I was in at least 3 people’s Myspace Top 8. I have as many NBA Championships as Tom Brady. I’m probably too old to be here. @NickLewis37
Christmas time is here, filled out lights and cheer. Holidays and snowy days, and friends from far and near. Snowflakes in the air, another list of 37 things for all who care. Walking paths that lead to Santa’s lap, there’s magic everywhere.
It’s called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason. We get Chris Hawkey Christmas speeches, gifts, time away from work, and time to spend with our family and friends. One of the ways I like to spend that time is by checking out the best Christmas light displays in Minnesota. This list isn’t in order of worst to best. It’s really not in any order at all, outside of my vote for number 1. That one, for me, is the best Christmas light display in Minnesota; you can’t beat it. The rest of this list is just displays that look incredible. I know how much time and effort gets put into a Christmas light display. I tried my best to mix in as many holiday light displays that homeowners put on are possible. Those are the ones made from passion, not for profit.
But that’s not the case for everything on this list. Finding really good local light displays is rather challenging, so if you know of one I missed, by all means, reach out to me on Twitter @NickLewis37
So here’s my list of the 37 best Christmas light displays in Minnesota, in mostly no order. And if you’re big into lists, and particularly lists of 37, I have good news for you.
Related
You could check out 37 Must Eat Foods in Minnesota (Which I very much need to update)
Maybe you’ll like 37 Best Chips Ranked
And finally, 37 Must Eat Minnesota State Fair Foods
But that’s enough of that. 37 best Christmas light displays in Minnesota, here we go!
37. Mindy Lane Holiday Display
135 Mindy Lane, Montrose, MN 55363
Dates – 12/2 – 1/1
Drive-by
Cost: No
Website: Mindy Lane Holiday Display | Montrose MN | Facebook
The house at Miny Lane has roughly 42,000 lights and more than 50 blow molds! They have a light show (sneak peek here) that runs nightly from 5 pm – 10 pm.
36. Christmas in Color at Valleyfair
City of Shakopee
11/25 – 1/1
Drive-Thru
Cost: Yes
Website: https://www.valleyfair.com/events/christmas-in-color
Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music. They have giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways, and more! Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza.
35. Cairl Family Christmas Lights in Andover
2342 145th Ave. NW Andover, MN 55304
11/25 – 12/4
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cairlfamilychristmaslights/
These are the kind of displays I love. Family-run Christmas light displays that are free to view and made with love and passion. With more than 50,0000 lights synchronized to music, this spot has its own radio station, 99.1, and runs Sunday – Thursday from 5:30-9:00 pm and Friday and Saturday until 10 pm. This year they are accepting donations for St. Jude’s Children’s Medical Research Hospital.
34. Manners Magnificent Lights
19509 Rochester Street NE, East Bethel, MN 55011
11/27 – 1/1
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MannersMagnificentLights
Another family-run show that is sure to amaze.50,000 lights set to music with artists like Pentatonix, Elvis, Snoop Dogg, Backstreet Boys, and more!
Check out a video here
33. Holiday Lights on 20th Street in St. Michael
1159 20th St. NE, St. Michael, MN 55376
11/26 – 12/31
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/holidaylightson20thst/
The 2021 season will mark this spot’s 13th year, which is a full-on tradition. Holiday Lights on 20th also has a radio station for a synchronized light show, and they added 7 new songs this year. Donations are collected that go directly to the Hanover food shelf, they accept food, cash, or donations via Venmo.
32. Langness Lights in Forest Lake
9610 223rd Street North, Forest Lake, MN 55025
11/26 – at least Christmas
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://langnesslights.remotefalcon.com/remoteFalcon
This show runs from 6-9 daily (nice) and has more than 3 hours of music programmed for your enjoyment.
31. Barno Family Lights
4102 88th Ln NE Circle Pines, MN 55014
11/26 – at least Christmas
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057410952618&paipv=0&eav=AfZvAnvtnMZQLKDno8_eWrXUNQ7-CB3PBU5U21IEXpZLpvtkJ-neQq0wRURQCq2FblM
The Barno family plans their light shows all year, and it shows. Some may say it’s even better than the Langess display, but I’m not here to get controversial. Offering about 32,000 individually controlled pixels mapped to the songs they’re broadcasting on 106.7FM. They collect donations for the Ronald McDonald House and have a QR code on-site if you’re interested.
