Updated October 2026
This 2026 guide compares the biggest holiday light displays you can experience from your car, including free Christmas light shows and ticketed attractions in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
You’ll find 2026 dates, hours, admission prices, addresses, approximate light counts and, most importantly, which nights are actually drive-thru. Some attractions offer drive-through lights every night, while others have only a few designated drive-thru nights.
Quick guide to Minnesota drive-thru Christmas lights
Whether you’re looking for Christmas lights near Minneapolis and St. Paul or planning a holiday road trip across Minnesota, I’ve separated the displays below into ticketed drive-thru Christmas lights and free drive-thru Christmas lights.
My annual Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide, which comes out in mid-November, includes even more options, including hundreds of residential Christmas light displays around Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.
Confirmed 2026 drive-thru Christmas light displays
More displays are listed below. Several attractions have confirmed they are returning but have not yet announced their complete 2026 schedules.
| Light show | Location | 2026-27 dates | Drive-thru? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour | Somerset, WI | Nov. 27-Jan. 3 | Dec. 14-15 only |
| Miracle at Big Rock | St. Croix Falls, WI | Opens Nov. 27 | Most Mondays and Tuesdays, plus Dec. 2, 3 and 24 |
| Kiwanis Holiday Lights | Mankato | Nov. 27-Dec. 31 | Every night |
| Rotary Lights | La Crosse, WI | Nov. 27-Dec. 31 | Every night |
| Celebrate the Light of the World | Willmar | Nov. 26-Dec. 31 | Every night |
| Santa’s Pioneer Village | Albany | Dec. 5-Jan. 3 | Fri.-Sun. + select holidays |
| Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes | Eagan | Nov. 20-Jan. 2 | Every night |
Last updated: Oct. 8, 2026. Dates and prices are verified with event organizers when available.
Ticketed drive-thru Christmas lights in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour – Somerset, Wisconsin
Address: 710 Spring St., Somerset, WI 54025
Dates: Nov. 27, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027
Hours: 5-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Lights remain on one additional hour after the admission gate closes.
Drive-thru nights: Dec. 14-15 only
Cost: $15 per person on drive-thru nights; children 3 and younger are free
Number of lights: 26+ million
Tickets: Available online or upon arrival
Sam’s Christmas Village covers 80 acres in Somerset, about 25 minutes east of the Twin Cities. More than 26 million lights are joined by a European-style Christmas market, food and drinks, live reindeer, Santa, a sledding hill and private S’more Cabins. Most nights are a walk-through experience; only two nights are designated for drive-thru visitors in 2026.
Who it’s best for: Those looking to turn Christmas lights into a full-evening holiday outing with food, drinks and additional activities.
Good to know: Dec. 14 and 15 are the only drive-thru nights in 2026, with admission from 5-8 p.m. and lights remaining on until 9 p.m. All other operating nights are walk-through. Sam’s is closed Nov. 30; Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 24. Parking on walk-through nights is $10 cash. Personally, I think Sam’s is best experienced as a walk-through attraction as there’s a lot to explore.
Miracle at Big Rock – St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
Address: 1674 State Highway 87, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
Dates: Opens Nov. 27, 2026
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Drive-thru nights: Most Mondays and Tuesdays, plus Dec. 2, 3 and 24. Closed Nov. 30 and Dec. 1; Dec. 22 is walk-through only.
Number of lights: 25+ million
Tickets: Available online and at the gate
Miracle at Big Rock turns a sprawling property near St. Croix Falls into a Christmas destination with more than 25 million lights stretching for more than a mile. Beyond the lights, walk-through nights feature food trucks, sledding, train rides, a holiday market, live reindeer, s’mores and other activities. Friday nights include an 8:30 p.m. fireworks show.
Who it’s best for: Couples, families and anyone looking for a destination-style Christmas experience. The setting feels like you’ve walked onto a Hallmark movie set.
