Tis the season to load the family up in the car and check out holiday lights shows!
Every year, my Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide features 200+ displays around the state. Best of all, many of them are free to check out! The Guide is a great way to map out a night looking at lights. In communities like Bloomington, Inver Grove Heights, and Woodbury, you’ll find dozens of homes with impressive displays.
There are also bigger displays that you can drive through. Some are free, and some charge admission. This guide will break down displays that have at least 250,000 lights.
I split this page into two sections: one with displays that charge admission, and the other showcasing free drive-thru displays.
If you organize a drive-thru light show not listed below, please submit information here.
For those looking, Holiday Lights in the Park at Phalen Park in St. Paul ended in 2016. Christmas in Color at Valleyfair does not happen anymore, either.
Happy holidays!
Shows charging admission
Somerset, WI
Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
710 Spring Street
Somerset, WI 54025
November 28, 2025 – January 1, 2026 (closed December 1-3, 8-10 & Christmas Eve)
5:00 – 9:00 pm Sunday – Thursday (must arrive by 8:00 pm), 5:00 – 10:00 pm Friday – Saturday (must arrive by 9:00 pm)
December 15 – 16 are drive-thru, all other nights are walk-thru
17 million+ lights
Drive-thru tickets: $15, free kids 3 and under
Walk-thru tickets: $25 adults, $20 kids ages 4-10, free kids 3 and under
Members of the military receive admission for $12 (bring your military ID)
$10 parking (cash only)
Includes on-site vendor market
WHO IT’S BEST FOR: Sam’s Christmas Village is for those who want to make looking at lights a full-evening holiday experience. You’re able to buy dinner in their restaurant, adult beverages, and you could find yourself in your own s’mores cabin complete with bonfire and a visit from Santa.
2025 marks Sam’s seventh season.
Note that only December 15 and 16 are drive-thru nights at Sam’s, and personally, I feel that Sam’s is best as a walk-thru experience.
Shakopee
Sever’s Holiday Lights
3121 150th Street W
Shakopee, MN 55379
WHO IT’S BEST FOR: Sever’s Holiday Lights is best if you’re looking for a drive-thru display closer to the cities. Located right off of Highway 169 in Shakopee, it looks impressive off the road. If you go on a Tuesday when it’s $10 for everyone in your car, this half-mile display is the best deal in the Twin Cities for a big Christmas lights show.
Instead of buying a ticket that you can use anytime, you buy tickets for a specific hour-long time slot.
The show features “new age” lights, so it’s bright. Pro tip: you can go through the display as many times as you’d like.
St. Croix Falls, WI
Miracle at Big Rock
1674 State Highway 87
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
November 28, 2025 – January 3, 2026
5:00 – 9:00 pm Monday – Thursday, 4:00 – 10:00 pm Friday – Saturday, 4:00 – 9:00 pm Sunday
Drive-thru Monday – Tuesday nights. All other nights are walk-thru
25 million lights
Drive-thru tickets: $17 per person, $15 seniors & Veterans, kids 2 and under free
Walk-thru tickets on Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday: $22 adults ($24 at the gate), $17 seniors & Veterans, $17 ages 3-12, free ages 2 and under
Walk-thru tickets on Friday: $27 adults ($29 at the gate), $17 seniors & Veterans, $17 ages 3-12, free ages 2 and under
Free parking
Enjoy Christmas in the Country at Miracle at Big Rock. Featuring a mile-long light show, craft cocktails, food trucks, sledding, train/wagon rides, vendors, private rentals, roaming characters, live music, Friday Fireworks, Christmas Boutique, reindeer, and more!
Private rentals and Cookies with Santa are also available!
WHO IT’S BEST FOR: Miracle at Big Rock is like walking onto a Hallmark movie set. It’s great for a date night since it’s so spread out and picturesque. They also have a bar. Spiked hot chocolate, anyone?
Go on a Friday night at 8:30 pm and you’ll see a spectacular fireworks show. They also shoot off fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Don’t miss the vendor market on the upper level of the barn. It’s inside and you can shop for holiday gifts from a curated list of small businesses.