30. Christmas on Savana in Chaska
4441 Savanna Trail, Chaska, MN
11/20 – 12/26
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasOnSavanna/
With more than 20,000 lights and a 20-foot nutcracker, this is absolutely one of the best Christmas light displays in Minnesota. There’s plenty of things to see packed into the front yard so swing by and check it out!
29. Exhibition Drive Holiday Sound & Light Show in Duluth
2725 Exhibition Drive, Duluth, MN 55811
11/26 – 12/31
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/exhibitiondrive
Everyone has heard of Bentleyville in Duluth, but this show has won Duluth’s Best Lighting Contest in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and was named Duluth’s Grand Master in 2017. The entire music set will take you about 25 minutes to see and runs Sunday through Thursday from 5-10 pm and Friday and Saturday until 11 pm.
Check out a video of the show here
28. Spirit of the Lights at Glensheen Mansion (Indoor and Outdoor Tours Available)
3300 London Road, Duluth, MN 55804
11/26 – 1/1 (there are some dates that are not open. Make sure to check the website on this one!)
Walking Tour
Cost: Outdoor is free, but you must purchase tickets to tour the mansion
Website: https://glensheen.org/tour/spirit-of-the-lights/
From their website:
Spirit of the Lights is Glensheen’s enchanting outdoor light display. This outdoor display is FREE and open to the public. Glensheen has been home to Spirit of the Lights since 2018; before then you may have known it as Marcia Hale’s famous Park Point Light Display.
The display is celebrated for its intimate and natural feel. Many of the motifs and displays are in memory of individuals or in recognition of meaningful moments. To say this is a uniquely special display is an understatement. 2021 marks the third year that Spirit of the Lights’ home has been at Glensheen. We can’t thank Marcia enough for choosing Glensheen as the new home for these lights, which have such a storied past.
Please note that only the outdoor light display is free. To experience the magic of an evening candlelight tour at Glensheen, click HERE.”
27. Holiday Lights of Woodbury
8846 Glacier Road, Woodbury, MN 5512
11/26 – 1/1
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/HolidayLightsWoodbury/videos/?ref=page_internal
Running Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday until 11 pm, tune your radio to 97.9FM and watch the four large faces on the garage sing your favorite Christmas songs! They also do a Halloween show in October so it’s full of holiday light display!
26. Celebrate the Light of the World in Willmar
945 US BUS 71 Willmar, MN 56201
11/25 – 1/1
Drive-thru show
Cost: Free
Website: http://celebratethelight.net/
This display includes more than 800,000 lights that take more than 1,000 volunteer hours to set up. The show runs daily from 5 to 10 pm at Robbins Island and they accept donations for the Salvation Army in Wilmar, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota, the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, and the United Way of West Central Minnesota.
25. Winter Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
11/18 – 1/2 (but there are a lot of special nights and off nights within those dates. Check the website first!)
Walking Tour
Cost: Yes
Website: https://arb.umn.edu/winterlights
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is beautiful already but when it’s decorated for Christmas, it’s magical. There are 16 outdoor light displays, a fire at the midway where you can roast marshmallows, a gift shop, and even a cafe to grab some food. They have a Winter Music Series. It really is one of the best Christmas light displays in Minnesota.
24. Sever’s Holiday Lights in Shakopee
3121 W 150th St. Shakopee, MN 55379
11/25 – 1/1
Drive-thru
Cost: Yes
Website: https://seversfestivals.com/events/holiday-lights/
Sever’s display boasts more than 2 MILLION lights and festive food and drink vendors. The course is half a mile long, and there’s an observation lot after you drive-thru to watch the show again. Plus, with your paid entrance, you’re welcome to drive the course as often as possible. They recommend you purchase your tickets as early as possible, and I will tell you now, it’s a busy spot, so give yourself extra time.
23. Candy Cane Lane in Roseville
1994 Herschel Street, Roseville, MN
12/1 – at least Christmas
Drive-by and walking path
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Candycanelanemn/
Their walking path is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm, and the lights come on once it’s dark. Luckily in Minnesota, this happens pretty early. They started this as a tribute to their dear mom/grandma who left them too soon, and her favorite movie was National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. They light up the block in her memory. This is also an annual fundraiser for Rescued Pets Are Wonderful, which is an animal rescue near and dear to their hearts. They have fostered more than 100 animals with them. RPAW takes the hard medical cases that no one else will and gives those animals a second chance at a wonderful life, just like their own dog, Archie!
