Nothing can get you into the Christmas spirit quite like a good holiday light display. Fortunately, there are tons of amazing Christmas lights in Wisconsin, meaning you can start feeling festive early on and keep that feeling for the entire holiday season!
If you are searching for, ‘Where can I find the best Christmas Lights near me?’ — we’ve got you covered!
Not sure which holiday lights to see? We’ve compiled a list of our beautiful Wisconsin lights below, with a million twinkling lights to choose from!
Table of Contents
Southern Wisconsin Christmas Lights
Christmas Lane
- Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin (68th street and 60th ave)
- Best known for: Elaborate house light displays on the whole road
- Cost: Free! Drive on the street or park and walk on the sidewalk.
This awesome lights display isn’t run by the city or a big organization. Instead, it is created by the families who live on Christmas Lane, each one adding their own family-friendly holiday decor to the lineup.
Not only that, folks on surrounding streets get in on the fun too by decorating their own homes, giving visitors even more to enjoy. They even have an official street sign with the name: Christmas Lane on it!
While it doesn’t cost anything to check out this amazing neighborhood, some houses take donations for local food banks and other charities. Consider donating a little to help perpetuate the spirit of the season.
Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights
- Location: Christmas Carnival Of Lights
- Best known for: “Evy,” the talking evergreen tree
- Cost: $30 per car (up to 8 people); larger vehicles cost more
Most people visit Jellystone Park during the warmer months for camping fun, but the fun doesn’t have to end when the weather cools down. In fact, the holiday season might just be the very best time to visit this local campground.
During the Christmas season, Jellystone Park plays host to the Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights. This drive-through lights display features over a mile and a half of bright colors, favorite characters, and even Santa himself, perfect for a night of holiday cheer!
Besides the lights, this event also features pictures with Santa, hot chocolate for sale, and a cute little gift shop.
Holiday Fantasy in Lights
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin (Olin Park)
- Best known for: LED lights make this an eco-friendly event
- Cost: Free; cash donations appreciated
An amazing and free event in Madison, Holiday Fantasy in Lights is a drive-through lights display that the whole family is sure to love. In fact, many local families visit more than one time each year!
Because the display features only LED lights, the event is much more “green” than other similar events. This means you can enjoy yourself fully knowing that much less electricity is being used here than at many other Christmas lights displays. It also means fewer lights will be burned out, so Santa and all his friends will be fully visible as you drive by.
Make sure to bring a bit of cash to donate at the end of the drive-through; this is what keeps the event going year after year.
More info on the Holiday Fantasy in Lights here!
Country Christmas at the Ingleside Hotel
- Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Largest outdoor drive-through light display in the state
- Cost: $25 per car or minivan; larger vehicles cost more there is also a walk through option for $8 a person.
Boasting the largest drive-through lights display in Wisconsin, Country Christmas is an event you won’t want to miss. A visit to this winter wonderland is a tradition for many Wisconsin families, and one visit will show you why.
The Country Christmas Trail is the first part of the experience. Drive the mile-long trail to see over a million lights creating scenes such as “Bearville” (where giant teddy bears work and play), a 200-foot tunnel of lights, and more.
At the end of the trail, you will have the opportunity to walk the Streets of Bethlehem area where you can see a nearly life-sized nativity scene. Christmas Village is also located nearby, giving guests a chance to check out an amazing model train display, a photo op, and a concession stand.
More info on the Country Christmas at the Ingleside Hotel here!
The North Pole Christmas Village
- Location: Chilton, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Largest indoor and outdoor walk-thru in Wisconsin
- Cost: Free, but donations are accepted
A project fuelled entirely by love, the North Pole Christmas Village in Chilton is the perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit. Here you can see an enormous indoor and outdoor collection of holiday lights and decor while enjoying an evening out with family or friends.
For a fee, children can also sign up for Elf University. This class is tons of fun and teaches important elf skills such as how to wiggle your ears. During the class, each little elf will create a gift for a loved one, and every student goes home with an official Elf University Diploma.
While admission to the village is free, monetary donations, donations of non-perishable food items, and letters written to service members who cannot return home for the holidays are greatly appreciated. The mission of North Pole Christmas Village is to help the disabled and provide Christmas cheer for the elderly, forgotten, and far-from-home service members during the holidays.
More info on the North Pole Christmas Village here!
Lakeside Park Holiday Lights and Light Show
- Location: Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Lights that reflect on Lake Winnebago
- Cost: Free!
A beautiful show with Christmas tree displays that are synchronized to music, this rotary light performance is tons of fun for the whole family. It features animated scenes and favorite holiday music that are sure to have everyone smiling.
The show runs from 5 pm- 11 pm nightly beginning on Thanksgiving and running through December 31st. There is a parking lot across the road that is open to the public and provides a perfect view of the show. That said, it can be very crowded during the early evening hours, so plan to arrive early or visit later in the night.