Baxter
Sertoma Winter Wonderland
14250 Conservation Drive
Baxter, MN 56425
November 27 – December 31, 2025
Thursday – Saturday from 5:30 – 8:00 pm (also open every night between December 24 – 31)
80+ displays
Tickets: $15 per vehicle in advance, $20 at the gate (cash or check only)
Eagan
Magic of Lights
Viking Lakes
2685 Vikings Circle
Eagan, MN 55121
November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026
5:30 – 9:00 pm Monday – Thursday, 5:30 – 10:00 pm Friday – Saturday
2 million lights
Online tickets: $25.88 per vehicle Monday – Thursday, $31.05 Friday – Sunday
Free drive-thru displays
La Crosse, WI
Rotary Lights
410 E Veterans Memorial Blvd
La Crosse, WI 54601
November 28 – December 31, 2025
5:00 – 10:00 pm 7 nights a week (open until 9:00 pm Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, open until 11:00 pm New Year’s Eve)
3 million+ lights
Drive-thru or walk-thru display
Free
Mankato
Kiwanis Holiday Lights
Sibley Park
900 Mound Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001
November 28 – December 31, 2025
5:00 – 9:00 pm Sunday – Thursday, 5:00 – 10:00 pm Friday – Saturday
1.8 million lights
Collecting cash and non-perishable food donations
Drive-thru or walk-thru display
Free
Rush City
Palmer’s Christmas Lights Display
49307 Clover Trail
Rush City, MN 55069
Gaylord
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
640 3rd Street
Gaylord, MN 55334
November 29, 2025 – January 15, 2026
5:00 – 10:00 pm 7 nights a week
1 million lights
Drive-thru and walk-thru
November 29: Kick Off event starting at 4:00 pm with food trucks, Minnesota Hotdish Competition, Holiday Spruce Top Bingo, Santa Visits, Smore station, live caroling/music, Trolley Rides, Fire Pits, Bake sale, Bluey and Paw Patrol kid Photo op, face painting, painting for kids, living Nativity and much more!
Collecting donations for Sibley County FoodShare
Willmar
Celebrate the Light of the World
Robbins Island Regional Park
333 6th Street SW
Willmar, MN 56201
November 27 – December 31, 2025
5:00 – 10:00 pm 7 nights a week
1.5 million lights
Drive-thru display
Free
All donations are shared between 4 local organizations: Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota, United Way of West Central Minnesota, and the Salvation Army of Willmar
Sleepy Eye
Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion
Sportman’s Park
1000 3rd Avenue NW
Sleepy Eye, MN 56085
November 27, 2025 – January 1, 2026
5:00 – 10:00 pm 7 nights a week
500,000 lights
Walk-thru and drive-thru
Lights synched to music on 89.1 FM
A free concession stand on special nights including apple cider, hot chocolate, popcorn, and s’mores. A Memorial Tree for visitors to place an ornament in memory of their loved one. A Santa mailbox for kids to drop off their letter to Santa.
The concession stand is operated by local organizations. The group working the stand on each Special Event night receives all the donations received at the stand that evening.
December 3: designed for individuals with any type of special needs including mobility (handicap/wheelchairs/walkers)
Albany
Santa’s Pioneer Village Drive-Thru Lights
21565 360th St Gate 2
Albany, MN 56307
December 6, 2025 – January 4, 2026
5:00 – 10:00 pm Friday – Sunday
Also open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day
250,000 lights
Set on 22 acres, drive through an old fashioned Pioneer Village (with your lights off) to enjoy an old fashioned city block (1/4 mile) of a magical light display at Stearns County Pioneer Club!
The Albany Area Chamber appreciates donations to continue to expand it’s display annually. Venmo: @albanycc
Santa’s Pioneer Village is an entire community effort with over 70 businesses and organizations and numerous individuals participating in donating and decorating this beautiful display for everyone to enjoy and get in the Holiday spirit!
Agree, Glow was not worth the money. It was very spread out so it lost the wow factor.
Mike … I must say I am a little disappointed that you gave a review on an event going thin a pre drive through… It was an amazing event and it does not run at all like you described… To be far ( fair 🙂 ) You should really drive by again what you said it was like is not what we experienced…
I’m not quite sure what drive-thru you’re talking about here. If you’re talking about GLOW, it really is not worth $46 a car when most of the other shows are cheaper.
I’ve been to Glow and Severs. I think the 45 minute Glow is worth the premium over the 15 minute Severs. First, as mentioned, it is about 3 times the show. Second, Glow is much better run. I waited in line for 3 hours for Severs. Many cars left the line due to the wait. With Glow, you had a scheduled start time, and you actually started at that time. Also, the address for Glow is incorrect. The entrance for Glow is 1791 Como Ave, St Paul.
Yes, the entrance to Glow is at the south side of the Fairgrounds. I will make that note. Severs has changed its format so you have a scheduled timeslot, just like Glow. Glow was a mess with traffic flow within the event and was a bit lackluster for $50, especially when I compare it to other $50 events (MN Zoo, for example).