22. Valley Lights at Rockpoint Church
5825 Kelvin Ave. N Lake Elmo, MN 55042
11/24 – 12/31
Drive-through and wagon rides.
Cost: Free
Website: https://rockpoint.church/valleylights/
With more than 100,000 lights choreographed to music, this is a great spot to check out the best Christmas lights in Minnesota right from your car! Or if you go on a Friday or Saturday, you can go through the display on a wagon ride.
21. Holiday Lights in Motion at Sportsman’s Park
North of Sleepy Eye Lake on Highway 4
11/25 – 12/31
Drive-thru and walking path
Cost: Free
Website: http://www.sleepyeyeonline.com/holidaylights/
Donations are accepted and encouraged, but everything at this spot is free. They have concessions, wagon rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, and more than 300,000 lights, all for the cost of nothing. As you can see from the video, this is a solid option. Certainly one of the best Christmas light displays in Minnesota!
20. Shakopee Winter Wonderland
921 Shakopee Avenue East, Shakopee, MN 55379
11/27 – 12/31
Drive by and walking path
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ShakopeeWinterWonderland/
Owner Roger Schmidt makes his home really stand out during the month of December. He custom makes most of his display which means you’re likely to see things at his place you won’t see anywhere else. There’s an awesome walking path, or you can drive by and view everything from the street.
19. Loss Family Light Show in Ramsey
5635 156th Lane NW Ramsey, MN
11/27 – at least Christmas
Synchronized lights to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Loss-Family-Light-Show-104231674849635/
Another house set up their lights to music. Here’s a video of them testing the show, but it’s now ready to rock and roll.
18. Sertoma Winter Wonderland at the Northland Arboretum
14250 Conservation Drive, Baxter, MN 56425
11/25 – 12/31 (But not open every night. Check the website for the full schedule)
Drive-thru
Cost: Yes
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SertomaWinterWonderland/?ref=page_internal
$20 at the gate, but they make it super easy to save $10 if you buy in advance. All the money earned goes to the local nonprofits Mid-Minnesota Women’s Center, CampConfidence, Northland Arboretum, and Crisis Line & Referral Service.
17. Palmer’s Christmas Light Display
49307 Clover Trail, Rush City, MN 55069 (nice)
11/19 – 1/1
Drive-thru
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Palmers-Christmas-Lights-Display-166703180590592/?ref=page_internal
I’ve got mad respect for this Christmas light display. The owner Roger hand-builds this entire display. I can’t figure out how to build furniture from Ikea, and this dude is casually custom-making an entire drive-thru Christmas display. Unreal. You go, Roger!
16. Lights and Letters in Sauk Rapids
1101 10th Avenue North, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
11/5 – 1/30
Drive-by display
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Lights-and-Letters-light-display-100898748558804
45,000 lights, plenty of inflatables, plenty of Christmas.
15. Good Neighbor Light Show
110th Avenue NE, Blaine, MN 55434
12/1 – 12/31
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Good-Neighbor-Light-Show-100351305258208/
A cool spot in Blaine to see some Christmas lights, and as a bonus, they have a red mailbox outside of their light show for you to send letters to Santa! I don’t know how they got his address, but I’m impressed.
14. Mellmem Family Christmas Light Display
17438 5th Street NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304
12/9, 12/10, 12/15, 12/16, 12/17, 12/22, 12/23
Music synced the lights
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MellemFamilyXMAS/
Now they say to actually get there, you should put 301 173rd LN NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304, in your maps. For whatever reason, their real address doesn’t like to show up. The Mellmem family puts together a beautiful display that is synced to the music, so no matter which address you’re going to use, get there and check it out!
13. GLOW Festival at the CHS Field
CHS Field, St. Paul.
11/23 – 1/1
Walk-thru
Cost: Yes
Website: https://www.glowholiday.com/
So this used to be at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds but has moved to CHS field this year. It features more than 1 million lights, food vendors, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and a trolley! Shine bright like a (baseball) diamond.
12. Carter Christmas Lights Show
1905 Brookside Drive, Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007
12/15 – 12/19
Light and music show
Cost: Free
Website: Carter Christmas Lights Show – Albert Lea Minnesota (carterxmas.com)
Wow does the Carter family put together a cool show! They’ve posted a video of it here if you think I’m lying but it’s downright impressive stuff. More than 40,000 LED lights set to music from Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor, and Skyway Avenue. The show plays every 10 minutes so you won’t have to wait long to check it out. On average, they run the show nearly 900 times a season, and I promise you’ll want to see it at least once!
