The holiday season is here, and with it come magical, twinkling lights brightening up our long winter nights. In the spirit of the holidays, we’ve rounded up the biggest lights displays within driving distance of Rochester for the 2026 season, listed roughly from closest to farthest. Many of them glow right through the New Year!
E.L.F. (Employers of Olmsted Light Festival) | Eyota, MN
Chester Woods Park, 8378 Highway 14 E, Eyota, MN
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays | First three weekends of December
Hours: 5 to 9 pm
Cost: FREE! Donations welcome. Proceeds and food donations go to local charities and food and housing assistance programs.
E.L.F. is back for its second year after a hugely popular debut in 2025! This free drive-thru light display turns the Chester Woods Campground into a glowing winter wonderland, with campsites decorated by local businesses, organizations, and volunteers. Cruise the loop with holiday music playing and vote for your favorite displays along the way.
Legion Lights | Lanesboro, MN
Sylvan Park, 202 Parkway Ave. S, Lanesboro, MN
Thanksgiving through New Year’s
Hours: Evenings, nightly
Cost: FREE, thanks to local sponsors
Lanesboro’s Sylvan Park transforms into a small-town winter wonderland with more than 20,000 lights, and most of the displays are handmade by local artisans, students, and volunteers. Stroll through the light tunnels or take it in from the car, then warm up at one of the shops and restaurants downtown. Make it a day trip with Experience the Magic of Lanesboro on Saturday, November 28, featuring cookie decorating, wagon rides, bonfires, and Santa.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights | Mankato, MN
Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave., Mankato, MN
November 27 to December 31
Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 5 to 9 pm | Fridays & Saturdays: 5 to 10 pm
Cost: FREE (cash and nonperishable food donations accepted at all entrances for local nonprofits and food shelves)
Drive or walk through this volunteer-run lights display in Sibley Park, accompanied by holiday music. Kick off the season at the Opening Night Parade on Friday, November 27 at 6 pm. Live reindeer are on display nightly, and Santa visits Fridays through Sundays from November 27 to December 20. Stop by the concessions stand for cocoa, cider, mini donuts, and candy canes. Heads up: dogs can ride along in the car but aren’t allowed in the park, and the display uses strobe lights.
Rotary Lights | La Crosse, WI
Riverside Park, 410 Veterans Memorial Drive, La Crosse, WI
November 27 to December 31
Hours: Nightly from 5 pm until the last car in line at 10 pm (5 to 9 pm on Dec. 24 and 25; 5 to 11 pm on Dec. 31)
Cost: FREE (cash and nonperishable food donations for local food pantries requested)
This classic riverfront display features more than 3 million lights, music, and fun activities. Walk, drive, or catch a carriage ride on select nights. Kids can visit Santa in the Santa House near the bandshell nightly through December 23 from 5 to 8 pm. Take a spin around the ice rink with FREE skate rentals (weather permitting), and grab FREE s’mores by the giant snowman every night. All Abilities Night is Monday, November 30 from 5 to 8 pm, with subdued lights and music for visitors sensitive to flashing lights and loud sounds. See the event schedule for the live nativity, hayrides, and more.
Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes | Eagan, MN
Viking Lakes, entrance at 668 O’Neill Drive, Eagan, MN
November 20 to January 2
Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 5:30 to 9 pm | Fridays & Saturdays: 5:30 to 10 pm
Cost: Priced per car, starting at $22 for November visits. Prices vary by night and are lower when purchased in advance online.
Stay cozy in the car for this mile-plus drive-thru on the Minnesota Vikings campus. Watch for the sparkly Holiday Barbie display, the giant Bigfoot monster truck, the life-size dinosaurs of Prehistoric Christmas, and the Enchanting Tunnel of Lights. Afterward, stick around for Winter SKOLstice on the same campus, with free outdoor skating and live music.
GLOW Holiday Festival | St. Paul, MN
CHS Field, 360 N. Broadway, St. Paul, MN
November 19 to January 3 | Select nights only: See Schedule
Hours: 5 to 9 pm (timed entry each hour, last entry at 8 pm)
Cost: **ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED** Ages 13 and up: $22.75 | Ages 3 to 12: $12.75 | Ages 2 and under: FREE (plus taxes and fees)
GLOW fills CHS Field with millions of lights and plenty of activities for kids and adults. New this year are Wand-er Land, an interactive experience, and Arctic Adventure. Favorites like the Slide, the Zip Line, Glitter Critters, and Santa’s Shack are back too. Once you’re in, you can stay as long as you like.
