Tis the season to be merry and bright! And to find all of the holiday lights! Blue and I have compiled a list of holiday lights, walks and festive spots to explore with your pup!
First start with light displays (walkable or drive through)
Load up your pup and head out to experience these awesome holiday light displays. If you want a quieter experience head out during the week or later in the evening. Weekends will be busier with families and kids especially for walkable events.
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ONE BAZILLION LIGHTS! Ok not that much but they do have 2.5 MILLION lights in an epic 2 mile drive through display. Dogs are welcome in vehicles. Visit the website to reserve your time for driving through (it helps them manage traffic)
- Now until December 28th, 2025 / $30 per car Sunday – Thursday / $45 on Friday & Sat
- Tuesdays – special pricing!
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Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club Winter Wonderland
Load up your pup for this drive through tour of more than 80 displays! Snag your tickets online to save $5 vs paying at the gate.
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Snag your pup and head to Egan to experience a dazzling light display from the coziness of your car (dogs must stay in your are at all times). Book your ticket before you get there to save!
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Country Lights Festival, Sartell MN
Each night the lights turn on from dusk to dawn, now until the end of December, giving you and your pup TONS of time to toodle around and see the lights. The display loops around Lake Francis – watch out for the kiddie train! Dogs are welcome to explore and walk through the 33 acre display with you as long as they stay on leash. Free admission (donations are welcome). Santa arrives on December 12th.
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850 19th Street South, Sartell, Minnesota 56377
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- Celebrate the Light of the World, Willmar MN
Cozy up in your car with your dog as gawk at the more than 800,000 lights (with a mere 350 extension cords powering them!). No fee for viewing the lights, donations go to support 4 local non profits!- Robbins Island Regional Park, 333 6th St SW, Willmar, MN 5620
- Robbins Island Regional Park, 333 6th St SW, Willmar, MN 5620
- Sam’s Christmas Village, Sommerset WI
Dogs are happily welcome at Sam’s Christmas Village! Make sure you dog stays leashed and you have ample poo bags on hand. The village can get busy, so it may not be ideal for dogs who aren’t fond of busy crowds and noise. Stroll the lights, visit the market and have a merry time.You’ll need to snag tickets before you go!- Sam’s Christmas Village, 710 Spring St, Somerset, WI 54025
- FOR NEXT YEAR: Miracle at Big Rock, St. Croix Falls WI – Nov 30th is dog night!
Ok, so we’re a little late to the game with this one, save it for next year! On the dog night, dogs can walk through the display and experience the lights in person with you. Other than the specific dog night Miracle at Big Rock is NOT DOG FRIENDLY.
Want other ways to enjoy the lights with your dog and get a nice stroll in? Well we’ve got a GINORMOUS list of places you can find even more holiday lights (plus some tree lighting ceremonies!
- Anoka City Hall River Plaza, 2015 1st Ave, Anoka, (December 6 tree lighting)
- Tom Ryan Park & City Hall Atrium, 10801 Town Square Drive NE, Blaine, Minnesota
- Family Community Center, 521 6th Street North, Breckenridge MN
- Paul Bunyan Park, Bemidji, Minnesota,
- Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville
- Gazebo Park Lights Up December 6, 2025 / City of Carver – in historic downtown
- Mississippi Crossings, 307 E River Pkwy, Champlin, MN 55316 (Dec 6th tree lighting)
- Wisconsin Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604
- Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, 6970 LaMotte Drive, Centerville MN (Dec 13th)
- Briana Scurry Field, 12260 Diamond Lake Road, Dayton, MN, 55327
- City & Fire Hall City of Elko 601 Main Street Elko New Market, MN 55054 (Dec 6th tree lighting)
- Over the River Holiday Festival, Fergus Falls, Spies Riverfront Park (December 13th tree lighting)
- Lakeside Memorial Park, 95 East Broadway, Forest Lake
- Selvig Park, Harmony MN (Dec 6th tree lighting)
- Light Up Lake Elmo, downtown Lake Elmo (Dec 6th tree lighting)
- Memorial Park, 30525 Linden Street, Lindström, MN 55045 (Dec 6th tree lighting)
- Nordic Plaza 729 Washington Ave N Minneapolis, MN
- Minnetrista City Campus, 7701 County Rd 110 W
- Memorial Park New Prague MN
- German Park, 200 N German St, New Ulm, MN 56073 (40’ upside down tree!)
