Light It Up: Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays

Who knew there were this many holiday light displays out there? These people are amazing. They don’t do this for money (although some collect a little something for a charity), but year after year they get out in Minnesota weather and put up displays for the community to enjoy. Please remember to be respectful of the homeowners and their neighbors when viewing these light displays.

We have also included Twin Cities-area community Christmas tree lightings in our lists of holiday light displays. Again, we’re crossing our fingers on these but will keep updating as info comes in. Even if the tree lightings cannot be public events this year, check out these locations after the lighting date. Displays will be up all month.  This year, we have also been blessed with quite a few new city-sponsored contests. These are wonderful for getting a map of light displays all in one town.

Whether you plan your route around the verified light displays or get adventurous and try them all, we would love to hear from you! We always appreciate the feedback if you find any holiday light displays that are no longer happening or have a site to add.

(Most recently updated 12/15/20).

We’ve divided these displays by areas of the metro and have featured addresses who have personally verified or have active websites or Facebook pages. Feel like going for a family adventure? Plan your route along some historically festive sites.

For more holiday fun, check out A Drive Thru Christmas.

Minneapolis & St. Paul 2020 Holiday Light Displays & Christmas Tree Lightings

MINNEAPOLIS EVENTS

House on Howard, 2418 Howard Street NE
Also does a Halloween Show. Verified for 2020 by homeowner.

Hayden’s Holiday Lights (fka Holiday Light Show on Lyndale), 5205 Washburn Ave S
Mon-Thu: 4:30-9pm; Fri-Sat: 4:30-10pm. All of December. Verified by Homeowner for 2020, beginning Thanksgiving weekend.

2019 Reader Suggestion: 53rd and Penn Ave N – it’s his 25th year of lighting up the house. There are 39,000 lights just on the trees alone and some great vintage displays. – Lisa.

ST PAUL EVENTS

GLOW Holiday Festival, State Fairgrounds
A one-mile drive-thru with a dozen seasonal scenes featuring over a million holiday lights, a 100-foot illuminated tree, icicle and art installations, a festive gingerbread house, and other attractions. After the drive-thru experience, guests will have the chance to purchase a selection of Minnesota State Fair food favorites. November 19, 2020 – January 3, 2021. Tickets $46/vehicle pre-purchased here.

Governor’s Residence, 1006 Summit Ave, St. Paul
A 25-foot evergreen tree and 400-feet of garland will be on display on the front of the Residence with over 15,000 colorful lights. No scheduled tours this year, but you can still drive by and see the beautiful decorations.

Rice Park, 109 West 4th Street
While there was not a ceremony this year, Rice Park is filled with thousands of lights in 2020. The public is invited to drive by or walk through the park to enjoy the lights.

Virtual: Union Depot Holiday Tree Lighting, North Plaza, 4th Street between Sibley and Wacouta, St. Paul
A Holiday Tree Lighting video special will premiere Friday, December 4, 2020  at 7 p.m. on Union Depot’s website and Facebook page. Drive by the North Plaza after that date to see the the tree, which will be lit through December.

Schultz Family Lights/Holiday Lights on York | 1526 York Ave, St. Paul
Comprised of 9 yards 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. 5-10 pm. Verified by Homeowner for 2020: Halloween will run around Oct 1st-31st & Christmas will run Nov 27th- Dec 31st.

Cathedral Illuminated: The Manger | Cathedral of St Paul
The Christmas story is told with large-scale light murals accompanied by uplifting music projected on the front of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The show is 12 minutes long and shown between 6-9pm. Dec 17-19, FREE.

Northwest Metro Holiday Light Displays & Christmas Tree Lightings

ANDOVER: Cairl Family Christmas Lights, 2342 145th Avenue NW, Andover MN
Sun-Thurs 5:00-9:30 pm; Fri-Sat 5:00-10:30. Collects donations for 23rd Veteran. 2020 Show is in preparation.

ANOKA: Anoka Tree Lighting | Anoka City Hall River Plaza
2020 Details coming. 2019: Enjoy horse-drawn trolley rides, holiday music, bonfires, and Santa. December 5, 2020, All Day.

BLAINE: Durrant Family Lights | 1750 130th Avenue NE, Blaine
Tune in to 87.9. Verified for 2020 (Also does a Halloween Show)

BLAINE: Lights on Duke | 12057 Duke Drive NE, Blaine
Run by the Hanson Family Lights family. Confirmed for 2020.