Admission to this 8-minute show is absolutely free, making it a great way to enjoy the holidays on a budget.
More info on the Lakeside Park Holiday Lights and Light Show here!
Making Spirits Bright
- Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Displays inspired by popular movies
- Cost: Free! Food pantry donations encouraged.
Making Spirits Bright is the number one way to enjoy the holiday season in Sheboygan. This amazing lights display features a number of fun-themed “lands” including a whole Whoville area, a section full of A Christmas Story-themed lights, and a fun Peanuts Gang spot.
All lights are synchronized to music that plays on a dedicated radio station. This means that you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the season simultaneously.
The show runs Friday after Thanksgiving through December 31 and admission is free. That said, guests are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food items for the local food pantry.
More info about Making Spirits Bright here!
Holiday Lights Show at Rotary Botanical Gardens
- Location: Janesville, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Over a million lights
- Cost: $12 for adults, $5 for kids 3–12; under 3 free
Looking for a way to celebrate in Janesville? Look no further than the Holiday Lights Show at the Rotary Botanical Gardens for some amazing Christmas lights in Wisconsin.
This event gives guests the opportunity to walk the garden paths after dark. The paths are illuminated by over a million-holiday lights, including animated displays that are sure to capture the imaginations of all who attend.
This lights show is open on select nights from November 21(members only), November 24-26, November 30 – December 3, December 7-10, December 14 – 23, December 26 – 30. from 4:30 pm –9:00 pm. There is a small admission fee, but we find the experience is well worth the cost.
More info on the Holiday Lights Show at Rotary Botanical Gardens here!
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Multiple display parks and areas
- Cost: Free! Fee for some extra activities.
Nobody does Christmas quite like Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival makes this very apparent. This event runs for a month and a half and features countless lights spread across several parks and other parts of downtown Milwaukee.
In addition to the lights, guests are also invited to ride the Jingle Bus for a narrated tour of the downtown area and decorations, put a letter in Santa’s mailbox, or check out some of the downtown shops to pick up holiday gifts.
While the Jingle Bus does cost a little bit, walking around downtown and admiring the lights is a free and fun way to fill your season with excitement.
More info on Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival here!
Enchantment in the Park
- Location: West Bend, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Horse-drawn carriage rides
- Cost: $10 suggested donation; non-perishable food donations also accepted.
Enchantment in the Park is a beautiful celebration of the holidays. Attending this event is a Christmas must-do for many families, and we highly recommend experiencing it for yourself.
The lights in the park are spectacular and feature characters, animations, tunnels, and more. They can be viewed from your car as you drive through, or you can stroll through the park and take in the sights at a slower pace.
Besides amazing Christmas lights, Enchantment in the Park also features hot beverages and fire pits. Additionally, the popular horse-drawn carriage rides are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and a few other nights during the event’s run.
More info on Enchantment in the Park here!
Rotary Holiday Lights
- Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Cost: Free! Donations of cash or non-perishable food items are encouraged.
Another fantastic option for Christmas lights in Wisconsin is the Rotary Holiday Lights display. These lights are the perfect way to welcome the holidays but are far from the only way to celebrate at this event. In addition to the gorgeous lights, guests can also enjoy carriage rides, an ice skating rink, and even helicopter rides.
Free s’mores kits and fire are also available for warming up. A model train display, live nativity, and a few of Santa’s reindeer help keep things extra exciting, and visits with Santa himself are available on select nights.
Obviously, this event is much more than just lights, and it’s well worth the cash or food donation requested.
More info on the Rotary Holiday Lights here!
If you are looking for another neighborhood drive thru you can also check out Candy Cane Lane in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Northern Wisconsin Christmas Lights
Rotary Winter Wonderland
- Location: Marshfield, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Donating to 27 area food pantries
- Cost: Free, but food and cash donations are appreciated.
Marshfield’s Rotary Winter Wonderland is a sight to behold. The displays include a number of friendly animals made entirely of Christmas lights, and the trees twinkle with color as you drive by.
The main focus of this spectacular display is to feed the hungry during the holiday season. So far, the folks organizing this event have done a fantastic job. They’ve collected over 650,000 food items to be donated to food pantries, and expect to add many more to that number this year.
If you’d like to help others during this season of giving while also having a wonderful time yourself, consider visiting this Christmas lights in Wisconsin show and donating cash or food to their cause.
More info on Rotary Winter Wonderland here!
WPS Garden of Lights
- Location: Green Bay Botanical Garden in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Nature-inspired light displays
- Cost: Prices vary. Click here to see what they are based on the night you go.
A garden-themed Christmas lights display, the Garden of Lights at the Green Bay Botanical Garden is one of the best celebration options out there. Witness an enchanted icicle forest and glistening flowers, then walk through a giant lighted caterpillar.
