Updated September 2026
This guide compares Minnesota’s largest holiday light attractions, along with several worth-the-drive displays in western Wisconsin. You’ll find walk-thru and drive-thru light shows, free displays and ticketed attractions featuring millions of Christmas lights.
For each holiday light show, I’ve included the location, available 2026 dates and hours, admission information and whether it’s a walk-thru or drive-thru experience. I’ve also added tips to help you decide which display is best for your family.
If you’re looking for neighborhood Christmas lights, check out my annual Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide for residential displays and an interactive map of holiday lights across Minnesota. The 2026 edition goes live in mid-November.
Compare Minnesota’s biggest holiday light shows
Use this quick comparison to see which major Minnesota and western Wisconsin holiday light shows have confirmed their 2026 season, including dates, experience type and admission details. Click the name of the holiday light show in the table to learn more.
| Holiday light show | Location | 2026 dates | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLOW Holiday Festival | St. Paul, MN | Opens Nov. 19; full calendar not yet posted | Walk-thru |
| Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Chaska, MN | Nov. 20-Jan. 3 | Walk-thru |
| Bentleyville Tour of Lights | Duluth, MN | Nov. 21-Dec. 26 | Walk-thru |
| Celebrate the Light of the World | Willmar, MN | Nov. 26-Dec. 31 | Drive-thru |
| Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour | Somerset, WI | Nov. 27-Jan. 3 | Walk-thru; drive-thru Dec. 14-15 |
| Miracle at Big Rock | St. Croix Falls, WI | Nov. 27-Jan. 2 | Drive-thru Mon.-Tue.; walk-thru most Wed.-Sun. |
| Kiwanis Holiday Lights | Mankato, MN | Nov. 27-Dec. 31 | Drive-thru or walk-thru |
| Rotary Lights | La Crosse, WI | Nov. 27-Dec. 31 | Drive-thru or walk-thru |
Last updated September 24, 2026. This table includes only holiday light shows with confirmed 2026 information and will be updated as additional events announce their schedules.
2026 Big Holiday Light Shows Guide
Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour — Somerset, Wisconsin
Location: 710 Spring Street, Somerset, WI 54025
Dates: November 27, 2026-January 3, 2027; closed November 30-December 2, December 7-9 and Christmas Eve
Hours: 5-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Lights remain on one hour after the admission gates close. Some holiday and special-event dates have different hours.
Experience: Walk-thru most nights; drive-thru December 14-15
Number of lights: More than 26 million
Admission: Regular walk-thru admission is $25 for adults and $20 for children ages 4-10. Children 3 and younger are free. Military admission is $12 with a valid ID. Drive-thru admission on December 14-15 is $15 per person, with children 3 and younger free. Early-bird online tickets purchased August 26-October 31 are $20 for adults and $17 for children ages 4-10.
Parking: $10 cash on walk-thru nights
Best for: Families looking for a large-scale Christmas light attraction that can fill an entire evening with lights, food, activities and visits with Santa.
Good to know: Sam’s Christmas Village covers 80 acres and includes a European-style Christmas market, live reindeer, free tubing on its sledding hill, food and drinks, bonfires and reservable heated S’more Cabins. Santa will greet visitors in the Christmas Market nightly through December 27, while Santa visits S’more Cabins through Christmas Day. Market vendors are scheduled Thursday-Sunday. Sam’s is closed Christmas Eve but open Christmas Day.
Website: Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
Miracle at Big Rock — St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
Location: 1674 State Highway 87, St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
Dates: November 27, 2026-January 2, 2027; closed November 30 and December 1
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday; 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Experience: Drive-thru Monday-Tuesday; walk-thru Wednesday-Sunday. Special schedule changes include drive-thru nights December 2, 3 and 24 and a walk-thru night December 22.