BLAINE: Parade of Lights
The city sponsored self-guided tour of holiday displays throughout Blaine and the surrounding communities. Click a link to find a map of participating homes. December 1, 2020 to January 8, 2021.

BROOKLYN PARK: Night Lights Tour
A map of participating homes will be available for pick up at the Community Activity Center after December 7th.

CHAMPLIN: Deck the House – Holiday Decorating Contest
The city will make addresses and google map available by December 1st. If you want to participate in the contest, register by November 23rd.

COON RAPIDS: Annual Holiday Lighting Contest.
The city will release a Holiday Lighting Map on December 5, 2020.

COON RAPIDS: Hope Lights: Hallvenbruersen’s Christmas Display, 12401 Partridge St NW Coon Rapids
Lights run 5-10 pm nightly. 2020 is in the works.

ELK RIVER: Warnke Christmas Display, 17978 Fresno St NW Elk River, MN 55330,
Lights to music 5-10 daily though January 3, 2021. The homeowners tell us that there is also another nice display on Main straight just around the corner. Submitted by homeowners for 2020.

FRIDLEY: Winter Lights Tour
Download or print a PDF Map from the City of Fridley of the 18 households participating in their first-annual winter lights contest.  Make the trip more fun by printing Winter Lights Bingo Cards for the kids to compete or cooperate in marking off.

MAPLE GROVE: 6809 Cottonwood Ln N., Maple Grove MN
Tune to 87.9, Show times are on the half hour. 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 every night added show at 9:30 on Friday and Saturday. Static lights when not running. Verified by owner for 2020.

PLYMOUTH: PD Shimmers, 4320 Ithaca Lane N, Plymouth MN & 4100 Juneau Ln N, Plymouth MN
The show covers 8 homes on Ithaca Lane featuring over 60,000 lights and 200 channels of computer animation. Synchronized to 90.9. Accepts donations for Parkinson’s Disease. Verified for 2020.

PLYMOUTH: Plymouth Lights: Christmas at the Fischer’s Place, 16700 33rd Ave N, Plymouth MN
Sun-Thurs: 5:30-9:30; Fri-Sat: 5:30-10pm. Runs Dec 1-31 (except Christmas Eve). Confirmed for 2020.

PLYMOUTH: Joy to the Season, 4810 Orchid Ln N, Plymouth, MN
Nightly 6pm-Midnight. Thanksgiving through New Years. Confirmed for 2020.

PLYMOUTH: Deck the Yard Contest
Participants can enter until December 18th and a Map and List will be published for the week of December 28th.

Northeast Metro Holiday Light Displays & Christmas Tree Lightings

CIRCLE PINES: Barno Family Lights | 4102 88th Ln NE, Circle Pines MN
Year-round holiday lights, including Halloween and Holiday lights. Confirmed for 2020.

HAM LAKE: Mellem Family Christmas Light Display | 17438 5th St NE, Ham Lake, MN
The Mellem family has informed it’s fans that the address above does not work with GPS. The recommend using “301 173rd Ln NE” to get close enough to spot the house. Confirmed for 2020.

LAKE ELMO: Valley Lights at Rock Point Church, 5825 Kelvin Ave N, Lake Elmo MN
2020 November 25th through December 31st. Tune in to 97.9. Drive through only this year.

LINO LAKES: Neighborhood of 7188 Cinnamon Teal Ct, Lino Lakes MN
Join their group to find out when special events, like Santa visits, may be happening. Confirmed for 2020, but no special events this year.

STILLWATER: Wintertime in Stillwater

1. Enjoy the snowflake décor down Main Street
2. Visit Lowell Park to see the Christmas Tree
3. Enjoy the LED light show set to music on Chestnut Street (5-10pm)
4. Visit the Historic Lift Bridge, lit up with Hollywood-style lights.

TAYLORS FALLS: Light Up Our Homes Taylors Falls.
Homes that participated in the contest during the annual lighting festival are encouraged to continue to keep their lights burning each night through  January 3, 2021.

WHITE BEAR LAKE: Fillebrown House.
The White Bear Lake historical society has decorated the pine tree in front of the Fillebrown House.

Southeast Metro Holiday Light Displays & Christmas Tree Lightings

APPLE VALLEY: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Complete with caroling, cookies and cider. Nov 24, 2020, 6:15-7pm.

APPLE VALLEY: Lights on Flagstaff, 13452 Flagstaff Ave, Apple Valley MN
Sun-Thu: 5-9:30pm; Fri-Sat: 5-10pm. Tune to 87.9 FM while watching. Unsure if they will go forward in 2020.

