)
• Rocky Creek Lane NE
• Cassidy Ridge Dr NE
• 2216 Jade Place NE
• 3512 Jasper Lane NE

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• Santa’s House | 435 12th Ave SE
• 420 10th St SE
• 205 11 1/2 St SE
• 1034 6th Ave SE
• 720 15th St SE
• 1559 9th Ave SE
• 1617 8th Ave SE
• 1614 7th Ave SE
• 111 18th St SE
• Spruce Meadows Dr SE
• Marvale Ave & Markay Street SE
• 2725 Knollwood Dr SE
• 2008 24th St SE (Pokemon Christmas display)
• 24th St SE
• 1430 Fairlane Ct SE
• 1909 Bear Ct SE
• 1227 50th Ave SE
• 820 50th Ave SE
• 4029 Countrywood Dr SE
• 307 Brookestone Dr SE

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• Plummer Building SW
• Annenberg Plaza NW (between Mayo and Plummer Buildings)
• St. Mary’s Hospital Nativity Scene
• 608 5th Street SW
• 624 9th Avenue SW
• 621 10th Street
• Pill Hill Neighborhood SW
• Soldiers Field/Old SW Neighborhood SW
• 28 Conner Cir SW
• Wimbledon Hills Drive SW
• Eagle Lane SW
• 4147 8th St SW
• 604 23rd Ave SW
• 305 19th Avenue SW
• Hill Place Southwest
• 22nd Ave & Hill Place SW
• Younge Park Neighborhood SW
• Fox Knoll Drive SW
• 960 Fox Knoll Dr SW
• 1131 Foxcroft Lane SW
• Lad Lane SW
• 2201 Baihly Heights Dr SW
• 1357 Woodland Dr SW
• Autumn Ridge Road SW
• Autumn Lake Ct SW
• Wright Road SW
• 1735 Juniper Ln SW
• 566 36th St SW
• 2251 Galileo Place SW
• Scenic Oaks Neighborhood
• South Pointe Ct Neighborhood
• 4060 Autumn Lake Ct SW

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• Somerby Golf Club, 975 Somerby Parkway NE | Byron, MN (Huge tree covered with thousands of white twinkle lights!)
• 929 Country Club Road SE | Byron, MN
• 792 Grand Ridge Drive NE | Byron, MN
• 401 3rd Avenue Northwest | Kasson, MN (Hoops to walk under on sidewalk or drive under in front of home)
• 611 Golfview Court | Mantorville, MN (Over 10,000 lights choreographed with computers for a fantastic display. Display covers the front one acre of yard and includes the house.)
• 707 Windermere Ct NW | Oronoco, MN
• Lights of Lewiston | 27069 County Rd 29 | Lewiston, MN | Family lights display with 35,000 lights synchronized to music. Free. Sunday through Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve until midnight. Tune your radio to 99.5.
• Manning Light Show | 102 Lackmann Ct NE | Stewartville, MN | 6,000+ lights sequenced to music

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Have a display to add to our list? Please email us at info@rochesterlocal.com!

Displays are subject to change without notice, so check the official site before you head out.

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Click this link to be redirected to our calendar submission form.