The holiday season is here! And during the holiday season, we LOVE holiday light displays and family events!
Here are events that I’ve found throughout Minnesota.
DISCOUNTS
I’m including discounts when I find them too! For example,
- Save 10% at Santa Claus Lane
- Save up to 20% for Miracle at Big Rock
- Save 15% on Ice Castles
- Save on Magic of Lights Drive Thru Experience
- Save up to 29% on Glow Holiday Festival tickets in St. Paul
Thank you to the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul for sponsoring this guide!
Looking for a great gift idea for a special family in your life? Or how about your own family? Give anyone including your own kids the gift of play with a membership to Minnesota Children’s Museum and SAVE with my EXCLUSIVE discount code TCFM!
My discount is good for $30 off a gift membership OR $3 off each gift ticket! Normally it’s good for $20 off a membership so this is a special holiday deal!
Memberships include free admission to the museum all year, exclusive access to member perks and more. We’ve been members for years and the perks are fabulous!
This is the BEST deal you’ll find!
Use my code: TCFM to get $30 off a gift membership or $3 off gift tickets! https://mcm.org/gift
We love the Minnesota Children’s Museum! My kids have grown up attending this awesome museum and we’ve loved every exhibit, from Curious George which they have now, to Disney’s Inside Out, Thomas the Train and so much more.
FREE PRINTABLES!
This list has been so popular every year that I created several FREE Christmas printables for you to enjoy while looking at lights!
The first is a Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt! Print this FREE Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt and bring it with you and have the kids do it or do it as a family.
The second is a FREE printable 6-page Christmas Road Trip Activity Set that includes another scavenger hunt and other activities for kids to do while you’re driving around looking at Christmas lights!
PLUS my FREE Christmas Sanity Saver Pack! It’s a planner and organizer to help keep your holidays stress free.
(Note: Be sure to check each event before you go in case there are any changes or cancellations.)
FREE EVENTS
Bentleyville Tour of Lights – Duluth
November 23 – December 28, 2024
Sun – Thurs 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Fri to Sat 5:00pm – 10:00pm
We’ve loved visiting Duluth and walking through Bentleyville throughout the years.
They give out free cookies, hot cocoa and popcorn!
Admission is FREE! However, parking is $10 per vehicle.
Celebrate the Light of the World – Willmar (FREE – donations requested)
Thanksgiving – 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 on Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 28th!!
The show will run every night from 5:00pm – 10:00pm from Thanksgiving through December 31st.
Havana Lights Drive-Thru Display – Owatonna (Free – donations requested)
November 28 – after New Years
2048 Havana Road Owatonna, MN 55060
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 29 – 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 29th!
Check their website for updates.
Holidazzle
Downtown Minneapolis
December 18 – 22
Five blocks of Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, from 6th Street to Peavey Plaza (11th), will transform into a free and family-friendly holiday experience.
Holidazzle highlights will include:
- Light & art installations
- Holiday shopping pop-ups featuring Minneapolis Craft Market, Dayton’s Holiday Market, Chameleon Shoppes featuring BIPOC women-owned vendors, and Minneapolis Vintage Market
- Two entertainment stages
- Free Roller Skating and Minne-Golf
- and of course, visits with Santa.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights – Mankato (Free, but cash and nonperishable donations requested for those in need)
Sibley Park
November 29th – December 31, 2024
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. Busses are welcome too! 
Light Up Princeton – Princeton (Free)
Mille Lacs County Fairgrounds
November 30 – December 22nd plus December 24th
6:00 – 9:00pm Thursdays to Sundays
Drive around looking at decorated businesses and houses!
Light Up the Night – Marshall (Free – donations requested)
Independence Park
1300 E Lyon St.
Marshall, MN 56258
Opens Friday, November 29th
Light Up the Night is at Independence Park in Marshall.
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.
Lights in the Pines
Itasca County Fairgrounds
1336 Fairgrounds Rd, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
November 22 – December 23
Northern Minnesota’s largest drive through light displays open on Friday and Saturday evenings November 22nd through December 23rd. Gate opens at 5:00 and closes at 9:00pm.
Shakopee Winter Wonderland
921 Shakopee Ave East
Shakopee, MN 55379
Dates not announced
A place where a family can visit with Santa and walk the path of amazing Christmas lights. Also we have crafts, cookies, hot coco and coffee in the garage. Owned by Roger Schmidt.