APPLE VALLEY: Porter’s Holiday Lights Show, 13596 Hollins Ct., Apple Valley
Tune to FM frequency 88.9. 2020 Confirmed for 2020. Also Halloween.

EAGAN: Eagan Community Tree Lighting | Eagan Community Center
Tree lights up at 6pm followed by holiday music, free cocoa and an outdoor lighted trail. December 8, 2020, 5-7pm.

EAGAN: Burdick’s House – 3863 Mersey Way,  Eagan
Santa and reindeer will visit on 12/15/19 from 5:30-7pm. Toy donations for Sharing & Caring Hands will also be collected that day. Verified for 2019 by homeowner.

FARMINGTON: Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 – 220th Street W
Buildings will be illuminated inside and out throughout the village. The public is welcome to drive through the Village any evening in December to enjoy this holiday tradition.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS: Tree Lighting Ceremony
Tree lighting followed by free swimming in The Grove Water Park. 12/4/2020, 5:30-8:30pm with tree lit at 6pm.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS: Light It Up the Heights Holiday Contest
The City’s annual holiday light contest draws more than a dozen participants. Registration ends December 9th, and a map of all entries will be available on the city’s website on 12/14/20.  .

SHAKOPEE: Folkways of the Holidays – Self-Guided Walking Window Tour, The Landing
Take a self-guided windows tour, of historical holiday traditions of the many cultures of Minnesota, past and present. Interpretive signs help guide your visit. On display through January 10. Open 5am to 10pm daily.

SHAKOPEE: Shakopee Winter Wonderland, 921 Shakopee Ave E, Shakopee
Runs mid-December-24th, 6-9:30pm.  Confirmed for 2020 (No treats or crafts this year).

SHAKOPEE:  Sever’s Holiday Lights, 3121 150th St W, Shakopee
Holiday light shows, Winter Carnivals, and more. Nov 26, 2020-Jan 3 2021; Sun-Thur 5pm-9pm; Fri-Sa 5pm-10pm. $7/pp; $25 Car Max.

SHAKOPEE:  Christmas in Color, Valleyfair
Drive through decorations including millions of lights synchronized to holiday music. Nov 27, 2020-Dec 31, 2020; Daily 5pm-10pm. $30/vehicle. Pre-Purchase Tickets Online.

WOODBURY: Holiday Lights of Woodbury, 8846 Glacier Road, Woodbury
Runs October (Halloween) – End of the Year. Sun-Thurs: 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm. 2020 holiday show begins November 27.

Southwest Metro Holiday Light Displays & Christmas Tree Lightings

BLOOMINGTON: Founders Ridge Senior Community, 6600 Auto Club Road, Bloomington
Trees and decorated and lights throughout the entrance of the campus along circular drive, including a 12-foot tree at the entrance of the building. Collecting Toys for Tots in a collection box under the awning of the front entrance. Submitted for 2020.

BURNSVILLE: Nicollet Commons Park
Making an appearance are local choirs, refreshments, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, 200,000+ lights, and a 30-foot-tall tree. Winter Lighting Ceremony 11/25/20.

BURNSVILLE: Winter Lighting Contest
Public voting will run December 1st through December 20th. Check the link for an interactive map and voting details beginning in December.

Virtual: CHANHASSEN: Tree Lighting Ceremony
The tree lights up at 5pm December 5, 2020. After the switch is flipped, Chanhassen invites you to hop in your vehicle and take a drive through the Chanhassen tour of Lights!

CHANHASSEN: Tour of Lights
Beginning December 5, maps of houses with light displays will be available here. Homeowners are asked to keep their lights up through December.

CHASKA: Winter in Bloom: Arboretum Winter Lights, 3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska MN
Gate admission: $15/adult (extra on special days). More lights this year. Special social distancing measures have been added and pre-purchased tickets are required for everyone (including children under 15, who are still free). Tuesday nights are Family Nights (these nights cost $25/adult and $10/child, but there is a craft, cocoa and cookies included). Opens 12/1/2020. This has been updated to a driving tour. In person events will not be happening.

CHASKA: Snook Family Lights, 1188 Wilswood Way
Synchronized to 91.9 FM. Vote for your favorite songs: SnookFamilyLights.remotefalcon.com. Confirmed for 2020.

CHASKA: Christmas on Savannah, 4441 Savanna Trail
Synchronized to 91.9 FM. Confirmed for 2020.