11. Holidazzle Yeti at Peavy Plaza and Holidazzle in Loring Park
There’s a lot of information to take in on this one. Your best bet is to just visit their website for the correct dates to each site, the right time, and the locations. Visit the website here: https://www.holidazzle.com/about/
I still maintain that the OG Holidazzle parade was the best, but the revamped Holidazzle is pretty cool. The Holidazzle is back to being an in-person event this year, but it’s still a truncated version with only one weekend happening in Loring Park. You’ll be able to eat, shop, and even ride some rides! Plus, you can sign up for virtual Santa visits.
10. Trista Lights by Epic Light Show
4386 Trista Bend, Minnetrista, MN 55331
12/3, 12/4, 12/11, 12/17, 12/25, 12/31
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: http://epiclightshows.com/tristalights.html
This, my friends, is a treat. Trista Lights remains the only light display in Minnesota to be featured on ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight (here’s a video), and they’re also the brains behind the Sever’s drive-thru display. These folks know what they’re doing when it comes to computerized light shows. The is not a nightly show,, so check the schedule they’ve posted on their Facebook page before heading out. It runs from 5-9 and lasts about 15 minutes. There will be a line for the show, so they ask that you enjoy the show and then exit promptly so others can enjoy it as well.
9. Light up Princeton at Riverside Park
300 N Rum River Drive, Princeton
11/27 – 12/25
Drive-thru
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MNPACC
The Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Princeton put together this drive-thru American Legion Holiday Light Loop display free of charge, and it runs daily from 6 pm to 9 pm (nice). Donations are accepted. As long as you’re cruising through Princeton, the PACC also put together a list of more houses nearby you can check out.
8. County Lights Festival in Sartell
850 19th St. S Sartell, MN 56337
12/3 – 12/31
Walking Tour
Cost: Free
Website: http://countrylightsfestival.org/
The City of Sartell doesn’t mess around when it comes to its Christmas lights. You can walk through 33 acres of them to see what I mean. with more than 1 million lights, they also have hot chocolate, girl scout cookies, train rides, and fire pits! I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good time to me!
7. Holiday Lights on York Avenue/Schultz Family Lights
1526 York Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55106
11/26 – 12/31
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: http://www.schultzfamilylights.com/
York Avenue in St. Paul has 11 yards decorated for the holidays, featuring around 90,000 lights in total. In most neighborhoods, neighbors hardly even talk to each other. York Avenue is different. Head to York Avenue and check out what happens when a community comes together! 5-10 pm daily.
6. Koran Family Christmas Display
35855 Lincoln Road, North Branch, MN 55056
11/28 – 1/9
Drive-thru
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/koranfamilychristmas
The Koran Family Christmas display is a real treat with more than 35,000 lights and 600 lighted blow mold figurines. Another bonus is this display runs later than most. Sunday through Thursday, 5 – 11 pm, and Friday and Saturday until Midnight!
5. Christmas in Wadena
414 3rd St. SW, Wadena, MN 56482
11/26 – 1/1
Synchronized show to music
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.christmasinwadena.com/
This place is bananas. 385,000 lights and each has a purpose. Many people do synchronized lights on their houses, but I’m not sure if anyone does it better than these folks. Their website says “where the lights come to life,” and they’re not lying. Amazing.
4. Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights at Sovereign Estate Winery
9950 North Shore Road, Waconia, MN 55387
11/21 – 12/30
Walking path
Cost: Yes
Website: https://www.sovereignestatewine.com/spirit-of-winter
This spot is awesome. More than 20 acres covered in sprawling lights and see many different attractions. A ton of photo opportunities, a children’s ice maze, winter llamas, a gingerbread house… oh, did I mention this is at a winery?! You can take a guided tour on the Holly Trolley. Sip on some mulled wine, boozy hot cocoa, local brews, or their full range of wine from their Polar Bear Bar. Want food? WELL, THEY HAVE THAT, TOO! Check out the full menu here. You can also rent a Christmas cabana if you want to be super extra.