Number of lights: More than 25 million lights
Admission: Drive-thru tickets are $17 per person for adults and children ages 3-11, $15 for seniors and veterans, and free for children 2 and younger. Regular walk-thru tickets purchased online are $22 for adults, $17 for children ages 3-11 and $17 for seniors and veterans. Friday fireworks nights are $27 online for adults and $20 for children, seniors and veterans. Walk-thru and fireworks tickets cost slightly more when purchased at the gate.
Parking: Free general parking. VIP parking is available for $20 per vehicle.
Best for: Families and couples looking for a large Christmas light attraction with much more than lights, including food, entertainment and outdoor holiday activities.
Good to know: Miracle at Big Rock features more than a mile of holiday displays along with food trucks, a Miracle Market, sledding, s’mores, train rides, live reindeer and live music. Fireworks are scheduled for November 27; December 4, 11, 18, 25 and 31; and January 1. Special theme nights are also planned throughout the season, including Dog Nights, Veterans Night, Faith Night and educator and youth discount nights.
Website: Miracle at Big Rock
Sever’s Holiday Lights — Shakopee, Minnesota
Location: 3121 150th Street W, Shakopee, MN 55379
Dates: 2026 dates have not yet been announced
Hours: 2026 hours have not yet been announced
Experience: Drive-thru
Number of lights: More than 2.5 million
Admission: 2026 ticket prices have not yet been announced. Tickets must be purchased online in advance for a designated arrival time.
Parking: After completing the drive-thru, visitors can park in the observation lot to enjoy the synchronized light show and visit food and drink vendors.
Best for: Twin Cities families looking for a large drive-thru Christmas light show that lets everyone stay warm inside the vehicle.
Good to know: Sever’s features a 2-mile route with more than 2.5 million lights synchronized to holiday music. Visitors can typically drive the course more than once, although special promotional nights may limit vehicles to one trip. Dogs are welcome as long as they remain inside the vehicle. Vehicles must be less than 30 feet long and 10.5 feet tall to enter the route.
Website: Sever’s Holiday Lights
The Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights — Waconia, Minnesota
Location: The Winery at Sovereign Estate, 9950 North Shore Road, Waconia, MN 55387
Dates: 2026 dates have not yet been announced
Hours: 2026 hours have not yet been announced
Experience: Walk-thru
Number of lights: Not specified; the display covers more than 20 acres of Sovereign Estate’s lakeside property
Admission: 2026 ticket prices have not yet been announced
Parking: Available on-site at Sovereign Estate
Best for: Families and couples looking to combine a walk-thru Christmas light display with food, drinks and a visit to a Minnesota winery.
Good to know: Spirit of Winter transforms Sovereign Estate’s 20-acre property along Lake Waconia with synchronized holiday lights and seasonal attractions. The most recent festival included Candy Cane Lane, a life-size Nativity scene, Santa’s Sleigh photo opportunities, winter llamas, a children’s snow maze, boot hockey, Nana’s Gingerbread House and indoor food and drink options. Those attractions have not yet been confirmed for 2026.
Website: The Spirit of Winter at Sovereign Estate
Bentleyville Tour of Lights — Duluth, Minnesota
Location: Bayfront Festival Park, 700 W. Railroad Street, Duluth, MN 55802
Dates: November 21-December 26, 2026
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Experience: Walk-thru
Number of lights: More than 5 million
Admission: Free
Parking: $12 per vehicle, or $10 when paying with cash. Parking lots open at 4 p.m.
Best for: Families looking for a massive, free walk-thru Christmas light experience and anyone willing to bundle up for a winter evening along Lake Superior.
Good to know: Bentleyville celebrates its 23rd season in 2026. The approximately three-quarter-mile route takes about 30-45 minutes to walk. Complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, popcorn and marshmallows for roasting are available along the route. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Bentleyville nightly November 21-December 23 from 5-9 p.m. and children 12 and younger who visit Santa receive a free Bentleyville knit hat and bag of cookies. Bentleyville is open on holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Website: Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe — Gaylord, Minnesota
Location: 640 3rd Street, Gaylord, MN 55334
Dates: 2026 dates have not yet been announced
Hours: 2026 hours have not yet been announced
Experience: Drive-thru or walk-thru
Number of lights: Approximately 1 million lights
Admission: 2026 admission information has not yet been announced. The display was free in 2025.