In addition to the outdoor walk-through lights, you may also have the opportunity to see Santa or Mrs. Claus, enjoy a candy cane, check out the gift shop, or admire the model train collection. Make sure to snap pictures in all of the awesome photo spots!
This event begins at the end of November and runs through the beginning of the new year, so you have plenty of time to get in on the fun.
More info about WPS Garden of Lights here!
Christmas Village
- Location: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Run for the Lights 5K
- Cost: Free! Donations appreciated.
The Chippewa Falls Christmas Village is an impressive event that includes many life-sized Christmas scenes. These scenes are reminiscent of the Victorian era and fill visitors with a cozy sort of nostalgia for Christmases past.
In addition to the beautiful holiday scenes, visitors will also be treated to an amazing display of over 60,000 lights. These twinkle and glow, filling the park with color and warmth and spreading holiday joy.
Each year, the holiday scenes and light displays grow and change, making this a wonderful event to visit year after year.
More info on Christmas Village here!
Lights in Lincoln Park
- Location: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Animal lights displays
- Cost: $5 per car; $10 per family for walk-through night
These Christmas lights in Wisconsin are unique because they are run by the local zoo. What does this mean? It means tons of awesome animal displays, of course! These combined with the fun light arches and other lighting effects create a lovely show that your family will definitely enjoy.
While the display is normally a drive-through event, those who prefer to see the lights at a slower pace can visit on the Family Night Fun Walk date. Walking through the park allows you to really take in the beauty of it all.
The cost to visit is $5 per car to drive through or $10 per family to walk through. All proceeds go to the Manitowoc Zoological Society.
More info on Lights in Lincoln Park here!
Celebration of Lights
- Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Special fundraiser and event nights
- Cost: $20 per car; $5 off with a donation of a sealed hygiene item or non perishible food item.
The Celebration of Lights in Oshkosh is all about making a difference in the world. Community nights offer free admission to those who may not be able to attend otherwise, food donations are accepted for local food pantries, and special event nights raise funds and take donations for specific organizations.
In addition to the dazzling lights display (which truly is incredible), Santa is also available to visit most nights. Additionally, carriage rides through the grounds are available and drawings take place throughout the season.
General admission to this event is $20 per carload. To save a bit of money and help someone in need, donate a non-perishable food item for a dollar of admission.
Note: A big thank you to EAA – The Spirit of Aviation for helping us keep the Spirit of the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights Alive, and the lights on, for all of us this year – we appreciate it so very much!
More info on Celebration of Lights here!
Lights of the Northwoods
- Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Fireworks on January 1st
- Cost: Free! Food and monetary donations appreciated.
A beautiful Christmas lights in Wisconsin event that features lights that can be viewed from both a driving and a walking path, Lights of the Northwoods is an excellent choice. This celebration features a huge number of lights, including many animals and other characters.
This community event runs from the end of November right up until the new year and even features a fireworks show on January 1st. If you plan to see the fireworks, be sure to show up early, as the parking area does get very crowded.
While there is no fee to see the lights, it is recommended that you make a donation of cash or non-perishable food in order to help those in need and help the lights continue next holiday season.
More info on Lights of the Northwoods here!
Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
- Location: Somerset, Wisconsin
- Best known for: Visits with Santa and reindeer
- Cost: Prices vary. You can check them out here.
Featuring amazing light displays, visits from Santa and his reindeer, an onsite bar and grill, and an adorable Christmas Market, Sam’s Christmas Village is an excellent place to spend a few hours during the holiday season.
While the light display here is usually a walking tour (and we do love walking the lighted paths) there are also drive-through nights for those who can’t walk the paths. Vendors are open for business in the outdoor marketplace from Thursday–Sunday, so be sure to visit on one of those days if you wish to shop.
Want a way to warm up during your visit? We highly recommend booking a S’mores Cabin to share with family and friends. These cute little cabins are a great place to hang out after walking the trails. Each one comes equipped with a fire-starting kit and a s’mores kit, and all cabins will receive a special visit from Santa.
More info on Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour here!
Clearly, Wisconsin is the place to be if you want to see an awesome family-friendly Christmas light show this holiday season. You also know the weather can be interesting in winter in Wisconsin in winter so always be sure that places are open and don’t close due to weather permitting issues.
Whether you’re looking for A) houses with elaborate lights and decor, B) a free holiday light display run by volunteers, or C) a paid event with a variety of other activities, there’s something for you in the Badger State. In many cases, these Christmas celebrations even include an opportunity to get a photo with Santa, see a tree lighting ceremony, hear holiday music, and participate in other socially distanced holiday activities.
Pick one of these awesome Christmas lights in Wisconsin events, grab a hot cocoa, tune your radio to the holiday station, and get ready for a fun and festive experience your family won’t soon forget and will get everyone in the holiday spirit!
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