The Christmas season bustles in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. We list the best Christmas light tours in the Twin Cities, including drive thru Christmas routes, walking tours and special events.
Ready for a little Christmas magic for the whole family? We are continuing to update our list of drive and walk-through holiday light displays and Christmas events – outdoor events where you can travel on foot or car through dazzling lights, sip warm beverages around a campfire and maybe even meet up with Santa! Many of these colorful displays of outdoor lights are free and if they have a cost, it usually covers the entire car. We note all this information in the entry.
Christmas lights shows, walking tours & more holiday events in the Twin Cities
Minneapolis & St Paul holiday lights events
Union Depot Hub for the Holidays
214 4th Street East, St Paul MN
There’s a whole lot of holiday cheer chugging its way into the historic station this year: a pair of magical trains (one you can ride and one you can admire), a charming European-style Christmas market with dozens of vendors to browse, a towering holiday tree with its own lighting festival and plenty of fun family events populating the schedule. FREE admission, tickets for the North Pole Express (select weekends) are for purchase and sell out quickly.)
Rice Park Holiday Light Show
109 W 4th St, St Paul, MN 55102
Starting at 5pm every day of the week and running every fifteen minutes is a holiday lights show projected onto a 40-foot digital Christmas tree in the park. Yes, it synchronizes to music. The whole park twinkles with magical holiday lights and is beautiful to take pictures in. A new show will project every week of the holiday season.
Schultz Family Lights/Holiday Lights on York
1526 York Ave, St. Paul MN
Comprised of 9 family homes on both sides of the street dancing to holiday favorites you can listen to on your car radio. Synchronized to 91.5. Collecting food shelf donations for the holiday season (also Halloween). Friday after Thanksgiving to December 31st, weather. permitting.
GLOW Holiday Festival
CHS Field, 360 N Broadway St, St Paul, MN 55101
CHS Field is a dazzling walking tour of holiday decorations and Christmas delights. There will still be a parade of dozens seasonal scenes featuring a plethora of holiday lights, a 60-foot illuminated tree and an art-created mosaic flame, a festive Santa Land, and other attractions. Grab a map and follow the trail to find a “sElfie Plaza”, an enchanted forest, a s’mores station, concessions and more. Tickets: $12.75-$21.75/pp.
Twin Cities Northwest Metro holiday lights events
BROOKLYN PARK December Light Tour
Homes around Brooklyn Park
Use the interactive map provided by the City of Brooklyn Park to find some of the most beautifully decorated homes in the city. All December.
DELANO Light the Night
650 River Street N, Delano, MN 55328
Central Park in Delano glows with thousands of twinkling holiday lights, interactive displays, more than 100 trees decorated by the community and scenes to explore for the public to enjoy – free! There are firepits to help keep you warm, live music on select nights and free treats on Saturdays. See our complete schedule of events.
PLYMOUTH Holiday Lights at the Hilde
3500 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447
Starting Thanksgiving weekend, there’s a free holiday lights display in the park behind City Hall, lit at dusk each evening. Stroll the paths to find fun photo spots like an igloo, giant red chair and a shimmering snowflake.
Twin Cities Northeast Metro holiday lights events
LAKE ELMO Valley Lights at Rockpoint Church
5825 Kelvin Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Fairly short and sweet but impressive, too, with tree after tree of lights synchronized to music you can listen to from the comfort of your car (we really liked the tunes!). If you’re up in the range of the northeast metro, drive on over. Thanksgiving Day through the end of the year. FREE.
ST CROIX FALLS, WI Miracle at Big Rock
Big Rock Creek 1674 WI-87 St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
Admission includes 25 million lights, food trucks, sledding, s’mores, fireworks and more in a winter wonderland setting.
SOMERSET, WI Sam’s Christmas Village
710 Spring St, Somerset, WI
Visit with Santa and his live reindeer, enjoy a walk through sparkling holiday lights, or reserve a cozy s’mores cabin. Most dates are walk-through events, with two drive-through options available. Check the schedule for details before you go! Located approximately 45 minutes from Minneapolis-St. Paul.
STILLWATER Hometown for the Holidays
Downtown Stillwater, Stillwater MN 55082
The mile drive of Main Street is covered with snowflake decorations and rooftop lights. There is typically a dazzling free holiday lights show adorning Main as well. Drive it, walk it, shop it – all beautiful choices. Twinkle Party & Tree Lighting Weekend. FREE.
Twin Cities Southeast Metro holiday lights events
EAGAN Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes
2685 Viking Circle, Eagan, MN 55121
The shine is most certainly still on the newest drive-through Christmas light experience in the Twin Cities. Expect it to bring the glitz – like a see-it-to-believe Holiday Barbie display, prehistoric dinos and a giant lit monster truck.
FARMINGTON Christmas in the Village
Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 220th Street W., Farmington, MN 55024
The historic buildings are decorated and illuminated throughout the village. But don’t just admire the outsides — stop inside to see the projects in the blacksmith shop, what’s cooking on the homestead stove, Christmas carols in the church and more. One and all are welcome to visit the re-created village between 3pm and 8pm to enjoy this holiday tradition..
Twin Cities Southwest Metro holiday lights events
CHASKA Northern Lights at the Arboretum
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318
Winter will be in bloom with lighted greenery and displays throughout the pathways of the arb’s gardens! Online ticket reservation required.
WACONIA Sovereign Estate Spirit of Winter
9950 N Shore Rd, Waconia, MN 55387
Heaps of holiday spirit here at this all-ages stroll through holiday lights displays and more outdoor attractions such as Candy Cane Lane, pallet maze (not enough powdery stuff to make it a snow maze this year), boot hockey arena and a living Nativity. Santa makes nightly visits. Food and beverage available for noshing and warm firepits to enjoy said treats around.
