By Nupur Bagoria
The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping as winter looms ever closer. But look on the bright side—the holiday season is almost here. And so is winter break!
If you want to take advantage of your upcoming time off (and the extra few hours of darkness in December) what better way than by checking out some festive light shows and installations? Whether you’re going with family, meeting up with friends, or treating yourself to a bit of solo adventure time, there’s something magical about experiencing the season beyond your classroom walls.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best light displays to chase away those winter blues and help you get into the holiday spirit. So grab your hot chocolate, charge your phone for photos, and get ready to make some memories!
Bentleyville “Tour of Lights”
Duluth, MN
Dates: November 22–December 27
Bentleyville is America’s largest free walk-through light display, and it has something for everyone!
Here’s what makes it special: as you soak in the wonder of five million dazzling lights, enjoy the complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and popcorn that are available to all visitors. Plus, you can roast marshmallows at the firepits scattered throughout the display. Kids ages 12 and under even get a Bentleyville knit hat and bag of cookies when they visit Santa!
Bentleyville prides itself on supporting families and communities, and encourages guests to bring a non-perishable food item or new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Salvation Army. The event runs from November 22 to December 27, and even displays a Crowd-O-Meter on its website to help you find the best time to visit.
Canad Inns Winter Wonderland
Winnipeg, MB
Dates: November 28–January 3
Drive through Canad Inns at Winnipeg’s transformed Red River Exhibition Park, featuring over two million lights along a 2.5 km route. Western Canada’s biggest drive-through holiday light show has 40 new displays this year, plus some big surprises that make it well worth the trip.
While the majority of the exhibit can be enjoyed from the warmth of your car (it even offers exclusive holiday radio programming as you drive along), there are plenty of enticing winter activities that are well worth braving the cold for, including: photo ops (for you and your pets!), outdoor skating, hayrides, and more. Warm drinks and treats are available to grab from the food stands on-site, and, while you’re there, be sure to check out Canada’s second biggest Christmas tree too!
Keep in mind that this is a ticketed event running from November 28, 2025 to January 3, 2026—so plan ahead. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Canad Inns Foundation and the Red River Exhibition Foundation.
Canyon Lights
North Vancouver, BC
Dates: November 21–January 18
Every year, North Van’s Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park transforms into a family-friendly holiday wonderland filled with millions of sparkling lights, merry music, and delicious treats. The beloved tradition gets a new update this year with its 3D wildlife projection “Wildlight,” where technology combines with nature to bring West Coast creatures to life. Other festive features include a North Pole photo spot, a whimsical rainforest adventure for kids, and dazzling lit-up versions of the regular Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk.
This ticketed event runs from November 21, 2025 until January 18, 2026, with partial proceeds from admissions going towards fire and burn education in schools across BC, Burn Camp, and the Twelve Nights of Christmas program, which offers free passes to local charities.
Christmas Tree Lane
Altadena, CA
Dates: December–January
Take a trip down Christmas Tree Lane, a century-old tradition in the heart of Altadena—and the oldest outdoor large-scale Christmas lighting display in the U.S. Each year from early December until the first week of January, 150 towering deodar cedar trees that line Santa Rosa Avenue are strung with over 10,000 lights.
Residents along the street also get into the spirit and cover their houses and lawns with elaborate displays and decorations. (Keep an eye on the Christmas Tree Lane website for news about the winner of the Holiday Decorating Contest!)
The trees along Christmas Tree Lane were spared from the devastating Eaton Fire that ravaged Altadena at the beginning of 2025, and the community is eager to come together in reflection and celebration this holiday season. With extensive tree removals happening across the area in the fire’s aftermath, this year’s event is also a moment to appreciate and protect everything that has survived, including these precious trees. It’s a chance to show up for the landscape that remains and acknowledge its resilience. (To learn more, check out the Altadena Green grassroots organization.)
Note that this living piece of California history is made possible thanks to the hard-working volunteers of the Christmas Tree Lane Association.