Union Depot Hub for the Holidays
Union Depot
214 4th Street East
St. Paul, MN
Activities take place Friday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 22
Union Depot is gearing up for another full calendar of seasonal favorites including the Holiday Tree Lighting and Movie Night, European Christmas Market, visits by the North Pole Express and CPKC Holiday Train, and the Holiday Bake Sale.
Valley Lights Drive-Thru Display – Lake Elmo (FREE)
Rockpoint Church
November 28 – 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
Christmas in the Village – Farmington
Dakota City Heritage Village
December 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2024, from 3-8 pm
If you like an old-fashioned Christmas, this is the event not to miss! It’s the first 2 weekends in December.
Experience the spirit of this warm, holiday event through the village’s dazzling lights, Christmas music in the Church, the scent of wood burning stoves and the sound of horses and their jingle bells as they pull trolleys through the village. Warm up with a cup of soup or mug of hot cocoa in the Drug Store. Check out demonstrations of early 1900s wintertime chores in the Millinery and Harris House. There will also be old-fashioned candy and goods will be for sale at the Gift Shop and General Store. After you send your letter to St. Nicholas, by putting it in the post office box by the school, you can visit him at the Depot! Be sure to visit the model railroad display with holiday themed trains running around a festive winter scene in the village library. Check out the hot beverage and snack station located at the fire barn. Warm up inside with hot chocolate, cider, cookies or popcorn, Warm up outside near the new fire pits near the fire barn.
Cost is $5.50 per person (children under age 5 are Free). Tickets will be available at the gate. Online Admission Ticket includes a convenience fee.
GLOW Holiday Festival Light Experience – St. Paul
CHS Field
Nov. 21, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025
Entry times are between 5:00pm and 9:00pm each night
GLOW features millions of twinkling lights, whimsical sculptures, illuminated vignettes, and festive activities like the Giant Snowy Slide, Vixen’s Zip Line, and the fan-favorite sElfie Plaza.
For its first 2 years it was at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, but the last 2 years it was at CHS Field.
Read our review from 2020. See my video and pictures from 2021. Read my review from 2023.
Tickets are:
$21.75 Adults (13+)
$12.75 Children (4-12)
Age 3 and under free
Note that fees are $3.00 per ticket, plus they add tax.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS!
They have DISCOUNTED tickets on Groupon! Save up to 29%!
Larger Than Life Lights – Duluth
Lake Superior Zoo
December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21 5:00 – 7:30pm
This is an annual event! What to expect:
- Charming, intimate Light Display
- Free S’mores!!
- Visits from Santa EVERY night
- Grinch Appearances (select dates)
- Safari Cafe will have Hot Chocolate & Treats!
- Fun Light Up items in the Tiger’s Paw Gift Shop
- Live Holiday Music (dates to be announced)
Tickets are $8 per person. (They went up from $7 a person.)
Magic of Lights – Eagan
Viking Lakes
November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025
668 O’Neill Drive
Eagan, MN
Magic of Lights is “dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations.”
Tickets are valid for your car (everyone inside, up to 3 rows), not per person, and are good through January 5th.
Magic of Lights is open 7 days a week: Monday to Thursday: 5:30pm – 9:00pm Friday – Sunday: 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Tickets and DISCOUNTS!
It’s cheapest to get tickets online!
Plus they have a Groupon deal right now!
Regular priced tickets are $20 per car if purchased online, $35 – $40 in person.
They also have specials:
Military Monday: $5 off with military ID at gate
Tuesday: Double Drive Through Night
Wednesdays: First Responders save $5 with ID at gate (It’s still cheaper to buy tickets online)
Santa Claus Lane
Camp Fire Minnesota
3300 Tanadoona Drive
Excelsior, MN 55331
November 29th to December 22nd, 2024
What is Santa Claus Lane?
Santa Claus Lane is a holiday pop up experience just outside the Twin Cities! It will be reminiscent of the North Pole and open every Friday-Sunday, Winter 2024.
Santa Claus Lane is a magical destination, bringing the spirit of the North Pole to Camp Fire MN in Excelsior, MN.
Families can make memories that will last a lifetime through interactive experiences, heartwarming activities, and festive shopping amidst a Winter Wonderland. Whether you want to visit Santa, walk a Llama, be awed by a Magician, experience a Fire Show, or learn a new skill in Santa’s Workshop, Santa Claus Lane hopes to bring smiles to believers young and old.
They’ll even have sensory friendly events.
This event focuses on bringing our community together, practicing kindness, and gives back to Children’s MN.
DISCOUNT!
Save 10% on Santa Claus Lane general admission tickets with my code Frugal24.