Good to know: Check the calendar carefully before making the trip. Miracle at Big Rock alternates between drive-thru and walk-through nights, with several exceptions to its regular Monday-Tuesday drive-thru schedule. General parking is free.
Sever’s Holiday Lights – Shakopee, Minnesota
Address: 3121 150th St. W., Shakopee, MN 55379
Dates: 2026 dates not yet announced
Hours: 2026 hours not yet announced
Drive-thru nights: 2026 schedule not yet announced
Cost: 2026 pricing not yet announced
Number of lights: Not currently published
Tickets: 2026 ticket information not yet announced
Sever’s Holiday Lights is a drive-thru holiday display located just off Highway 169 in Shakopee, making it one of the most convenient large Christmas light shows for Twin Cities residents. Visitors purchase tickets for designated time slots and travel through a roughly half-mile display filled with bright, modern light installations.
Who it’s best for: Twin Cities families looking for a large drive-thru Christmas light display without making a longer road trip.
Good to know: In previous seasons, your ticket has allowed you to drive through the display more than once during your visit.
Sertoma Winter Wonderland – Baxter, Minnesota
Address: 14250 Conservation Drive, Baxter, MN 56425
Dates: 2026 dates not yet announced
Hours: 2026 hours not yet announced
Drive-thru nights: 2026 schedule not yet announced
Cost: 2026 pricing not yet announced
Number of lights: 80+ lighted and animated displays
Tickets: 2026 ticket information not yet announced
Sertoma Winter Wonderland takes visitors on a drive through more than 80 colorful lighted and animated displays at the Northland Arboretum in Baxter. The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club launched the event in 2007, with proceeds helping support community organizations and projects in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Who it’s best for: Families visiting the Brainerd Lakes Area who want a traditional drive-through Christmas light experience.
Good to know: Organizers ask drivers to turn off their headlights and use parking lights while traveling through the display.
Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes – Eagan, Minnesota
Address: Viking Lakes, 2685 Vikings Circle, Eagan, MN 55121
Dates: Nov. 20, 2026-Jan. 2, 2027
Hours: 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Drive-thru nights: Every night during the season
Cost: Per standard vehicle; advertised prices below
Number of lights: 2026 total not yet announced
Tickets: Available online
Magic of Lights returns to Viking Lakes in Eagan with holiday scenes, characters, LED displays and digital animations you can enjoy from inside your vehicle. Admission covers an entire carload, making this a convenient option for families looking for drive-thru Christmas lights in the Twin Cities.
2026 ticket prices for standard vehicles:
- November-only ticket: $21.99 online or $25 at the gate. Valid for visits in November only.
- Advance weekday ticket: $28.99 online for visits Monday-Thursday.
- Advance any-day ticket: $34.99 online.
- Season pass: $97.99 per vehicle for unlimited visits during the season.
The advance weekday and any-day ticket offers are available through Nov. 19. Check the ticket checkout for any additional fees and restrictions.
Who it’s best for: Families looking for a Twin Cities Christmas light show they can enjoy while staying warm inside the car.
Good to know: After your drive, you can stop at Winter SKOLstice at Viking Lakes for additional holiday fun. Winter SKOLstice is free to explore, although some activities require separate tickets.
Free drive-thru Christmas lights in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Rotary Lights – La Crosse, Wisconsin
Address: Riverside Park, 410 Veterans Memorial Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601
Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 31, 2026
Hours: 5-10 p.m. nightly; closes at 9 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and 11 p.m. New Year’s Eve
Drive-thru nights: Every night
Cost: Free; voluntary cash and food donations accepted
Number of lights: 3+ million
Tickets: Not required
Rotary Lights fills Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse with more than three million Christmas lights. Visitors can drive or walk through the display, and select nights also include Santa and his reindeer, carriage rides, hayrides, a live Nativity and other activities.
Who it’s best for: Anyone who wants a large-scale Christmas light show without paying admission. It is also worth considering as a holiday road-trip destination from southeastern Minnesota.