Trista Lights at Sever’s | Shakopee, MN
Sever’s Festival Grounds, 3121 150th St. W, Shakopee, MN
November 26 to January 3 (open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
Hours: 5 to 10 pm nightly; last arrival at 9 pm
Cost: **ADVANCE ONLINE TICKETS REQUIRED, on sale November 14** Per vehicle up to 8 passengers: $25 Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday | $35 Fridays, Saturdays & every night Dec. 20 to 24. Larger vehicles pay $35 or $50. Don’t miss $15 Tuesdays (except Dec. 22)!
Sever’s Holiday Lights has a new name and a new crew this year. The team behind Minnetrista’s Trista Lights has taken over the drive-thru, filling the roughly two-mile route with more than 2 million lights synced to music on 89.1 FM. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes for the drive, and choose a one-hour arrival window when you buy. Food trucks and the photo stop aren’t part of this year’s setup, so pack your own cocoa.
Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum // Chaska, MN
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN
November 20 to January 3 (closed Nov. 26, Dec. 24 & Dec. 25)
Hours: 4:30 to 9:30 pm nightly
Cost: **ADVANCE TICKETS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED** $35 per person | Members: $25 | Kids 15 and under: FREE, but each child needs a ticket. Tickets at the gate cost $10 more, if available. Parking is free.
The Arboretum’s brand-new winter light experience lights up the trees with projection, uplighting, and synchronized sound along a one-way walking route with 18 installations, including a Prince-themed Paisley Path. Stop at the Warming Hut about halfway through for hot cocoa and s’mores, and grab hot drinks and snacks at Skol Square. Want dinner first? The Rootstock cafe serves chili, cottage pie, and porketta sandwiches.
Sam’s Christmas Village | Somerset, WI
November 27 to January 3 (closed Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, Dec. 7 to 9, and Christmas Eve)
Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 5 to 8 pm | Fridays & Saturdays: 5 to 9 pm (lights stay on one hour after gates close)
Cost (online or at the gate): Walk-through: $25 adults, $20 kids 4 to 10, ages 3 and under FREE | Military with ID: $12 | Drive-thru nights (Dec. 14 & 15): $15 per person | Parking: $10 cash on walk-through nights
Sam’s is a full holiday experience, with more than 26 million lights spread across 80 acres of pine forest on a mile-long walking tour. Meet Santa and the live reindeer nightly, take a run down the free sledding hill (tubes provided), and shop the European-style Christmas Market Thursday through Sunday. Reserve a heated S’more Cabin with a private campfire and a Santa visit through December 25. Prefer to stay in the car? Drive-thru nights are December 14 and 15.
Miracle at Big Rock | St. Croix Falls, WI
Big Rock Creek, 1674 State Highway 87, St. Croix Falls, WI
November 27 to January 2 (closed Nov. 30 & Dec. 1)
Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 5 to 9 pm | Fridays, Saturdays & New Year’s Eve: 5 to 10 pm. Mondays and Tuesdays are drive-thru only and Wednesday through Sunday are walk-through only, with a few exceptions. See Schedule
Cost: Walk-through (online): $22 ages 12 and up, $17 kids 3 to 11, seniors & veterans | Drive-thru: $17 per person, $15 seniors & veterans | Friday fireworks nights cost a bit more | Ages 2 and under FREE | General parking FREE
Tucked in the woods near Taylors Falls, Miracle at Big Rock features more than 25 million lights along a mile of trail. Add food trucks, a sledding hill, s’mores, train rides, live reindeer, live music, and local makers in the Miracle Market barn. Fireworks light up the sky every Friday at 8:30 pm and on New Year’s Eve.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights | Duluth, MN
Bayfront Festival Park, 700 W. Railroad St., Duluth, MN
November 21 to December 26
Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 5 to 9 pm | Fridays & Saturdays: 5 to 10 pm
Cost: FREE admission (parking is $12 per vehicle, or $10 cash). Guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item or a new, unwrapped toy for The Salvation Army.
While a longer drive from Rochester, Bentleyville is a whole holiday experience celebrating its 23rd year. Right on the shores of Lake Superior, this walk-through display is the king of lights displays with more than 5 million lights! Enjoy FREE hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and popcorn, plus marshmallows to roast at the fire pits. Santa visits nightly through December 23, and kids 12 and under who stop by get a Bentleyville knit hat and a bag of cookies.
CHECK OUT THE HOLIDAY GUIDE FOR MORE FESTIVE FUN!
