Holiday Lights
Let Minneapolis dazzle you this holiday season. This year drive-thru events, private tours and outdoor viewings are the way to get immersed in the beauty of the city as the streets transform into a holiday oasis. Check out what Minneapolis has going on to make your holiday season sparkle.
Last Updated: 11/9/22
Psycho Suzi's
Now - January 28, 2023
Psycho Suzi’s has transformed into Mary’s Christmas palace. The over the top 4-month Christmas Festivus has taken over the beloved tiki-bar and is the most carousing arousing Christmas themed restaurant experience in the North. Everyday and everything is Christmas, until it’s not. Mary’s Christmas Palace celebrates all things Christmas in the best way possible: extravagantly tacky, escapist merriment, and lots of holiday bites & booze.
Winter Lights 2022
November 17, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Stroll through the Arboretum gardens decked out in Winter Lights. Enjoy fresh air as you explore outdoor light displays, highlighting flowers, trees and the beauty of nature, on a .75-mile walking route. See the new 16-foot weeping willow tree and walk through the giant apple, which pays tribute to our Horticultural Research Center’s apple research. Stop by s’mores village to warm up near a fire and buy s’mores kits to roast marshmallows. Tickets are required for all and are selling fast, so reserve yours now.
Christmas in Color: Drive Thru Animated Light Show at Valley Fair
November 18, 2022 - January 2, 2023
Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music you’ll hear right through your radio. You'll giant candy canes, snowmen, arched pathways and more. Take your time enjoying this lighting extravaganza - we won’t judge you if you join the kids with your face pressed against the window!
GLOW Holiday Festival
November 23, 2022 - January 1, 2023
Get up close and personal with this holiday light experience and must-see holiday attraction at St. Paul's CHS Field. GLOW features over a million lights, sElfie Plaza, Enchanted Forest, Bright Bikes, Tremendous Tree, the GLOW Spectacular, and so much more!
Holidazzle at Loring Park
November 25 - December 18, 2022
A free and fun-for-the-whole-family experience complete with seasonal entertainment, Santa, local foods and beverages, holiday shopping from local small businesses, performances, and amusement rides (Ferris wheel, carousel, and a giant slide). Plus, each Saturday you can enjoy winter fireworks at 7:15 pm!
Tree Lighting Ceremony at West 50th Street
November 26, 2022
Join the annual Holiday Tree Lighting, presented by Gateway Bank! This year's ceremony features local performers, words from Edina's Mayor Hovland, horse-drawn carriage rides, family-friendly crafts, music, and even visits from Santa!
Festive Holiday Lights Tour
Thursday - Sunday in December 2022
4:30pm, 6:00pm, 7:15pm, 8:30pm
Treat yourself to the magic of the holidays by viewing beautiful light displays on this 1 hour tour! View twinkling lights and nibble holiday treats in our warm, heated coach bus while your expert driver shows you the brightly decorated streets of the Twin Cities. You're sure to feel the spirit of the season.
All Is Bright Holiday Lights Tour
Various dates throughout December 2022
Don't let this cold and crazy winter stop you from having fun, Minnesota! Let's be bold, embrace the cold and make your holidays brighter in the Twin Cities' only open-air fun bus. We have holiday lights, music, AND Santa as your chauffeur. It's a perfect outing for families. Choose your date and time slot to book the bus for your private party!
Nature Illuminated
December 2, 2022 – January 16, 2023
This winter, there's a magical world waiting for you at the Minnesota Zoo. Join us for Nature Illuminated: a one-of-a-kind drive-thru or walking tour experience featuring stunning light work and larger-than-life animal art installations. Nature Illuminated invites you on a spectacular journey into a world of art, awe and light. Join us as we shine the spotlight on some of the world’s most endearing and endangered animals, and learn how our collective actions can help save our planet’s wildlife.
Holiday Tree Lighting & Movie Night at Union Depot
December 3, 2022
See the sparkle of the lights at this annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration. The event will begin at 5 pm. Enjoy live entertainment and holiday activities. At 7 pm, head outside for the official tree lighting celebration! Afterwards, stick around for the holiday movie night – featuring a classic favorite: Elf. The tree will be lit through the remainder of December on the North Plaza — the perfect back drop for family holiday photos!
Kenny/Armatage Holiday Light Tour
December 9 - 18, 2022
Enjoy the colorful city streets and light displays of the Armatage Neighborhood AND Kenny neighborhoods this holiday season! The tour is self-guided and the tour map will be available by Thursday, December 8.
Please be respectful of neighbors on your adventure. If you drive the tour, please turn off your vehicle when you arrive at each stop. Open to all, even if you don’t live in Armatage.
Brews 'n Bulbs Holiday Craft Brewery Tour
Saturdays - Dec 3, 10, 17
4:00pm, 7:30pm
Show some holiday cheer with a festive night on the town! Savor pints of craft beer at three terrific breweries, and experience award-winning holiday lights in the Twin Cities all while being chauffeured in a warm coach bus. Tour duration is 3 hours.