Good to know: Nov. 30 is All Abilities Night, with lights and music subdued from 5-8 p.m. Santa is scheduled to appear nightly through Dec. 23. Donations of food and cash are encouraged.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights – Mankato, Minnesota
Address: Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave., Mankato, MN 56001
Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 31, 2026
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Drive-thru nights: Every night
Cost: Free; cash and nonperishable food donations accepted
Number of lights: More than 2 million in 2025
Tickets: Not required
Kiwanis Holiday Lights transforms Mankato’s Sibley Park into a massive community Christmas light display that can be experienced by car or on foot. Visitors will find illuminated trees, tunnels and holiday displays, along with concessions, Santa on select nights and live reindeer throughout the season. More than two million lights were reported during the 2025 season.
Who it’s best for: Families looking for one of Minnesota’s largest free Christmas light displays.
Good to know: Organizers recommend visiting on a weeknight to avoid the longest vehicle lines. Drivers enter from Sibley Parkway, and the lighted tunnel features music synchronized on 90.1 FM. Cash and nonperishable food donations are accepted at the entrance.
Palmer’s Christmas Light Display – Rush City, Minnesota
Address: 49307 Clover Trail, Rush City, MN 55069
Dates: 2026 dates not yet announced
Hours: 2026 hours not yet announced
Drive-thru nights: 2026 schedule not yet announced
Cost: Free
Number of lights: 2026 total not yet announced
Tickets: Not required
Palmer’s Christmas Light Display is a large residential holiday display in Rush City that visitors can enjoy from their vehicles. It has been featured in both my Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide and this collection of larger free drive-thru Christmas light displays.
Who it’s best for: Anyone traveling along Interstate 35 north of the Twin Cities who wants to add a free residential light display to their holiday plans.
Good to know: The display’s 2026 schedule has not yet been announced. I’ll update this listing when this year’s dates and hours are confirmed.
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe – Gaylord, Minnesota
Address: 640 3rd St., Gaylord, MN 55334
Dates: 2026 dates not yet announced
Hours: 2026 hours not yet announced
Drive-thru nights: 2026 schedule not yet announced
Cost: Free; donations encouraged
Number of lights: 1 million in the 2025-26 season
Tickets: Not required
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe is a community Christmas light display in Gaylord that can be experienced by vehicle or on foot. The 2025-26 display featured approximately 1 million lights and included a large opening-night celebration with food, Santa visits, live music and other activities. Donations benefited Sibley County FoodShare.
Who it’s best for: Families looking for a free community Christmas celebration in south-central Minnesota.
Good to know: Complete 2026 dates and special-event details have not yet been announced. Check back before making the trip.
Celebrate the Light of the World – Willmar, Minnesota
Address: Robbins Island Regional Park, Willmar, MN 56201
Dates: Nov. 26-Dec. 31, 2026
Hours: 5-10 p.m. nightly
Drive-thru nights: Every night
Cost: Free; donations encouraged
Number of lights: Nearly 900,000
Tickets: Not required
Celebrate the Light of the World fills Robbins Island Regional Park with nearly 900,000 Christmas lights. The display began as a family tradition at the Koosman home before being turned over to Willmar Fests, which now operates the free community attraction.
Who it’s best for: Families looking for a completely free drive-thru Christmas light experience in west-central Minnesota.
Good to know: Visitors remain in their vehicles while traveling through the display, although there are designated areas where you can park and watch the dancing lights longer. Donations support the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota, Salvation Army of Willmar and United Way of West Central Minnesota.
Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion – Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
Address: Sportsman’s Park, 1000 3rd Ave. NW, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085
Dates: 2026 dates not yet announced
Hours: 2026 hours not yet announced
Drive-thru nights: 2026 schedule not yet announced
Cost: Free; tax-deductible donations accepted
Number of lights: 500,000 in the most recently published display
Tickets: Not required
Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion fills Sportsman’s Park on the north shore of Sleepy Eye Lake with illuminated trees, animated displays and lights synchronized to Christmas music. Visitors can traditionally experience the display either by driving through or walking through the park. Organizers have confirmed the event will return in 2026 but have not yet released the complete schedule.