Halifax Public Gardens’ Holiday Lights
Halifax, NS
Dates: November 29–January 1
Kick off the holiday season by taking a free stroll through the Halifax Public Gardens. Part of the city’s Evergreen Festival, the gardens are aglow with festive cheer each night from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Bring along some hot cocoa and soak in the idyllic scenes as you follow a trail of twinkling lights from the main gates towards the bandstand.
Tip: for even more light displays, check out the Evergreen Bright installations spread out across downtown Halifax and the waterfront, which will be set up until December 14.
Holiday Wonder
Calgary, AB
Dates: November 27–January 3
Immerse yourself in the magic of the season at Calgary’s BMO Centre. Its Holiday Wonder event takes everything you love about this time of year and packs it into one massive indoor festival. Walk through tons of giant light displays, a life-sized gingerbread house, the “snowflake forest,” and a post office where kids can mail their letters to Santa. There’s even an indoor “snowball” area, because why not bring the snow inside?
Holiday Wonder is ticketed, and the whole attraction is designed to keep you moving from one setup to the next. No standing around wondering what to do—there’s always something fun to check out. Experience the excitement from November 27, 2025 to January 3, 2026. Best of all, since the entire festival is indoors, the weather isn’t going to ruin your plans!
Illumination: Tree Lights
Lisle, IL
Dates: November 15–January 3
The Morton Arboretum has turned 50 acres of trees into a walk-through light and sound experience. The fully-accessible trail runs across gardens and tree-filled areas, and features dozens of immersive light displays. Enjoy this ticketed event at your own pace from November 15, 2025 through January 3, 2026, and watch how light changes the way you see gorgeous winter scenery.
This year’s lineup includes live DJ performances, dog admission nights, and four stunning animal sculptures from the Arboretum’s Vivid Creatures exhibition.
Magic of Lights
Multiple destinations in Canada and the U.S.
Dates: November–January (varies by location)
Magic of Lights is a drive-through experience that uses LED technology and digital animations to bring holiday scenes to life. One price covers your whole car, so bring whoever fits! The real win? Magic of Lights has locations all over the U.S.—and several spots in Canada—so no one misses out.
Some locations also include a walkable holiday village, illuminated forest trails, and plenty of treats and hot chocolate, along with appearances from Santa on select nights before Christmas Eve. Be sure to get your photo before he has to leave for work!
Village of Lights: Christmastown
Leavenworth, WA
Dates: November 28–December 24
The charming town of Leavenworth was modelled on a Bavarian village, and every winter it transforms into a scene straight out of a holiday card. Over half a million lights keep it glowing from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with the gazebo at the town’s centre adding to the magic through a series of live performances and carollers over the course of the season.
The Christmastown festivities run until December 24, 2025, with a mix of free and ticketed events happening throughout, but the light display will stay up until February 28, 2026. Check the town’s website for the full lineup so you can plan around what interests you.
November and December bring the crowds and the energy—Christmas concerts, festive crafts and exhibits, tasty treats, and more. January and February deliver a quieter (although no less magnificent) experience with the same lights, fewer people, and more peaceful snow-covered strolls. Whenever you choose to go, there’s sure to be plenty of delightful winter activities to partake in. To get started, simply walk around, grab something warm to drink, and let the town do its thing.
Winter Festival of Lights
Niagara Falls, ON
Dates: November 15–January 4
Niagara Falls’ annual Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s biggest free outdoor light festival. With more than 75 displays and three million lights spread throughout the city, there’s a fresh batch of holiday cheer around every corner. (Tip: be sure to take advantage of the hot chocolate trail to help keep you warm as you wander around!)
Whether you’re looking for classic winter holidays vibes or something more, the Winter Festival has it all—from photos with Santa to fireworks and laser shows. And the falls themselves? They become part of the event! A new illumination called “Sparkling Winter Lights” lights up the falls, showcasing magical winter scenes. Between the snowfall, the frozen mist, and maybe even some aurora borealis, the backdrop does half the work.
The festival runs from November 15, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Since it’s completely free, you can always visit more than once and explore with an easy-to-download map.
Nupur Bagoria is a writer/editor who brings both precision and creativity to every project she takes on. When she’s not wrangling words or getting lost in books, you’ll find her deep in her latest DIY project or tending to her growing plant collection.