- City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue N, Oakdale, MN, United States, Minnesota 55128
- 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Ramsey, MN 55303
- 4100 Lakeview Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
- 21st Century Bank Event Center 12716 Main Street, Rogers, MN, 55374 (Dec 5th)
- St. Joseph’s JoeTown WinterWalk Festival (Dec 5th)
- Union Depot’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting (Dec 6th)
- Mears Park, 221 5th Street East, Saint Paul, MN, 55101
- Rice Park, 109 W 4th St, Saint Paul, MN, 55102
- Chestnut Plaza, Stillwater (Dec 5th – 7th)
- City Square Park, Waconia
- Waverly Village Hall 201 S 4th St, Waverly, MN 55390
- Railroad Park, 26755 Faxton Ave, Wyoming, MN 55092
- IDS Center, 717 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 55402 / Winteropolis
- Albertville Central Park, 5801 Main Ave NE, Albertville, MN , 55301
- Andover Community Center, 15200 Hanson Blvd NW, Andover, MN, 55304 (tree lighting Dec 5th)
- Anoka City Hall, 2015 S 1st Avenue, Anoka, MN, 55303 (Dec 6th)
- Community Activity Center, 5600 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55443 (Dec 20th)
- Sturges Park, 505 2nd Ave S, Buffalo, MN , 55313 ( Dec 6th)
- Mississippi Crossings, 307 E River Pkwy, Champlin, MN, 55316 (Dec 5th)
- Boulevard Plaza, 11002 Crooked Lake Blvd, Coon Rapids, MN, 55433 (13th)
- Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Drive N, Crystal, MN , 55429 (Dec 6th)
- Delano Central Park, 650 River Street North, Delano, MN, 55328
- Rivers Edge Commons, 679 Main St NW, Elk River, MN, 55330
- Oak Grove City Hall Park, 19900 Nightingale St NW, Oak Grove, MN, 55011 (Dec 5th)
- Boerboom Park, 415 Central Ave, Osseo, MN, 55369 (Dec 5th)
- Prairie Center, 8899 Nashua Avenue NE, Otsego, MN, 55330
- Ramsey City Hall, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Ramsey, MN, 55303
- Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Avenue North, Robbinsdale, MN, 55422
- 21st Century Bank Event Center, 12716 Main Street, Rogers, MN, 55374 (Dec 5th – 6th)
- Town Center Park, 11800 Town Center Dr NE, St Michael, MN, 55376 (Dec 6th)
- Tom Ryan Park, 10802 Town Square Drive Northeast, Blaine, MN, 55449
- Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, 1597 Lamotte Dr, Centerville, MN, 55038 (13th)
- Lakeside Memorial Park, 95 East Broadway Avenue, Forest Lake, MN, 55025 (5th)
- Ham Lake Lions Park, 1220 157th Avenue Northeast, Ham Lake, MN, 55304 (Dec 6th)
- Lakefront Park, 505 First Street, Hudson, WI, 54016
- Hugo Lions Park, 5524 Upper 146th Street North, Hugo, MN, 55038
- Downtown Lake Elmo, Lake Elmo, MN, 55042 (6th)
- Maplewood Mall, 3001 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, MN, 55109
- Mounds View City Hall Park, 2401 County Hwy 10, Mounds View, MN , 55112 (Dec 5th)
- 7th Avenue, 7th Avenue, North St Paul, MN, 55109 (Dec 6th)
- Oakdale Discovery Center & Nature Preserve, 4444 Hadley Ave N, Oakdale, MN , 55128 (Dec 20th)
- Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Avenue N, Oakdale, MN
- Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th Street North, Scandia, MN, 55073
- Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN , 55126
- Lowell Park, 201 Water St N, Stillwater, MN, 55082 (Dec 6th)
- Taylors Falls Lighting Festival, Taylors Falls, MN, 55084
- Downtown, White Bear Lake, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110 (Dec 6th)
