10 Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Displays In Wisconsin The Whole Family Can Enjoy
When it comes to Christmas lights in Wisconsin, drive-thru light displays are a festive favorite for many. The don’t-have-to-get-out-of-your-car activity is especially ideal for those who don’t want to brave the cold to view holiday displays. Lucky for us Wisconsinites, the Badger State is home to some of the best and brightest drive-thru light shows around. Read on for 10 of the best Christmas light displays in Wisconsin, which are sure to get you into the holiday spirit – without requiring you to get out of your car.
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival has been making spirits bright for over 20 years, and this year is no different. During the Yuletide celebration, downtown Milwaukee is adorned with more than 500,000 twinkling lights, animated sculptures, and interactive exhibits. The massive display, which spans three parks - Cathedral Square Park, Pere Marquette Park, and Zeidler Union Square – and three downtown thoroughfares, can be viewed by car or by foot. For more information, check out the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival website.
Held at the Ingleside Hotel, Country Christmas is home to one of the largest outdoor drive-thru light displays in Wisconsin. Dubbed the Country Christmas Trail, the one-mile-long route is set aglow with more than one million lights. For more information, visit the Ingleside Hotel website.
Taking place at Menominee Park, the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights offers several ways to have some socially-distanced holiday fun, including a 1-mile drive-thru display with dazzling lights, festive scenes, and animated displays. Carriage rides and no-contact visits with Santa are also part of the fun. For more information, head on over to the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights website.
520 Pratt Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA
4. Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights (Caledonia)
During the holiday season, Jellystone Park Camp-Resort plays host to the Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights. Spanning 1.6 miles and featuring more than two million lights and a 200-foot illuminated tunnel, it’s billed as “Southeastern Wisconsin's largest Christmas drive-thru light show.” For more information, check out our full article on the Wisconsin Carnival of Lights.
8425 WI-38, Caledonia, WI 53108, USA
5. Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour (Somerset)
The ultimate holiday experience awaits at this Somerset favorite. Boasting more than six million lights, a 50-foot animated tree, 500-foot light tunnel, and 25 new light displays, it’s one of the best (and brightest!) Christmas drive thru light shows in Wisconsin. The fun doesn’t end there, though. The 40+-acre property is brimming with Yuletide festivities, including a European-style Christmas market and s’more cabins. Learn more by checking out our full article on Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour.
Hosted by Boerner Botanical Gardens, Winter Wonders has been delighting visitors for several years. This year’s event is slated to be “bigger, better, and brighter” than last year’s, and that’s because the show has been completely re-imagined by theatrical lighting designer “Laser Bob” Mullins and his talented team. For more information, check out our full article on Winter Wonders at the Boerner Botanical Gardens.
A beloved holiday tradition, Rotary Lights is back for another year of seasonal fun. And just like in years past, visitors can walk, drive, or ride a carriage through the dazzling display, which features more than 300,000 lights, animated scenes, and a 140-foot Christmas tree. To learn more, check out our full article on Rotary Lights.
During Holiday Fantasy in Lights, Olin Park is transformed into a holiday wonderland – complete with a drive-thru spectacle made up of more than 50 wonderful light displays. This event is free; however, donations are accepted. For more information, visit the Holiday Fantasy in Lights website.
This holiday drive-thru display spans nearly a mile – every last inch of which boasts glowing lights and animated characters. Oh, and did we mention there are over 700 feet of illuminated tunnels?! Remember, reservations are required. For more information, check out the Santa’s Rock N Lights website.
See Lincoln Park in a whole new light with a visit to Lights in Lincoln Park! The annual drive-thru show features over 70 wild animal-themed light displays, many of which are animated. There are also illuminated drive-thru arches and numerous other lighting effects that are sure to delight. Prefer to walk through the display? Plan to visit the park for the Family Night Fun Walk. For more information, visit the Lights in Lincoln Park website.
1215 N 8th St, Manitowoc, WI 54220, USA
So, did you know about all of these Christmas lights in Wisconsin? Ever visited any? If so, what do you think? Are they some of the best Christmas light displays in Wisconsin? Did we leave off your favorite holiday event? Tell us.
The winter season brings lots of opportunities for fun to Wisconsin, including snow tubing. There are quite a few places to get your snow tubing fix, but if you ask us, these are some of the best places for snow tubing in Wisconsin.
Address: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Address: Ingleside Hotel, Waukesha, WI 53072, USA
Address: 520 Pratt Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA
Address: 8425 WI-38, Caledonia, WI 53108, USA
Address: 710 Spring St, Somerset, WI 54025, USA
Address: 6751 S 92nd St, Franklin, WI 53132, USA
Address: 1455 Palmer Dr, Janesville, WI 53545, USA
Address: 202 E Lakeside St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
Address: 1500 Ft Howard Ave, De Pere, WI 54115, USA
Address: 1215 N 8th St, Manitowoc, WI 54220, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Christmas Lights In Wisconsin
October 20, 2022
Daniella DiRienzo
Are there any Christmas tree farms in Wisconsin?
There’s more to the winter season in the Badger State than viewing the best Christmas lights in Wisconsin. There are lots of fun seasonal activities residents can enjoy, including paying a visit to one of the many charming Christmas tree farms in Wisconsin. One of the state’s longest running tree farms is Steigerwaldt Tree Farms. Located in Tomahawk, Steigerwaldt Tree Farms has been in business since 1957 and boasts hundreds of acres of trees to choose from. Pleasant Valley Tree Farm in Elk Mound is another popular Christmas tree farm in Wisconsin. Picture-perfect and brimming with opportunities for festive fun, it’s a great place to create some country Christmas memories. In addition to searching for the perfect tree, visitors can enjoy wagon rides, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate and cider, and lots more.
Can I take a sleigh ride in Wisconsin in the winter?
“Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh,” isn’t just a line from a popular Christmas carol; it can actually be a reality, and it’s all thanks to sleigh rides in Wisconsin. The seasonal rides are offered in locales throughout the state, including Apple Holler in Sturtevant. Like stepping into a glistening winter snow globe, beautiful Haflinger horses guide the sleighs through the on-site, snow-covered orchard. Absolutely magical, you’ll feel as if you’re navigating an enchanted forest as you admire the charming hardwoods, many of which are over 100 years old. The rides culminate with a cup of hot chocolate or warm apple cider, making for a perfect ending to a picture-perfect adventure.
Address: Milwaukee, WI, USA
Address: Ingleside Hotel, Waukesha, WI 53072, USA
Address: 520 Pratt Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA
Address: 8425 WI-38, Caledonia, WI 53108, USA
Address: 710 Spring St, Somerset, WI 54025, USA
Address: 6751 S 92nd St, Franklin, WI 53132, USA
Address: 1455 Palmer Dr, Janesville, WI 53545, USA
Address: 202 E Lakeside St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
Address: 1500 Ft Howard Ave, De Pere, WI 54115, USA
Address: 1215 N 8th St, Manitowoc, WI 54220, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
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Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for the past 25 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as Parents & Kids Magazine and Girl Meets Strong. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
