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.
Drive-thru events were super popular during 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 can’t walk very well, so everyone can enjoy these!
If you are looking for drive-thru events, this list is for you!
Thank you to Presentation of Mary Catholic School in Maplewood for sponsoring this guide!
There’s a place for you at Presentation! Located in Maplewood on the border of East Saint Paul, Presentation of Mary Catholic School serves infants – eighth grade. We prepare our students academically and spiritually to be faith-filled and forward-thinking citizens. We partner with families to fulfill this mission by inviting all God’s children into our community. Our school is a place where students can flourish, grow, and develop according to their God-given dignity through rigorous curriculum and opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge as Christ would with wisdom, compassion, and grace. Our community is a warm and welcoming place that becomes like a second home to families and where life-long friendships are made.
We invite all to join us at our All-School Open House on Sunday, January 28th, 2024 from 9:30am – 12:30pm to learn about all we have to offer families. The day begins at 9:30am with Mass followed by a pancake breakfast, Scholastic Book Fair, and Open House where families can meet our amazing staff and kids can complete fun activities! RSVP for the Open House here!
FREE EVENTS
Celebrate the Light of the World – Willmar (FREE – donations requested)
November 23 – December 31
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 23rd!! The show will run every night from 5:00pm – 10:00pm from November 23rd through December 31st.
Havana Lights Drive-Thru Display – Owatonna (Free – donations requested)
November 23 – 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 24 – 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 24th!
Check their website for updates.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights – Mankato (Free, but cash and nonperishable donations requested for those in need)
Sibley Park
November 24th – December 31, 2023
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.
Lights in the Pines
Itasca County Fairgrounds
1336 Fairgrounds Rd, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
November 24 – December 30
Starting November 24th, The Lights in the Pines, northern Minnesota’s largest drive-through light extravaganza will be open for your viewing pleasure. The west gate of the Itasca County Fairgrounds, located at 1336 Fairgrounds Road, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is where you will start your lights and sound experience. There will be an opportunity at the end of the light displays, to park and enter Santaland, where you will be able to visit and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will be hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn, and cookies to purchase. The Lights in the Pines has partnered with Itasca Life Options to exhibit and sell their crafts and artwork in Santaland. There will also be Lights in the Pines merchandise available to purchase.
This is a drive-through light experience. Cost is $10.00 for personal vehicles and $25.00 for small buses. No school buses or recreational vehicles.
Light Up the Night – Marshall (Free – donations requested)
Independence Park
1300 E Lyon St.
Marshall, MN 56258
November 24th – December 17th
5:00 – 9:00pm
Light Up the Night is at Independence Park in Marshall, starts November 24th 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.
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.
Come out and enjoy this spectacular Christmas display! Enjoy 100,000+ LED lights while you hear and experience the Christmas story. 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?
AT-COST EVENTS
Magic of Lights – Eagan
Viking Lakes
668 O’Neill Drive Eagan, MN
November 17 – December 31, 2023
Magic of Lights is “a unique and dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience, is bigger and brighter than ever with more than a mile of spectacular light displays that bring to life your favorite holiday scenes and characters. Don’t miss the larger-than-life sparkling Holiday Barbie™ display, the supersized Bigfoot® Monster Truck, and life-sized dinosaurs of Prehistoric Christmas! Pile everyone into the car and experience more at the same low price! One carload, one price for the entire family.”
Tickets are valid for your car (everyone inside, up to 3 rows), not per person, and are good through December 31st.
Magic of Lights is open 7 days a week:
Monday to Thursday: 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Friday – Sunday: 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Regular-priced tickets are $31.81 for a car up to 3 rows.
But you can save 15% right now on Groupon.
Get a ticket for your car for $27!
Sertoma Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru – Baxter
Northland Arboretum
November 23 – December 31
Most nights, 5:30 – 8:00pm
The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club presents this annual winter wonderland drive-thru experience!
November 23-25, 30
December 1-2, 7-9, 14-19, 21-23, 24-31
General admission is $20 per vehicle. $15 per vehicle in advance, plus $1 fee.
Discounted advance tickets are available online and at Cub Foods in Brainerd and Baxter.
Sever’s Holiday Lights Drive-Thru – Shakopee, MN
November 2023 – January 2024 (dates to be announced)
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!
In 2022 the hours and pricing was:
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 24th 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 24 – December 31, 2023
Sun to Thurs, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, and Fri & Sat, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
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 2 and under, and 1/2 off with military ID.
Parking is $10.
Want more?
Check out my other guide:
Holiday Lights & Events in Minnesota 2023 (& Discounts!)
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?
Britt Clayton says
We would LOVE to go, and it certainly gets expensive with a family of 5 so it would be so wonderful to win free tickets!