Who it’s best for: Families who want a free small-town Christmas light experience with synchronized music and community activities.
Good to know: Tune your radio to 89.1 FM before entering the park to hear the music synchronized with the lights. Special-event nights have previously included free concessions, wagon rides, a Memorial Tree and activities for children.
Santa’s Pioneer Village Drive-Thru Lights – Albany, Minnesota
Address: Stearns County Pioneer Grounds, 21565 360th St., Gate 2, Albany, MN 56307
Dates: Dec. 5, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday; also open Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1
Drive-thru nights: All operating nights
Cost: Free; donations appreciated
Number of lights: Thousands of lights
Tickets: Not required
Santa’s Pioneer Village turns the Stearns County Pioneer Grounds into a community-built Christmas light display. Visitors drive nearly a half-mile through the historic village, where local businesses, organizations and residents decorate buildings and displays for the holiday season.
Who it’s best for: Families looking for a free, old-fashioned Christmas light experience in central Minnesota.
Good to know: Enter the Pioneer Grounds through Gate 2. The Albany Area Chamber accepts donations to help maintain and expand the display each year. The attraction is also open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Frequently asked questions about drive-thru Christmas lights in Minnesota
Are there free drive-thru Christmas lights in Minnesota?
Yes. Several Minnesota Christmas light displays are free to drive through, although donations are encouraged. Options include Kiwanis Holiday Lights in Mankato, Celebrate the Light of the World in Willmar, Palmer’s Christmas Light Display in Rush City, Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion and Santa’s Pioneer Village in Albany. Rotary Lights in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is another free option.
Where can I find drive-thru Christmas lights near Minneapolis and St. Paul?
Several large drive-thru Christmas light displays are within an hour or so of the Twin Cities. Options include Sever’s Holiday Lights in Shakopee, Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes in Eagan, Sam’s Christmas Village in Somerset, Wisconsin, and Miracle at Big Rock in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Some attractions are drive-thru every night, while others offer only designated drive-thru dates, so check the listings above before visiting.
Which Christmas light displays let you stay in your car?
Several displays are designed so you can enjoy the lights without leaving your vehicle. Kiwanis Holiday Lights, Celebrate the Light of the World, Rotary Lights and Santa’s Pioneer Village all offer drive-through experiences on their operating nights. Other attractions, including Sam’s Christmas Village and Miracle at Big Rock, have specific drive-thru nights mixed with walk-through nights.
What are the biggest drive-thru Christmas light displays near Minnesota?
Two of the largest are just across the Wisconsin border. Sam’s Christmas Village in Somerset advertises more than 26 million lights, while Miracle at Big Rock in St. Croix Falls features more than 25 million. Both attractions offer designated drive-thru nights rather than drive-through access every night.
How much do drive-thru Christmas lights cost?
Prices vary widely. Several displays in this guide are completely free, with donations encouraged. Ticketed attractions may charge by the person or vehicle, depending on the event. Check each listing above for current 2026 admission prices and ticket information.
Are any drive-thru Christmas lights open on Christmas?
Yes. Some displays operate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For example, Rotary Lights in La Crosse is open on Christmas Day with shortened hours, and Santa’s Pioneer Village in Albany is scheduled to be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2026. Holiday hours can change, so verify the schedule before making a special trip.
When do Minnesota drive-thru Christmas lights start for the season?
Most large drive-thru Christmas light displays begin in late November, often around Thanksgiving weekend, and continue through Christmas or New Year’s. Some displays remain open into the first few days of January. The guide above includes the latest confirmed 2026 opening and closing dates for each attraction.
Mike Marcotte is the founder of Give Me The Mike and creator of the annual Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide, which has tracked holiday light displays across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin for 10 years.
While you’re here, take a moment to read how I adapted after losing both parents before I was 25 years old and my journey with epilepsy.
Want more? Sign up to receive my monthly e-newsletter!
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).