SHAKOPEE Sever’s Holiday Lights
3121 150th St W, Shakopee, MN 55379
We took a carload of kids to Sever’s Holiday Lights and they loved cruising the 2½-mile trail of 2.5 million dazzling lights synchronized to music. You can check out our preview here, though we’ll let the music be a surprise!
Create your own drive-thru Christmas lights event in the Twin Cities!
We have an enormous list of homes around the Twin Cities that deck their halls up for the holiday: Jump over to Light It Up: Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays for our map and get your family fill of giant candy canes, inflated snowmen, reindeer, Christmas tree displays and Santa Claus figures!
Living Christmas Nativities – walking & driving
EAGAN Christmas Family Adventure
Oak Hills Church, 1570 Yankee Doodle Rd, Eagan, MN, 55121
Live Nativity with petting zoo plus Santa, crafts, karaoke and snacks. FREE.
WHITE BEAR LAKE Living Nativity
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 1965 Co Rd E East, White Bear Lake,
Includes festive music and live animals on the South Stage.
STILLWATER Woodbury Lutheran Living Nativity
Woodbury Lutheran, Oak Hill Campus, 9050 60th Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082
Petting zoo, re-enactments and family activities.
Drive thru hot chocolate in the Twin Cities
I was hoping to find more locally-owned drive through options for cocoa and sweets. If you have a favorite place to get cocoa without leaving your car, leave us a comment and we’ll share with the family.
Mudslingers Drive-Thru Coffee
2154 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113
This adorable little hut has a double drive through and hours that are NOT going to help you for an evening drive, but I included it anyway because maybe you’ll want to grab some hot cocoa on your way to ice skate at the Roseville Oval or something. Hot chocolate is on the menu, as well as smoothies and kids steamers.
Caribou Drive-Thru
Caribou conveniently offers a Drive-Thru filter when searching for a coffee shop near you. Find all the local Caribous with Drive Thru windows here.
Fun seasonal roadtrips for a holiday experience
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Bayfront Festival Park, 700 Railroad St, Duluth, MN 55802
Distance from the Twin Cities: Approximately 2 1/2 hours.
This is one of Anne’s picks for 10 Best Things To Do in Duluth Over Winter & Holidays. General Admission: FREE; Parking $10.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights
Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave, Mankato, MN 56001
Distance from the Twin Cities: Approximately 1 1/2 hours
Visitors can participate by bus, walking or driving tour. Santa is available for visits on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5-9pm. Free and open to the Public.
Sam’s Christmas Village
710 Spring St suite C, Somerset, WI 54025
Distance from the Twin Cities: Approximately 45 minutes.
Kids can visit with Santa and his live reindeer every night, reserve a s’more cabin and see beautiful lights. Both walk through and drive through tours are available. Admission is $15 for drive through; and $20 for walk through. Cabins start at $159 for the evening (but not overnight).
Sertoma Winter Wonderland at the Northland Arboretum
Northland Arboretum, 14250 Conservation Dr, Baxter, MN 56425
Distance from the Twin Cities: Approximately 2-hour drive.
A drive through event from Thanksgiving through New Years Day.
Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion
Sportsman Park, 1000 3rd Ave NW, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085
Distance from the Twin Cities: Approximately 2-hour drive.
Families can choose to drive or walk through the exhibits. Tune your FM radio to 89.1 to hear favorite Holiday tunes synced to the light shows.
More beautiful holiday experiences: You May also enjoy exploring the downtown areas of our favorite Christmas Towns.
More Holiday Fun
Find more holiday festivities in our Twin Cities Holiday Guide.
I can’t wait to check out the Christmas lights this year! The walking tours sound like a perfect way to enjoy the holiday spirit with my family. Thanks for sharing these fantastic events, I’m definitely adding them to our holiday plans!
Wow, Raja!
You are a planner! I’m impressed. I’m still trying to figure out how to afford tires for our Vanagon so maybe we can camp once or twice this summer. We have so many cool things coming up in the Twin Cities for summer and they all are going to require getting that van on the road. While you plan ahead for the Holidays, be sure to check out our spring, summer and fall activities, too. The best thing about living in the Twin Cities is the variety each season brings us.
I love the roundup of Christmas lights displays! I’m especially excited to check out the walking tours this year. They sound like such a fun way to enjoy the holiday spirit with my family. Thanks for sharing these great recommendations!
Even the grinch appreciates and thanks you for this.
Haha! And we appreciate the Grinch.
I have enjoyed “Celebrate the Light of the World” in Willmar, MN. More details can be found here.
Adam. Thank you for the edit to the link. Ours wasn’t working properly, but it is now.
For readers coming to visit us here at SouthCross Community Church, I am sorry to say that there will be no free chili or hot chocolate this year. Please read this corrected description of our Living Nativity:
SouthCross Community Church, 1800 Co. Rd. 42 East in Burnsville, presents its 26th Annual Outdoor Living Nativity on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 12th & 13th from 6:30-8:30 PM, regardless of weather! Drive through in the warmth of your car. Voluntary donations of non-perishable food or cash will be accepted for area food shelves. Add this to your FREE Holiday activities and see the “Reason for the Season”. Call 952-432-4286 if you have questions!
Thank you for the update, Matt. We’ve made the necessary edits.
Sippet in New Ulm is a great locally owned drive through spot for coco, apple cider and coffee!
Thank you, Beth. For readers visiting New Ulm, Sippet is open until 3:30pm on weekdays, 2pm on Saturdays and noon on Sundays. The address is 701 North German Street, New Ulm, Minnesota 56073.