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 with the cold outside, and viruses that peak at this time of year, 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.

Plus I include any discounts I find!

Thank you to the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul for sponsoring this guide!

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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 EVENTS

Holiday Lights on York Avenue – St. Paul
(FREE- donations requested for Merrick Food Shelf)
November 28 – 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. 11 yards will be decorated with plastic Santas, snowman and other Christmas characters, featuring about 90,000 lights, choreographed to computerized music you can play on your radio by tuning to 91.5 FM, “The Rockin’ Rudolph.” Their lights start on Friday, November 28th! Check their website for updates.  

Kiwanis Holiday Lights – Mankato
(Free, but cash and nonperishable donations requested for those in need)
Sibley Park
November 28th – December 31, 2025
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 29th – December 21st
Plus December 24th
Thursdays- Sundays, plus Christmas Eve
6:00 – 9:00pm

Drive around looking at decorated businesses and houses! They have special nights this year:

November 29: Small Business Saturday

November 30: Kinship Youth Mentoring Night

December 4: Princeton Early Childhood Night

December 20: Horse-drawn Sleigh/Carriage rides through Light Up Princeton!

Cost is $20/per couple and $30/per group.

Light Up the Night – Marshall (Free – donations requested)
Independence Park
1300 E Lyon St.
Marshall, MN 56258
November 28th – the weekend before Christmas
Fridays to Sundays

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. Drive thru Fridays through Sundays. Donations requested for Prairie Home Hospice.

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

Lights in the Pines
Itasca County Fairgrounds
1336 Fairgrounds Rd,
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
November 26, 28, 29, December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21
5:00 – 9:00pm

Northern Minnesota’s largest drive through light displays. Gate opens at 5:00 and closes at 9:00pm.

Cost is $10 per passenger car or truck, or $25 for small transportation buses or vans.

Magic of Lights – Eagan
Viking Lakes 668 O’Neill Drive
Eagan, MN
Nov 21, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026

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 3rd. 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 cheaper online: $36.23 per car on weekends, $31.05 on weekdays. It’s $42 and $37 at the gate. Party bus rate is $67.28 online or $80 at the gate.

They also have specials:

Military Monday: $10 off with military ID at gate

Tuesday: Double Drive Through Night

Wednesdays: First Responders save $10 with ID at gate

Thursdays: Health care night – $10 off gate tickets with badge

December 1: National Christmas Lights Day  – FREE light-up hats for the first 100 visitors

December 13: National Hot Chocolate Day – Free Hot Chocolate for the first 100 visitors

December 19: National Ugly Sweater Day – $10 off at the gate if you wear an ugly Christmas sweater

Sertoma Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru –
Baxter Northland Arboretum
November: 27-29
December: 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 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. In previous years, discounted advance tickets were available online and at Cub Foods in Brainerd and Baxter (not yet announced for this year).

Sever’s Holiday Lights Drive-Thru –
Shakopee, MN
November 27 – December 28, 2025 Nightly 5:00pm – 9:00pm

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:

$30 – 45 per car at non-peak times            

$45 – 60 per car at peak times Starting last year they announced

$10 Tuesdays! Sever’s Holiday Lights is offering $10 admission on Tuesday nights again this year (Except December 23)

Drive-Thru Light Displays in Wisconsin (near border)

Miracle at Big Rock – St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
November 28th, 2025 through January 4th, 2025
5:00 – 9:00pm

Walk through or drive through!

DRIVE-THRU (Mon–Tues)

5 PM – 9 PM
$17/person online ($15 for seniors & vets with code SENIOR or VET)
$17/person at the door ($15 for seniors & vets with ID)
Kids 2 & under: Free

WALK-THROUGH (Wed–Sun)
Wed, Thu, Sun: 5 PM – 9 PM
Fri & Sat: 4 PM – 10 PM
Online: $22 adults | $17 kids (3–11) | $17 seniors & vets (code SENIOR or VET)
At the door: $24 adults | $17 kids | $17 seniors & vets (with ID)
Kids 2 & under: Free Friday Night Fireworks! Online: $27 adults | $20 kids (3–11) | $20 seniors & vets (code SENIOR or VET)
At the door: $29 adults | $20 kids | $20 seniors & vets (with ID)
Kids 2 & under: Free

Parking: Free general parking (VIP parking available)

DISCOUNTS!

Save 23% on Miracle at Big Rock via Groupon!

Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour – Somerset, Wisconsin
November 28, 2025 – January 1, 2026
DRIVE-THRU nights are Monday, December 15th and Tuesday, December 16th

This one is mostly a walk-through event but they have drive-thru nights on December 15th – 16th.

To walk through: Cost is $25 for adults, $20 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

Read about our visit to Sam’s Christmas Village last year!

Citywide Maps

Many cities have their own maps!

Brooklyn Park – Map is live now! 

Bloomington – The 2025 Winter Lights Tour map will be available in early December. 

Chanhassen – An interactive map will be available beginning Saturday, December 6th. All homes registered by December 6th will be entered to win a holiday prize pack. 

Elk River – The 2025 Holiday Light Tour Map will launch to the public on Monday, December 1st at 10:00 a.m.

Fridley – Fridley residents can register for FREE between November 5 ‐ December 8. Judging will take place December 8 ‐ 9. Maps will be available December 12th.

Hastings – A self-guided tour map of Hastings holiday lights will be published Dec. 5th. Registration for the 2025 Holiday Lights Tour is open through Dec. 1st.

Inver Grove Heights – Map of displays is live! 

Lanesboro (1 hour south of the Twin Cities) – Their 2025 Holiday Lights Tour map lists many addresses with lights.

North Suburbs/Roseville – Cities include Roseville, New Brighton, Little Canada, Columbia Heights, Arden Hills, and Mounds View. The deadline to submit your display is Wednesday, December 3rd. The North Suburban Holiday Light map will go live on December 5th.

Richfield – Map of lights is ready!

Want more?

Ice Castles

Ice Castles are coming back – this time at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

DISCOUNTED TICKETS!

Ice Castles are coming back – this time at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

DISCOUNTED TICKETS!

Save 15% on tickets with my exclusive code TCFM15. See my blog post with more info here.

Also, join my Facebook group, Minnesota Holiday Lights!

Are there other light displays you know of that should be added to this list? 

Originally published on: Nov 26, 2025.