Sertoma Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru – Baxter
Northland Arboretum
November: 28-30 December: 5-7, 12-14,19-21, 24-31
Most nights, 5:30 – 8:00pm
The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club presents this annual winter wonderland drive-thru experience! 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 28, 2024 – December 25, 2024
Sun – Thurs 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Fri to Sat 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Looking for a holiday tradition the whole family will love? This 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!
Pricing:
Sunday-Thursday 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Friday-Saturday 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Tickets: $30 – 45 per car at non-peak times
$45 – 60 per car at peak times
However, they now have announced $10 Tuesdays! Sever’s Holiday Lights is offering $10 admission on Tuesday nights! (Except 2 Tuesdays)
The Spirit of Winter – Waconia
The Winery at Sovereign Estate
November 22nd – December 29th
Times start at 4:00pm each night
A light show at a WINERY? Yes, please! The cost is $15.00 per person (Ages 4 and under are free). Price went up from $10.
The Winery at Sovereign Estate invites you to light-up the season with our Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights from November 22nd – December 29th. The Estate is transformed into a majestic, illuminated winter wonderland, with over twenty miles of musical, synchronized lights strung over 20 acres of their lakeside vineyard. Guests can stroll the grounds and enjoy a variety of attractions like our Candy Cane Lane, life size Nativity scene, photo opportunity at Santa’s Sleigh, real winter llamas, inflatable Snowman Social, children’s Snow Maze, kid’s Boot Hockey Arena, and Nana’s Gingerbread House! Once you arrive, guests also have the opportunity to purchase Holly Trolley rides for $5 per person in our Wine Store for a special guided tour of the decorated grounds. Trolley Tickets can only be purchased on property and is determined based on weather. Limited seating available. The real, life Santa will be arriving every night from November 22nd-December 22nd at 5pm-7:30pm during the Christmas season. All guests will enjoy the pleasure of meeting the famous Mr. Claus as he wanders our Spirit of Winter event. This is a Family Friendly event that everyone is sure to love with a range of hot treats to keep you warm and toasty! Grab a hot chocolate, cookies, or roast a s’more at our S’more Station! Adults can enjoy mulled wine, boozy hot cocoa, local brews, and our full range of wine at our Polar Bear Bar! Our Blizzard Bistro will also be serving up items like chili and our famous flatbreads. Be sure to check out our Wine Store for the perfect holiday gift including, holiday and sovereign merchandise, our stuffed Christmas Llamas, and, of course, bottles of our Sovereign Estate Wine! Looking for more holiday fun? Check out our Nutcracker Suite! A NEW 21+ holiday cocktail bar located inside our winery during the Spirit of Winter. Festive drinks, decor, and great food await guests with admission to the Spirit of Winter.
Admission tickets can be purchased in advance online. You can buy tickets with cash at the gate if it’s not sold out in advance. This is an outdoor, walking event.
Winter Lights 2024 – Chaska
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Nov. 21, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025
Mondays – Thursdays 5:00 – 9:00pm, Fridays – Sundays 5:00 – 10:00pm.
Opening night is November 21st! Tickets are now on sale. They also have special nights:
- Family Nights — Nov. 26 and Dec. 19th
- Date Nights — Dec. 5 & 12
- Photography Nights — Dec. 11 & 18
- New Year’s Eve Party — Dec. 31
Dress warm as it’s all outside – there are many outdoor light displays, featuring flowers, nature and winter fun, on an accessible, stroller-friendly walk that’s just over a half-mile.
Tickets cost $30 for non-members, $10 for members. Kids 15 and under are FREE, except for theme nights. On those nights, tickets are $5 for kids.
Light Displays in Wisconsin
Miracle at Big Rock – St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
November 29th, 2024 through January 4th, 2025
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. $15/person
They have so much! Fireworks shows too.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS!
Get discounted tickets for Miracle at Big Rock here!
Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour – Somerset, Wisconsin
November 29, 2024 – January 1, 2025
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.
To walk through: Cost is $22 for adults, $19 for kids ages 4 – 10, free for kids 3 and under, and 1/2 off with military ID. Parking is $10 cash for walk through nights.
To drive through: $15 for age 4 and up; FREE for age 3 and under
Want more?
Ice Castles
Ice Castles are coming back – this time at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!
DISCOUNTED TICKETS!
And I have an exclusive 15% discount!
Save 15% with my code frugalmn25 online!
Also, join my Facebook group, Minnesota Holiday Lights!
Are there other light displays you know of that should be added to this list?