3. Bentleyville Tour of Lights
700 Railroad St. Duluth, MN 55802
11/20 – 12/27
Walking tour
Cost: Free (but parking is $10)
Website: https://www.bentleyvilleusa.org/
Arguably the most well-known holiday light display in Minnesota, you cannot list the best Christmas lights in Minnesota without including Bentleyville. The free admission also comes with free hot cocoa and coffee, free cookies, free popcorn that they pop on-site, free marshmallows to roast, and you’ll even run into Santa and Mrs. Claus! (I hope it’s the Tim Allen version. That would really be something).
2. Kiwanis Holiday Lights at Sibley Park
900 Mound Avenue, Mankato, MN 56001
11/26 – 12/31
Drive-thru or walking path
Cost: Free
Website: https://www.kiwanisholidaylights.com/
1.8 million lights, live reindeer, the lights are choreographed to music, and there’s a skating rink in the middle! I live in Mankato, so this is an annual tradition for me, but wherever in Minnesota you live, the Kiwanis Holiday Lights are worth the trip. I usually park and walk through first–it’s about a half-hour of walking to get around the entire thing. Then we will jump back in the car and do the driving loop on our way out. It’s my second favorite Christmas light display in Minnesota; want to know what number one is? Well, let’s find out.
But before we actually get to number one, let’s talk about this upcoming event. RSVP to it here! https://www.facebook.com/events/648845296910684
Join the 10,000 Takes crew on December 17th in Hopkins to help raise money for the Best Christmas Ever charity. We’ll be there from 6-8, joined by the folks from 7th Avenue Pizza and Cultivated CBD. Both will be giving out free samples so come meet us, get some free stuff, and donate to a great cause!
Oh yeah, and it’s all at house #1! Read more below. (Plus there are honorable mentions, so keep going).
1. The Christmas House in Hopkins
324 10th Avenue North, Hopkins, MN 55343
11/25 – 1/1
Static show/drive-by
Cost: Free
Website: they don’t have a fancy website. They don’t even need it.
So we’ve made it all the way to #1. The best Christmas light displays in Minnesota comes down to the only house on this list with an actual ranking. This, for me, is what Christmas displays are all about. There are no computers to make the display look fancier than it is. There is no radio station to tune into for this house (because Christmas KOOL 108 is the best option anyway). This is roughly 37,000 lights, hung by hand, that do nothing but look pretty.
Clark Griswold’s house didn’t need a computerized light show, nor does this one. There’s a 25-foot Rudolph, a Christmas dragon, and dozens of homemade decorations placed with purpose. Both the front and back are decorated, and it’s been a staple in Hopkins for my entire life. I know this because this is the house I grew up in, and my father still puts this display up, mostly himself, every year.
So is there a little bit of nepotism in this ranking? You’re damn right there is. But I apologize for nothing. My love for Christmas lights stems from growing up with this place as my standard. He lights the display up every year on Thanksgiving night and will disappear multiple times throughout the night to sneak out front and check out his display. He takes pride in it, and he should. I’m proud of him every year for creating something that brings such immense joy to me and everyone who comes across it. This will always be number one to me. Good on you, old man Lewis.
Plus the neighbors have a good sense of humor
Honorable Mentions
These are things I know nothing about, but they sure look cool. Or I know about them, but they weren’t in Minnesota.
Larger Than Life Lights at the Superior Zoo
What is this? I have no idea. But it’s lights at a zoo, it must be cool. Learn more here.
Sam’s Christmas Village
Y’all, Wisconsin may not have an axe right now, but this place has EIGHT MILLION LIGHTS! This probably would have bumped old man Lewis’ house out of the number 1 spot, but it’s located in Wisconsin, and I’m surprised they even have the capabilities to power this place. Check it out here
Rotary Lights Holiday Display in La Crosse
Another spot right across the border with more than 3 million lights. Honestly, I’m guessing the Wisconsin power grid is broken down like this:
40% – Lambeau Field
30% – Miller Brewing Company
10% – Bars
10% – Sam’s Christmas Village
5% – Rotary lights
5% – Everything else
But my slander aside, it looks awesome. Check it out here.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
Fact: Christmas lights are red and white. Fact: the lights outside of Raising Cane’s are red and white. The only logical conclusion here is that Raising Cane’s not only offers the best chicken fingers in the game but also one of the most beautiful Christmas light displays ever… and they do it year-round. Amazing.
I was in at least 3 people’s Myspace Top 8. I have as many NBA Championships as Tom Brady. I’m probably too old to be here. @NickLewis37