EDEN PRAIRIE: Christ Lutheran Church, 16900 Main St, Eden Prairie MN
Synchronized to 87.9. Starting 11/27/20 runs dusk to dawn..

EDEN PRAIRIE: Christmas Lights at Sunrise, 15482 Sunrise Circle, Eden Prairie MN
Nightly: Dusk to midnight. Thanksgiving weekend thru Epiphany (Jan. 6). Confirmed for 2020.

EDINA: Bright Lights Edina
New in 2020, community members are encouraged to share their home light displays by dropping a pin and a photo on the interactive map.  Visitors can vote for their favorite displays between December 16th and 21st.

EXCELSIOR: Christmas in Excelsior
Saturdays in December. Most traditional events have been cancelled in 2020.

HOPKINS: Hopkins Center for the Arts – Snow Globes & Window Views
Drive by Hopkins Center for the Arts to check out their 2020 Snow Globe installation and view the holiday décor from the lit windows.

MINNETRISTA: Trista Lights, 4386 Trista Bend, Minnetrista
Confirmed for 2020. Tune your radio to 97.5 FM

PRIOR LAKE: Lights at the Cove, 3490 Cove Point Cir NW, Prior Lake
Tune to 91.9FM. Sun-Thur 5-10pm; Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm. Confirmed for 2020.

PRIOR LAKE/SAVAGE: Making Spirits Bright Holiday Light Tour
Beginning December 15, check for a map of holiday light displays in the area of Savage and Prior Lake.

RICHFIELD: Holiday Lights Contest
Deadline to Enter is December 9th. All nominated addresses will be posted for the public after that date.

ST. LOUIS PARK: Light Up St. Louis Park Contest
A map of participating homes will be released on December 20th..

WACONIA: Spirit of Winter –  Festival of Lights | The Winery at Sovereign Estate
All-ages walking stroll through holiday lights displays and more outdoor attractions plus food and beverage for purchase at the winery. $7.50/pp. Online pre-registration required. 11/18/2020-01/02/2021.

WAYZATA: The Christmas Story in Lights | Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Boulevard East
Thursdays through Sundays December 3- December 27th; 6pm-9pm. The Christmas story in lights.  A Drive-through experience.

Greater Minnesota Holiday Light Displays

Bentleyville Tour of Lights – Duluth, Minnesota – November 21, 2020 to December 27, 2020.

Carter Christmas Lights – Albert Lea, MN (M-Th 5-9pm; F-S 5-10pm; Collects for Diabetes Research)
Celebrate the Light – Willmar, Minnesota
Christmas in Wadena – Wadena, Minnesota
2020 Duluth Christmas Lighting Challenge, Duluth, Minnesota
Exhibition Drive Holiday Sound + Light Show – Duluth, Minnesota
GRHS Trees of Lights – Glencoe, Minnesota
Holiday Lights on 20th Street – St. Michael, Minnesota (M-Th 5:30-9:00; F-S 5:30-9:30; 99.3FM)  (Confirmed for 2020)
Kneeland Lights – 4168 Jansen Ave NE, Saint Michael, Minnesota (submitted by homeowner 2018)
Landon Family – St. Michael, Minnesota
Lights on 6th – Cambridge, Minnesota
Lights in Braham – Braham, Minnesota
Lights in Fairbault – Fairbault, Minnesota
Lights in St. Cloud – St. Cloud, Minnesota
Linwood Covenant Church – Wyoming, Minnesota
Nevala Family Christmas and Halloween Light Show – Kasson, Minnesota (Confirmed for 2020)
Pederson Family Light Show – Carver, Minnesota
Rotary Lights – La Crosse, WI ( begins Nov 27, 2020)

While many of these ceremonies are virtual in 2020, the lights will be lit up throughout December. Add them to your drive any time after the initial lighting.

Nov 27, 2020: Taylor Falls Grand Lighting | 6pm (Festival runs all weekend)

Dec 1, 2020: Virtual Savage Tree Lighting Ceremony | Facebook LIVE, live stream or SAVAGE TV.

Dec 4, 2020: Osseo MiniDazzle Tree Lighting | Boerboom Veterans Park | 6-8pm

Dec 4, 2020: Tree Lighting Ceremony | 6pm

Tentative – Dec 5, 2020: Chanhassen Tree Lighting Ceremony | City Center Park | 5pm.

Dec 5, 2020: Holiday Harbor Lights Tree Lighting | Downtown Blaine | 4:30-7pm