Parking: Free parking has traditionally been available for visitors.
Best for: Families looking for a large, community-run Christmas light display in south-central Minnesota that can be enjoyed either by car or on foot.
Good to know: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe has traditionally transformed the Gaylord city park area into a large holiday light display. The 2025 season included a kickoff celebration with food trucks, Santa visits, trolley rides, fire pits, live music, children’s activities and a living Nativity. Donations were collected for Sibley County FoodShare. Those activities and donation details have not yet been confirmed for 2026.
Website: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe on Facebook
Sertoma Winter Wonderland — Baxter, Minnesota
Location: Northland Arboretum, 14250 Conservation Drive, Baxter, MN 56425
Dates: Thursday-Saturday beginning November 26, plus nightly December 24-31, 2026
Hours: 5:30-8 p.m.
Experience: Drive-thru
Number of lights: More than 80 colorful and animated holiday light displays
Admission: 2026 admission prices have not yet been announced. Most recently, advance tickets were $15 per vehicle and admission at the gate was $20 per vehicle.
Parking: Not applicable; this is a drive-thru attraction.
Best for: Families in the Brainerd Lakes Area looking for an affordable drive-thru Christmas light experience that lets everyone stay warm inside the vehicle.
Good to know: Make plans to visit in 2026 if Sertoma Winter Wonderland is part of your holiday tradition — this will be its final season. The Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club is retiring the display after 21 years. The volunteer-run attraction has distributed approximately $500,000 to local nonprofits over its history. The route typically takes about 15-30 minutes to complete. Visitors should turn off their headlights and use parking lights while traveling through.
Website: Sertoma Winter Wonderland
GLOW Holiday Festival — St. Paul, Minnesota
Location: CHS Field, 360 N. Broadway Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
Dates: Opens November 19, 2026
Hours: Reserved entry times begin every hour from 5-8 p.m. GLOW closes at 9 p.m.
Experience: Walk-thru
Number of lights: More than 1 million
Admission: The GLOW website currently lists general admission at $21.75 for adults and $12.75 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 and younger are free. Tickets are subject to additional fees and must be purchased online in advance.
Parking: Metered street parking, surface lots and parking ramps are available throughout Lowertown St. Paul.
Best for: Twin Cities families looking for a large walk-thru Christmas light attraction without leaving the metro.
Good to know: GLOW returns to CHS Field for its sixth year in 2026. This year’s festival will feature a new Merry Carousel ride and new light displays, along with returning attractions including Vixen’s Zip Line and the Snowy Slide. Most of the festival is outdoors, although warming areas are available. GLOW is cashless, and guests typically spend 60-90 minutes exploring the festival.
Website: GLOW Holiday Festival
Kiwanis Holiday Lights — Mankato, Minnesota
Location: Sibley Park, 900 Mound Avenue, Mankato, MN 56001
Dates: November 27-December 31, 2026
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Experience: Drive-thru or walk-thru
Number of lights: More than 2 million LED lights
Admission: Free; cash and nonperishable food donations are accepted
Parking: Free parking is available in several areas for walk-thru visitors, including the CHS parking lots, near the ball fields, inside Sibley Park when space is available and on nearby streets where permitted.
Best for: Families looking for a large, free Christmas light display in southern Minnesota that can be experienced either on foot or from the car.
Good to know: The 2026 season begins with an opening-night parade at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 27. Santa will be there Friday-Sunday from November 27-December 20, and live reindeer are scheduled nightly through December 31. Organizers recommend visiting on a weeknight to avoid the longest lines. Dogs are not allowed in Sibley Park, but they can ride along in vehicles during the drive-thru experience.
