Thanksgiving is almost here and it’s time to get in the holiday spirit! The numerous holiday light events and displays around the area are certain to do the trick. There are several places in Wisconsin that create magical holiday light displays that are fun for all ages. I’ve been to almost all of these holiday light events, with the remainder on my holiday bucket list.
This post details nine of the best holiday light events in Wisconsin, including the details you need to plan a fantastic holiday outing. All displays listed in the post have received great reviews from friends and family and come highly recommended. Share your favorite holiday lights in the comments.
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Holiday Light Displays in Wisconsin:
Holiday Fantasy in Lights (Madison)
Location: Olin Park – 1156 Olin Court, Madison, WI 53715
Dates: November 11 – December 31, 2024
Time: Lights on every night Dusk till Dawn, Candy canes available 4:30pm until 10pm each night
Price: Free (donations accepted)
Highlights: Holiday Fantasy in Lights is a popular and fun drive-through event held annually at Olin Park in Madison, WI. The park boasts more than 50 light displays sponsored by various local business. One of my favorite displays is the light-up tooth, sponsored unsurprisingly by a local dentist office. The line through the park can get very long, especially closer to the holidays so I suggest going later in the evening if possible to hopefully avoid the lines.
Holiday Light Show (Janesville)
Location: Rotary Botanical Gardens – 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, WI 53545
Dates: Open to the public: November 29-30, 2024 | December 1, 5-8, 12-30, 2024 | January 2-4, 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 8:30pm (lights off at 9pm)
Price: Adults: $15, Children ages 3-12: $5, Children ages 2 & under: Free
Highlights: 2024 will be the Rotary Botanical Garden’s 28th Year of Holiday Lights. This year will bring more than 1.5 million lights and themed displays. The gardens are just under 0.7 miles from start to finish and offer light concessions during the light display, including hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies. Under an hour drive from Madison, the Holiday Light Show at Rotary Botanical Gardens is the perfect event for a date night or a winter family outing.
Christmas Carnival of Lights (Caledonia)
Location: Jellystone Park Camp-Resort – 8425 WI-38, Caledonia, WI 53108
Dates: November 23 – December 31, 2024 (excludes 11/28 and 12/25)
Time: November 23 – December 24, 2024: Sunday-Thursday: 5-9pm, Friday-Saturday: 5-10:30pm; December 26 – December 31, 2024: Everyday from 5pm-9pm
Price: Personal Vehicle: $30/vehicle up to 8 people (more for larger vehicles); Santa’s Sleigh: Starting at $14 per person; Golf Cart: $60/cart
Highlights: A drive-through event that winds through the camp grounds of Jellystone Park. The campgrounds and trees are decorated with over 2 million dazzling holiday lights. After viewing the lights, consider stopping inside Santa’s Workshop for a photo with Santa and some goodies (Check website to confirm when Santa is available).
Candy Cane Lane (West Allis)
Location: 96th Street to 92nd Street, Montana Avenue to Oklahoma Avenue
Dates: November 29 – December 25, 2024
Time: Weekdays from 6-9pm; Weekends from 5-10pm; December 24th & 25th from 5-10pm
Price: Donations to MACC Fund – Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. Accepted
Highlights: Candy Cane Lane is a neighborhood fundraiser that raises money for the MACC Fund – Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund. 2024 will mark the event’s 40th year! Several blocks of homes in West Allis go all-out decorating for the holidays with lights, blow-up decorations, and even music. Some houses will sell hot chocolate and you may even spot Santa collecting donations. Please note that this is a very popular area during the holidays and if driving through, please watch out for pedestrians enjoying the holiday light displays.
Zoo Lights (Madison)
Location: Henry Vilas Zoo – 702 S Randall Ave, Madison, WI 53715
Dates: November 29 – December 29, 2024; (Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) – Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and select weekend nights. 2024 BONUS DAYS: Open Daily December 13 – December 23, and December 26 – December 28
Time: Entrance Times: 5:30 – 8:30pm
Prices: General Admission: $10, Children 3 & Under: Free (ticket still required)
Highlights: Visit the zoo after dark when most of the animals are asleep and see holiday and animal displays and Christmas Trees made up of almost one million lights. Your ticket includes unlimited carousel rides. Concessions, including alcoholic beverages for those 21+, are available for purchase. Not just for kids, Zoo Lights is the perfect event for a holiday date night.