- Railroad Park, 26755 Faxton Ave, Wyoming, MN, 55092 (Dec 6th)
- Afton Town Square Park, 3418 St. Croix Trail S, Afton, MN , 55001 (Dec 5th)
- Apple Valley Municipal Center, 7100 147th Street West, Apple Valley, MN, 55124
- Nicollet Commons Park, 12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN, 55337
- Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Pkwy, Cottage Grove, MN, 55016
- Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan, MN, 55121
- Downtown, Farmington, Farmington, MN , 55024 (Dec 6th)
- Hastings City Hall, 101 4th Street East, Hastings, MN, 55033
- Veterans Memorial Community Center, 8055 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights, MN , 55077 (Dec 5th)
- Simley Island Park, 3110 80th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN, 55076
- Downtown Lakeville, Lakeville, Lakeville, MN, 55044 (Dec 6th)
- Steeple Center, 14375 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN, 55068
- Central Square Community Center, 100 Seventh Avenue North, South St Paul, MN, 55075
- Chanhassen Recreation Center, 2310 Coulter Boulevard, Chanhassen, MN, 55317 (Dec 6th)
- Downtown Chaska, Chaska, MN, 55318 (Dec 6th)
- Firemen’s Park, 3210 Chaska Blvd, Chaska, MN, 55318
- 50th & France, 50th & France, Edina, MN , 55425
- Downtown Excelsior, Excelsior, MN, 55331
- Mainstreet, Mainstreet & 10th Avenue, Hopkins, MN, 55343
- Pekarna Park, 148 Water Street, Jordan, MN, 55352 (6th)
- Ridgedale Commons, 12590 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN, 55305 (Dec 6th)
- Minnetrista City Hall, 7701 County Road 110 W, Minnetrista, MN, 55364
- Mound Veterans Memorial Plaza, 2415 Wilshire Boulevard, Mound, MN, 55364
- Lakefront Park, 5000 Kop Parkway SE, Prior Lake, MN, 55372 (Dec 5th)
- Richfield City Garage, 1901 E 66th Street, Richfield, MN, 55423 (Dec 11th)
- Savage City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN, 55378
- Downtown Shakopee, 1st Avenue & Lewis Street, Shakopee, MN, 55379 (Dec 6th)
- Bayfront Park, 1730 Steiger Lake Lane, Victoria, MN, 55386
- City Square Park, 51 Pine Street, Waconia, MN , 55387
- Watertown City Center Park, 112 Lewis Ave S, Watertown, MN, 55388 (Dec 6th)
- Depot Park, 402 Lake Street East, Wayzata, MN, 55391
Whew! What a huge list of holiday-light adventures to explore!
As you head out, keep things fun and stress-free for your pup: keep them leashed, bring poop bags, and check in to make sure they’re comfortable with the atmosphere. Tree-lighting events can be a lot—crowds, music, countdowns, fireworks, excited kiddos… all the things.
If that feels overwhelming for your dog, skip the ceremony and visit afterward instead. Most displays stay lit through the end of December, which means plenty of time to find a magical backdrop of twinkling lights for your holiday photos!
Holiday lights are pure magic — and when you pair them with your dog, the results are downright heart-melting. Whether you explore a bustling festival or wander a quiet neighborhood street, each outing is a chance to create a little sparkle, a little memory, and a whole lot of joy together.
So bundle up, grab some treats, and go find those twinkles! And if you want help capturing EPIC, professional-level holiday portraits of your dog, I’d love to make that magic with you.
Ready to book a Holiday Lights Session?
Tap reply or reach out — let’s create something unforgettable this season.