Website: Kiwanis Holiday Lights
Rotary Lights — La Crosse, Wisconsin
Location: Riverside Park, 410 Veteran Memorial Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601
Dates: November 27-December 31, 2026
Hours: 5-10 p.m. nightly; 5-9 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; 5-11 p.m. New Year’s Eve
Experience: Drive-thru or walk-thru
Number of lights: More than 3 million
Admission: Free; voluntary cash and nonperishable food donations are accepted
Parking: Street parking and several downtown parking ramps are available within walking distance of Riverside Park. A parking lot on the north end of the park may also be available when traffic conditions allow.
Best for: Families looking for a large, free Christmas light display in western Wisconsin that can be experienced either on foot or from the car.
Good to know: Opening night on November 27 includes a 5 p.m. parade, followed by an opening ceremony and fireworks. Santa and his reindeer will be at the park nightly through December 23. Free s’mores are available each night, while carriage rides, hayrides and a live Nativity are offered on select dates. Rotary Lights will also hold an All Abilities Night from 5-8 p.m. on November 30, when the lights and music will be subdued for visitors sensitive to flashing lights and loud sounds. An ice rink with free skate rentals is available when weather permits.
Website: Rotary Lights
Celebrate the Light of the World — Willmar, Minnesota
Location: Robbins Island Regional Park, Willmar, MN 56201
Dates: November 26-December 31, 2026
Hours: 5-10 p.m. nightly
Experience: Drive-thru
Number of lights: Nearly 900,000
Admission: Free; cash and Venmo donations are accepted
Parking: This is primarily a drive-thru display, but there are areas along the route where visitors can park temporarily and enjoy the dancing lights before carefully reentering traffic.
Best for: Families looking for a free drive-thru Christmas light display in west-central Minnesota.
Good to know: Celebrate the Light of the World runs every night from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. The display uses about seven miles of extension cords and takes more than 1,000 volunteer hours to assemble. Donations collected near the Koosman Chapel support four local nonprofits: The Salvation Army in Willmar, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota, Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and United Way of West Central Minnesota.
Website: Celebrate the Light of the World
Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum — Chaska, Minnesota
Location: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
Dates: November 20, 2026-January 3, 2027; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Hours: 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Experience: Walk-thru
Number of lights: Not specified; the experience features 18 new interactive light installations
Admission: $25 for Arboretum members and $35 for nonmembers. Children 15 and younger are free but still require a ticket and must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets purchased at the gate, if available, cost an additional $10 per ticket.
Parking: Free
Best for: Families and couples looking for an immersive walk-thru light experience that combines nature, art, music and modern lighting technology.
Good to know: Northern Lights replaces the Arboretum’s previous Winter Lights event with an entirely new experience. The one-way walking route features professionally designed lighting synchronized with music and movement, including illuminated trees, large-scale geometric sculptures and a 60-foot interactive shadow wall. Indoor portions of the Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building are also part of the experience, with food, drinks, shopping and warming opportunities available inside.
Website: Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Magic of Lights — Eagan, Minnesota
Location: Viking Lakes, 2685 Vikings Circle, Eagan, MN 55121
Dates: 2026 dates have not yet been announced
Hours: 2026 hours have not yet been announced
Experience: Drive-thru
Number of lights: More than 2 million holiday lights
Admission: 2026 ticket prices have not yet been announced. Admission is traditionally priced per vehicle rather than per person.
Parking: Not applicable; this is a drive-thru attraction.
Best for: Twin Cities families looking for a large Christmas light show they can experience entirely from the comfort of their vehicle.
Good to know: Magic of Lights features more than a mile of drive-thru holiday displays created with LED lights and digital animations. Past Viking Lakes attractions have included a 200-foot light tunnel, Christmas Barbie, a Bigfoot monster truck and a Prehistoric Christmas display with illuminated dinosaurs.
Website: Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes
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