A family car driving past holiday lights on a snowy night
Lights 2026 · Minneapolis–St. Paul

Christmas lights in Minneapolis–St. Paul for little kids, picked for early bedtimes.

Three Christmas light displays in and around Minneapolis–St. Paul have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 2 walk-throughs. None are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 4:30 p.m. at Northern Lights. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.

3displays with dates
1drive-thru
0free
4:30 pmearliest evening start

Last checked · How we choose

All 3 displays

Pick tonight’s lights

Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.

Walk-through

Northern Lights

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318

Walk-throughBook ahead
When
Nightly Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (closed Nov 26, Dec 24, Dec 25)
Earliest start
4:30 p.m.
Price
Non-members $35; members $25; kids through 15 free (ticket required); gate +$10 if available; free parking
  • 4:30–9:30 p.m., timed reservations
  • Brand-new display lighting the Arboretum's trees

Little-kid take: Opens at 4:30 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Walk-through

GLOW Holiday Festival

CHS Field · Downtown St. Paul, MN

Walk-throughBook ahead
When
Select dates Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Earliest start
5 p.m.
Price
Adults $22.75; kids 3–12 $12.75; 2 and under free (+ fees); advance online only
  • Hourly entry from 5 p.m.; closes 9 p.m.
  • 1M+ lights, new Wand-er land
  • cashless

Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.

Tickets / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Drive-thru

Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes

Viking Lakes · 2685 Vikings Cir, Eagan, MN 55121

Drive-thru
When
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Earliest start
5:30 p.m.
Price
November-only car $21.99 online ($25 gate); Santa Saver any-day $34.99 (until Nov 19); weekday $28.99; season pass $97.99
  • Sun–Thu 5:30–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5:30–10 p.m.

Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.

Tickets / details ↗Directions

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Nov 1 – Jan 3

When each one is open

Nothing is lit yet. GLOW Holiday Festival opens first, on Nov 19. GLOW Holiday Festival, Northern Lights and Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes run into the new year.

GLOW Holiday Festival Nov 19 – Jan 3
Northern Lights Nov 20 – Jan 3
Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes Nov 20 – Jan 2
Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1
Early bedtime plan

Lights before bedtime

In early December the sun sets around 4:30 p.m. in Twin Cities (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.

Northern Lights

4:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

4:30 p.m.

GLOW Holiday Festival

5 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5 p.m.

Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes

5:30 p.m. start · plan about an hour

5:30 p.m.

Drive-thru or walk-through?

Which is better for little kids?

🚗 Stay in the car

  • Babies and toddlers stay warm and buckled, PJs and all
  • No stroller, no mitten battles, no lost hats
  • A car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime
  • Check the listing for timed slots and refund rules

Pick: Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes

🚶 Get out and walk

  • Kids 3 and up love running ahead to the next display
  • Bring the stroller where the venue allows it (see each card)
  • Plan a snack stop and a bathroom break
  • Check sensory notes for bright lights and crowds

Picks: Northern Lights, GLOW Holiday Festival

Bring along

The little-kid lights kit

Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.
2026 prices

Prices at a glance

From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.

DisplayPriceLittle kidsGood to know
Northern LightsNon-members $35; members $25; kids through 15 free (ticket required); gate +$10 if available; free parkingSee the venueWalk-through
GLOW Holiday FestivalAdults $22.75; kids 3–12 $12.75; 2 and under free (+ fees); advance online only2 and under freeWalk-through
Magic of Lights at Viking LakesNovember-only car $21.99 online ($25 gate); Santa Saver any-day $34.99 (until Nov 19); weekday $28.99; season pass $97.99See the venueDrive-thru
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Good questions

Christmas lights in Minneapolis–St. Paul: questions parents ask

Are there free Christmas lights in Minneapolis–St. Paul?

None of the light shows with 2026 dates that we found are free. The lowest prices are listed in “2026 prices at a glance”.

What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Minneapolis–St. Paul?

Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: Northern Lights (Non-members $35; members $25; kids through 15 free (ticket required); gate +$10 if available; free parking); GLOW Holiday Festival (Adults $22.75; kids 3–12 $12.75; 2 and under free (+ fees); advance online only); Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes (November-only car $21.99 online ($25 gate); Santa Saver any-day $34.99 (until Nov 19); weekday $28.99; season pass $97.99). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.

Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?

With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 3 displays can be driven: Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes. Walk-throughs (two here) are better for kids who want to run around.

What time do the Christmas lights start in Minneapolis–St. Paul? We have an early bedtime.

The earliest evening starts: Northern Lights at 4:30 p.m., GLOW Holiday Festival at 5 p.m. and Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes at 5:30 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.

Which light shows are best for kids under 3?

Little ones get in free at GLOW Holiday Festival (2 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.

How do you check these Christmas lights listings?

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

Keep planning: This week in Twin Cities · Minneapolis–St. Paul city guide · Visiting Twin Cities

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