Sam’s Christmas Village & Light Tour (Somerset)
Location: 710 Spring St. Somerset, WI 54025 (25 minutes East of the Twin Cities)
Dates: November 29, 2024 – January 1, 2025 (closed Christmas Eve)
Time: Typically 5-8pm or 5-9pm – Hours vary depending on date
Prices: Adults: Starting at $15/person for drive through and $20/person for walk through, Children ages 3-10: Starting at $10, Children ages 2 & under: Free, Military Discount: Half Off Ticket Prices; Parking on Walk-Through Nights: $10 per vehicle (cash only)
Highlights: Located less than 30 minutes from the Twin Cities near the St. Croix River Crossing, Sam’s Christmas Village fills the area with holiday cheer and so many lights. This annual event showcases over 12 millions lights which you can view from the comfort of your car or on foot, depending on the night. Enjoy s’mores, visit with the reindeer, shop the Christmas market, and fill up with drinks and food. This is truly an event for the whole family, even your friendly pups! This is one of my husband’s favorite events of the season. You can now pay online for a discounted rate. Tickets are still sold at the gate at a higher cost.
Rotary Holiday Lights (La Crosse)
Location: Riverside Park – 410 Veteran Memorial Drive, La Crosse WI, 54601
Dates: November 29 – December 31, 2024
Time: Daily 5-10pm; EXCEPTIONS: December 2 will have subdued lights and music for all abilities night; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: 5-9pm, New Years Eve: 5pm-1am
Price: FREE (donations greatly appreciated)
Highlights: Gather in Riverside Park for the 30th season of Rotary Holiday Lights! A beautiful, free event featuring over 3 million lights, a giant Christmas tree, chats with Santa, and more! The lights can be enjoyed via foot, car, or carriage ride (on select nights and for a fee). There are also fire pits for free s’mores along with some light concessions available for purchase. With over 130,000 visitors annually, this is one holiday event you won’t want to miss.
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival (Milwaukee)
Location: Downtown Milwaukee
Dates: November 21, 2024- January 1, 2025
Time: Lights Turned on Each Evening
Price: Free
Highlights: During the holiday season, Downtown Milwaukee is filled with holiday light displays featuring over 500,000 lights. Special displays can be enjoyed at Zeidler Union Square, Pere Marquette Park, and Cathedral Square Park. Kids can even drop of their letters to Santa at the mailbox in Cathedral Square Park November 1st through December 10th. Take a tour by foot or by car of beautiful light displays and Christmas Trees decorated by local schools. The ornament trail was new for 2023 and it will return for the 2024 season.
WPS Garden of Lights (Green Bay)
Location: Green Bay Botanical Garden
Dates: November 29 – November 30, 2024, December 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-23, 26-30, 2024
Time: 4:30-9pm
Price: Adults: $12-$20, Children Ages 3-12: $5-$15 (Prices depend on date and whether walking or riding wagon)
Highlights: 2024 tickets go on sale to the general public on November 4th. Each year, the Green Bay Botanical Gardens light up during the holiday season with 40+ nature-themed light displays with over 350,000 lights. Watch the gardens come alive after dark and get into the holiday spirit with the beautiful holiday light displays at WPS Garden of Lights. Parking on-site at the event is free and is first-come first-served.
Additional Posts of Interest:
– Top Christmas Tree Farms Near Madison
9 thoughts on “9 Best Holiday Light Displays in Wisconsin (Updated for 2024)”
My FAVORITE thing to do is see holiday lights!! 😍😍
These are so fun! I love visiting Wisconsin and would have a blast at any of these! Maybe I will time my trip next year so I get to see some winter lights!
I LOVE holiday lights! So many fun Christmas light options!
They have started to open over in the UK, and we have booked to see at least two this winter. It is magical and a bit of escape from reality!
Beautiful light displays
Love this collection of pretty Christmas light displays in Wisconsin – now I just need to visit so I can see them!
I love taking the grandkids to the Christmas lights, these look so beautiful…
Beautiful! I love to see all the beautiful lights this time of year. Thanks for sharing this information.
Everything looks so nice, my niece is currently in Wisconsin sharing this to her.