Where to find Christmas light displays in the Twin Cities
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Neighbors in one Farmington cul-de-sac coordinate a holiday light display across their 12 yards and set it to music. Image: Kyle Stokes/Axios
Put on winter gear and grab the hot chocolate: 'Tis the season for holiday light shows!
πͺ The big picture: Dozens of Clark Griswolds in the Twin Cities go all-out by decking out their homes to give you a free light show.
- And for a price, you can get yourself into an even bigger display.
π€ Our guide is KSTP executive producer and holiday lights guru Mike Marcotte, whose interactive map includes more than 160 area displays of the free and ticketed variety.
π‘ By the numbers: The biggest residential light displays on Marcotte's map β at least according to self-reported light counts β are in Shakopee (800,000 lights), Rush City (500,000) and Coon Rapids (400,000).
- Because they're self-reported, Marcotte told Axios he takes these counts with a grain of salt.

π΅ Between the lines: He noted size (or light count) isn't everything. Some displays pulse in time to music, or feature hundreds of plastic blow molds or inflatables.
πΉ Zoom in: In addition to the bigg'ns, Marcotte called out a few residential displays he thought were elaborate:
- Soldiers 6 in Inver Grove Heights, whose show is a fundraiser for their service dog non-profit. The Monday Night Football broadcast recently gave them a shoutout.
- Christmas in the Grove has a 20-foot-tall Santa display in Maple Grove β plus a live St. Nick who greets cars on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Claret Avenue Lights in Rosemount features more than 300 plastic molds.
- Christmas on Savanna in Chaska boasts 200,000 lights.
π½ Plus: Outside the metro, voters on Marcotte's website chose this half-mile-long drive-thru west of St. Cloud as the state's best homeowner display.
π Zoom out: If you include paid shows, the Miracle at Big Rock in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin β which advertises more than 25 million lights β would be the biggest in the region.
- Tickets start at $25 for adults and $30 on Fridays, when there's a fireworks display.
π‘ Maybe this counts as a "light show," too: On Wednesday, Holidazzle returns to Nicollet Mall after a one-year hiatus.
- The erstwhile illuminated parade is now billed as a free street fair with musical acts and interactive light displays.
- Back after funding problems canceled it in 2023, this year's Holidazzle runs through Sunday.
Paid shows in the region
π« Winter Lights: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's show has added a camp scene with tents, a bonfire and "a twinkling moose and deer." As usual, they also have s'mores, food and an indoor bar. Through Jan. 5, $30.
π GLOW: The fan-favorite festival at CHS Field has over 1 million lights, an enchanted forest, giant slide and a zip line, plus food, drinks and shopping. Through Jan. 5, $26.
π§€ Magic of Lights: Stay warm and drive through this festival at Eagan's Viking Lakes, which features tunnels of lights and giant illuminated displays. Through Jan. 5, $35+.
π§ Sever's Holiday Lights: Another drive-thru. This one's in Shakopee with a half-mile route and 2.5 million lights synced to holiday music. Through Dec. 29, $30+
π π» Sam's Christmas Village: On the Apple River in Somerset, Wisconsin, it has more than 16 million lights, a European-style Christmas market, a sledding hill and rentable cabins. Through Jan. 1, $22 adults, $19 kids
Audrey Kennedy contributed reporting.
