The holiday season is here, and with it comes magical, twinkling lights brightening up our long winter nights. In the spirit of the holidays, there are large lights displays within easy driving distance to enjoy through the New Year!
Sever’s Holiday Lights // Shakopee, MN Lights Displays
3121 150th St. West, Shakopee, MN
November 22- December 31
Hours: 5:00-9:00pm daily
Cost: **ADVANCE TICKETS & RESERVATION REQUIRED- not sold on-site** Weekdays: $30 per vehicle up to 7 passengers | Weekends: $45 per vehicle up to 7 passengers
Sever’s Holiday Lights is a 0.5-mile drive-through-only holiday lights displays experience. With over 2.5 million lights on display, your whole family will love it! After driving through the show (vehicles are allowed to drive through more than once), stop to see the food and drink vendors for the whole experience.
Rotary Lights // La Crosse, WI
410 Veteran Memorial Drive, La Crosse, WI
November 24- December 31
Hours: 5 pm – 10 pm Every Day (** 5 pm- 9 pm on Dec 24, Dec 25; 5 pm – 1 am on Dec 31)
Cost: FREE (voluntary food items for food shelf / cash donation for food shelf requested)
This classic holiday lights display is full of over 3 million bright lights, music, and fun activities. Options to view the lights are mobility-friendly: walk, drive, or take a carriage ride (carriage rides: $20 per couple, $30 per family) through the lights displays. Kids will be thrilled to see Santa in the Santa House every night from 5-8 pm. Take a spin around the ice rink with FREE skate rentals available (weather permitting). Enjoy delicious FREE s’mores at the fire pit. See the Event Schedule for live music, and All Abilities Night (no loud music or flashing lights).
Winter Lights at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum // Chaska, MN
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN
November 17- December 30- Select Nights Only- See Schedule
Hours: 5pm- 9pm weekdays | 5pm- 10pm weekends
Cost: **ADVANCE TICKETS & REGISTRATION REQUIRED** $25 per person ages 16 and up. Kids 15 and under FREE (members $10)
Winter Lights at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a walking-only tour — 0.75 mi — through beautiful lights displays highlighting nature with trees, flowers, and more. S’mores kits are available for purchase, and there is a restaurant and snack/drinks bar on site as well.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights // Duluth, MN
700 Railroad St. Duluth, MN
November 18- December 26
Hours: Sunday- Thursday: 5 pm- 9 pm; Fridays & Saturdays: 5 pm- 10 pm
Cost: FREE Admission (Parking is $10 per vehicle); Guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item, or a new unwrapped toy to donate to the Salvation Army.
While a further drive from Rochester, Bentleyville is a whole holiday experience. Right on the shores of Lake Superior, this is the King of lights displays — over 5 million lights! This walking-only tour (fully handicapped accessible) offers FREE cookies, hot cocoa, freshly popped popcorn, and marshmallows to roast. Make sure to stop by to visit Santa & Mrs. Claus! When planning your trip to Bentleyville, make a weekend of it with some help from our Field Trip Friday- Duluth!
GLOW Holiday Festival // St. Paul, MN
CHS Field- 360 N. Broadway, St. Paul, MN
November 16- December 31- Select nights only: See Schedule Here
Hours: 5:00pm- 9:00pm
Cost: **ADVANCE TICKETS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED** Children age 13- Adults: $20.75; Children ages 3-12: $12.75; Children 2 and under: FREE
The GLOW Holiday Festival is at a new location this year: CHS Field in St. Paul! This event is packed with activities for kids and adults to enjoy. Check out the 150 ft snow slide (*extra fee), power the lights display by riding interactive bikes, play on Penguin Playground, and be surrounded by magical lights at the Northern Lights display. Stop for some s’mores at the campfire igloos, and don’t forget to check in with Santa! Food and beverage stations can be found throughout the event.
Carter Christmas Lights Show // Albert Lea, MN
1905 Brookside Drive, Albert Lea, MN
November 18- December 30
Hours: 5:00-9:00pm Sundays-Thursdays | 5:00-10:00pm Fridays & Saturdays
Cost: FREE! Donations to local non-profit welcome
This family-run lights show features over 45,000 lights in their display synchronized to music, and runs every 10 minutes. The Carter family’s incredible display is free and open to the public. Visitors to the lights show can walk on paved areas through the display and take photos. Donation box on the property raises funds for various local causes. In 2023, all donations will go to support Albert Lea’s The Children’s Center by providing childcare scholarships.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights // Mankato, MN
Sibley Park, Mankato, MN
November 24- December 31
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 5pm-9pm | Fridays & Saturdays: 5pm-10pm
Cost: FREE (cash donations & nonperishable food items accepted for local nonprofits and food shelves)
Drive or walk through this amazing lights display in Sibley Park, accompanied by holiday music! See live reindeer on display, visit Santa in his workshop, and look for the Elf on a Shelf and the Sibley Park Squirrel who move around each week! Stop by the concessions stand for a variety of hot beverages and treats, plus glow-in-the-dark items for kids.
Sam’s Christmas Village // Somerset, WI
710 Spring St., Somerset, WI
November 24- December 31
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 5:00pm – 8:00pm | Fridays & Saturdays: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Cost: $20 (adults), $10 (kids 3-10), 2 and under free. Separate fees for drive through. Parking $10 (cash only)
This NEW Christmas Village is a full holiday experience. With over 12 million lights in their light display, a European-style Christmas Market, live reindeer and Santa every night, sledding/tubing hill, search for Sammy the Elf, and more, it’s sure to be a great night! Drive-through available select nights.
