Best Holiday Light Displays in Minnesota

When the nights get long, Minnesota answers with millions of twinkling lights. From a giant free walk-through display on Lake Superior to a drive-through tunnel of color in Mankato, holiday lights are one of the best reasons to bundle up in December.

This guide rounds up favorite displays across the state with dates and hours read from each organizer's official site. Plans can change with weather, so check the organizer's site before you head out. For more seasonal ideas, visit our Minnesota Christmas guide.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights, Duluth

Bentleyville calls itself America's largest free walk-through lighting display, and it's a true Minnesota tradition. More than 5 million lights fill Bayfront Festival Park on the shore of Lake Superior in downtown Duluth. For 2026, Bentleyville is open November 21 through December 26. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is free, and so are the hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, popcorn and marshmallows for roasting. Kids can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus for free too. Onsite parking has a fee, so check the website for current details. The organizers partner with The Salvation Army and encourage guests to bring a nonperishable food item or a new, unwrapped toy. Plan your stay with our Duluth lodging guide. Check the Crowd-O-Meter on the website to find quieter nights. Dress for wind off Lake Superior; layers are your friend. Bring a food item or new toy to donate. Weeknights are usually calmer than weekends.

Kiwanis Holiday Lights, Mankato

In southern Minnesota, Kiwanis Holiday Lights turns Sibley Park in Mankato into a winter wonderland. It's free and open to the public, and you can choose how to see it: walk, drive or come by group bus. For 2026, the display runs November 27 through December 31. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Drivers enter on Sibley Parkway and follow it around the sledding hill into the park, where a lighted driving tunnel is a highlight. Walkers enter off Mound Avenue or under the train trestle at Park Lane and Woodland Avenue. Cash and food donations are accepted at the entrances, and concessions inside the park include cocoa, cider and mini donuts. Dogs aren't allowed in Sibley Park. On busy weekends, arrive early or park outside and walk in to skip long lines.

Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska hosts Northern Lights, a newer display that uses professional light projection, uplighting and synchronized sound to bring the gardens to life at night. There are indoor stops with local art too. Northern Lights is open nightly from November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. It's closed November 26, December 24 and December 25. Tickets are timed, and the Arboretum strongly recommends buying in advance. Children through age 15 are free but still need a ticket and an adult. Parking is free. Because entry is timed, this is a good pick if you'd like a calmer, planned evening. Our Twin Cities region guide has more ideas nearby.

Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes, Eagan

If you'd rather stay warm in the car, Magic of Lights is a drive-through show at Viking Lakes in Eagan. You wind through a path of holiday scenes and characters made with LED lights and digital animations, priced by the carload. The 2026 season runs November 20, 2026, through January 2, 2027. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are sold online, so check the organizer's site for options. After your drive, organizers point visitors to Winter SKOLstice at Viking Lakes for skating, festive food and drinks.

Glensheen by candlelight, Duluth

For something quieter, Duluth's historic Glensheen estate decorates for the season and offers daytime Christmas tours and evening Candlelight Tours. The candlelight version lets you explore the mansion in a warm, glowing atmosphere. Glensheen says tours sell out fast and recommends booking online in advance. Check the organizer's site for this year's dates and ticket options. Pair it with Bentleyville for a full Duluth holiday weekend, and browse our Duluth and North Shore guide for more.

Small-town glow and indoor color

Not every holiday light moment needs a big ticket. In the Brainerd Lakes area, Nisswa holds its City of Lights celebration downtown on Friday, November 27, 2026. It's a cheerful kickoff to the season the day after Thanksgiving. In St. Paul, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory's Holiday Flower Show runs December 4, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Poinsettias in burgundy, pink, yellow and white fill the Sunken Garden with colors inspired by the northern lights. Admission to Como is free. Looking for more ways to celebrate? Our Minnesota events calendar and family activities page are updated through the season.

Tips for a great light-viewing night

Minnesota December nights are cold, and walk-through displays mean standing outside for an hour or more. Dress in layers, wear warm boots and pack hand warmers for little ones. Charge your phone, since cold drains batteries fast. Go early in the season or on a weeknight to avoid the biggest crowds, and give yourself extra time for traffic near popular displays. Above all, check the organizer's site before you leave, since weather can change plans. Ringing in the new year? See our New Year's Eve guide.