In 2017, there are exactly 40 days from Thanksgiving Day to New Years Day. And with the elimination of the eighth floor display at Macy’s in downtown Minneapolis and Holiday Lights in the Park in Saint Paul, along with the disappointing change from tradition at Holidazzle, more people than ever are looking for new holiday activities. Enter “40 Ways to Holiday.” Each day between November 23 and January 1 will have at least one event worth checking out, along with plenty of giveaways along the way! Find the full list of days here.
Day 32: Sunday, December 24
Featured pick: Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Claiming to be “America’s Largest Free Walk Through Lighting Display,” Bentleyville in Duluth is the real-deal. They have a “crowd-o-meter” on their website to determine which nights are the most crowded, Santa makes frequent appearances, and they even hand out free hats to kids 10 and younger. Organizers say about 30 minutes is a good amount of time to walk through the light display, and if you want a photo with jolly old Saint Nick, set aside at least an hour. The key is to dress warm, as winds coming off of Lake Superior can be nasty. Bentleyville is 501(c)(3) non-profit and accepts tax-deductible contributions. You’ll find it at Bayfront Festival Park — 700 Railroad Street — in Duluth. It’s open through December 26, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Bentleyville
Through Tuesday, December 26
5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Sundays – Thursdays, 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Fridays – Saturdays
Bayfront Festival Park
Duluth
Free
Looking for more holiday light displays around Minnesota? Click here.
Other happenings
- Go ice skating in Downtown Saint Paul. Wells Fargo WinterSkate is open today from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Learn more.
- The 1946 film, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is brought to life on stage in Saint Paul, but via a radio show. You can see the 2017 rendition of “It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play” for the last time this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. inside The Saint Paul Hotel. Learn more.
