There are many holiday lights events throughout Minnesota, which I put together in my complete guide here.
But there are also many that are drive-thru only.
The last two years, drive-thru events were super popular due to COVID, but COVID and other germs are still around (unfortunately), so I’m thrilled to put together this list of drive-thru events.
These are perfect for our family because not only can it get really cold here in Minnesota, but some family members like my mom can’t walk very well, so everyone can enjoy these!
If you are looking for drive-thru events, this list is for you!
FREE EVENTS
Armatage Holiday Light Tour – Minneapolis (Free)
Friday, December 9 – Sunday, December 18
5:00 – 8:00pm every night
Enjoy the colorful city streets and light displays of the Armatage Neighborhood this holiday season! The self-guided tour map will be available here by December 8 so you can plan your route.
Drive from decorated address to address.
NOTE: I have not driven this route but I have heard that there haven’t been many lights on the addresses this year. Check the website for updates.
Celebrate the Light of the World – Willmar (FREE – donations requested)
November 24 – January 1
5:00pm – 10:00pm each night
Willmar is about 1 hour west of the Twin Cities, on highway 12.
Celebrate the Light of the World kicks off Thursday, November 24th!! The show will run every night from 5:00pm – 10:00pm from November 24th through January 1st, 2023!
Havana Lights Drive-Thru Display – Owatonna (Free – donations requested)
November 24 – after New Years
2048 Havana Road
Owatonna, MN 55060
We are open every day from dusk – 10:00 p.m.
There is a free will donation of money, or cat/dog food, kitty litter. Place in the containers provided.
Holiday Lights on York Avenue – St. Paul (FREE- donations requested for Merrick Food Shelf)
November 25 – December 31
5:00pm – 10:00pm each night
This is a big light display on a residential block that you can drive through in St. Paul. Their lights start on Friday, November 25th!
Check their website for updates.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights – Mankato (Free, but cash and nonperishable donations requested for those in need)
Sibley Park
November 25th – December 31, 2022
Sunday–Thursday 5:00–9:00 PM
Friday & Saturday 5:00–10:00 PM
Free and open to the public!
This is BOTH a walk-through and a drive-through event. You can just drive through it if you wish.
Light Up Princeton – Princeton (Free, though donations requested for local food shelf)
November 26 – January 1
See the map on their website with all the decorated addresses.
Drive around looking at decorated businesses and houses!
Light Up the Night – Marshall (Free – donations requested)
E Lyon St.
Marshall, MN 56258
November 25th – December 18th
5:00 – 9:00pm
Light Up the Night is at Independence Park in Marshall, starts November 25th and is every Friday, Saturday & Sunday through December. Walking, hay rides, trolley rides or carriage rides through the winter wonderland of lights. The holiday carolers, concessions, Santa, Elves, skating, sledding.
This is a walk-through AND drive-thru event.
Drive thru option available only on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5:00pm-7:00pm (weather permitting).
Donations requested for Prairie Home Hospice.
Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion Drive-Thru – Sleepy Eye (Free – donations accepted)
Sportsmans Park
Thanksgiving through New Year’s
5:00pm – 10:00pm
Sleepy Eye is about 2 hours southwest of the Twin Cities.
TUNE YOUR FM RADIO DIAL TO 89.1 prior to entering the park to enhance your drive thru experience.
Check their website for any updates.
Valley Lights Drive-Thru Display – Lake Elmo (FREE)
Rockpoint Church
November 24 – December 31
5:00-10pm
The drive-thru takes about 4 minutes. They also have free wagon rides from 6-8pm on December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17.
100,000+ LED lights choreographed to music you can listen to from your car. Come out and enjoy this spectacular Christmas display! Valley Lights is open to all and is an awesome opportunity for you to invite your family, friends, and neighbors. Who doesn’t love a great light show during Christmas time? The best part is: it’s totally free!
AT-COST EVENTS
Christmas in Color Drive-Thru – Shakopee
November 25th, 2022 – January 1st, 2023
Sun to Thurs 5:30pm – 10:00pm, Fri to Sat 5:30pm – 10:30pm
This holiday attraction is back at Valleyfair, and you can enjoy it from the safety of your car!
It’s called Christmas in Color, and it’s a mile-long, drive-through light and music display. It will be in Valleyfair’s massive parking lot.
Tickets
Cost for Christmas in Color in Shakopee is $35 – $55 per vehicle, but you can save with these discounts!
You have two options.
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Groupon! Save 25% when you purchase tickets on Groupon.
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Use my code FRUGALMOM15 on their website to save 15% on general admission tickets.
Last year we visited on opening night.
Check out my review of Christmas in Color!!!!
Sertoma Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru – Brainerd
November 24 – December 31
Most nights, 5:30 – 8:30pm
The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club presents this annual winter wonderland drive-thru experience!
November 24-26, 30
December 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-31
General admission is $20 per vehicle. $10 per vehicle in advance.
$10 advance tickets are available at Cub and other locations in the area.
Sever’s Holiday Lights Drive-Thru – Shakopee, MN
November 24th, 2022- January 1st, 2023
Sun – Thurs 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Fri to Sat 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Looking for a holiday tradition the whole family will love? Our massive 2,500,000+ holiday light display dances in time to the best songs of the season, and with festive food & drink vendors, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be merry. So go ahead, pile into the car—this is one show everyone will want to see.
We went and here’s a review of our visit from a previous year with a video!
Sever’s is:
Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday-Saturday 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Tickets: $25 – 40 per car at non-peak times
$40 – 55 per car at peak times
Wisconsin Light Displays
Miracle at Big Rock – St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
November 25th through January 1st.
Walk through or drive through!
Walk Through WED-SUN.
It costs: $15 KIDS(3 and under free) and $20 Adults (or $25 at the door).
Veterans and seniors are $15.
DRIVE Thru MON-TUES.
$12/person
They have so much! Fireworks shows too.
Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour – Somerset, Wisconsin
November 25, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Sun to Thurs, 5:00pm – 9:00pm, and Fri & Sat, 5:00pm – 10:00pm
This one alternates drive-through nights with walk-through nights. Families have been loving it!
Check their schedule for drive-through and walk-through times.
Cost is $20 for adults for walk through, or $15 for adults to drive through, $10 for kids ages 4 – 10, free for kids 3 and under, and 1/2 off with military ID.
Parking is $10.
Cities/Neighborhoods
Albertville – STMA.com created this map of beautiful light displays.
Arden Hills, Mounds View, New Brighton, Roseville & Shoreview – Check out this awesome holiday light map covering all these areas!
Hugo – The Adelaide Landing neighborhood in Hugo is having the 3rd annual Christmas Lights display as a fundraiser for the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf!
Inver Grove Heights – Joe Atkins, County Commissioner, created this map of over 80 holiday lights displays. Here’s his Facebook post about it. A goal of creating this free map is to encourage support for local businesses.
Virginia, MN – Here is a list of decorated houses and businesses!
Want more?
Check out my other guides:
Holiday Lights & Events in Minnesota 2022 (& Discounts!)
Free Live Nativity Events in the Twin Cities 2022
Plus, be sure to join my Facebook group, Minnesota Holiday Lights!
There are many postings of light displays all around the state!
Are there other light displays you know of that should be added to this list?
