The Best List of Christmas Light Displays in Wisconsin

best light displays in wisconsin

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Christmas is a time for family, friends, and Christmas Light Displays! In order to get in the holiday spirit, we have compiled a list of some of the best Christmas light displays in Wisconsin. If you’re looking for an amazing Christmas experience this year, make sure to check out one of these spectacular light shows! In case you didn’t know it, Wisconsin is one of the best states in the country to view magical holiday light shows. There are excellent displays to visit no matter what part of the state you reside in.

The Best Christmas Light Displays in Wisconsin

If you are hoping to take your family on a tour of Christmas lights and you are wondering what the best places are for you to visit, check out this great list of Christmas Light Displays throughout the state. Below you will find some of the best public Christmas light displays as well as residential lights and Christmas tree lighting ceremonies.

The Best Christmas Light Displays in Wisconsin

We love to make a thermos of hot chocolate, get our Christmas Lights BINGO cards out, and pop that holiday music on the radio as we check out the festive displays with the whole family.

Cambridge Christmas Lights

Lake Ripley Park Holiday Lights

Get into the holiday spirit with a light display in Cambridge’s Lake Ripley Park. Drive through nearly a half-mile of holiday lights and displays. Daily, November 30 – January 1

Green Bay Christmas Lights:

Titletown has a lot of great light displays! Make sure to check out the Christmas tree in Lambeau Field!

Santa’s Rock N Lights

This is a one-mile drive-thru light show with what feels like a million lights! With nearly 1,000 programmable elements and over 100,000 animated twinkling lights dancing to Christmas music the Brown County Fairgrounds are transformed into a winter wonderland.

This one is not free – tickets must be purchased in advance, you can make changes to your reservations if needed. All payments are final with no refunds.

  • $19.99 – $29.99 per carload, admission includes one vehicle with up to 6 people
  • Tickets are sold with a timeslot. Arrive within 30 minutes after your selected time.

Winter Jubilee Light Show

This is a free 7-minute projection show that features holiday-themed lights, music, animation, lasers, and even fireworks. The best spots to watch are from the Titletown District Plaza on Ridge Road or Lots 5 and 6 at Lambeau Field. Full details of all the fun available to experience at titletown.com.

Special days and hours and it plays every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour from 6 to 9 p.m.

Mark your calendars for Nov. 26-27, Dec. 3-4, Dec. 10, Dec. 17-18, Dec. 22-24, Dec. 26-30, and 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 on the west facade of Lambeau Field. This is a free event.

Holiday Lights Experience 

This is the first year of this drive-thru experience from the De Pere Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department. There will be ground displays as well. It is FREE and on weekends only (5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10-11, Dec. 17-18, and Dec.23-26) at Voyageur Park, De Pere. This is a free event.

WPS Garden of Lights

With more than 325,000 lights in nature-themed displays throughout the Green Bay Botanical Garden you can see them by walking through the 1.5 miles of trails or taking a horse-drawn wagon ride. You need to buy tickets in advance for a specific date and entry time at gbbg.org to limit capacity and spread out crowds during the 4½ hours the lights are on.

The tickets run $5-20 for general admission, depending on age, kind of tour, and which night you choose to go. Entry times are every 30 minutes beginning at 4:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. (7 p.m. for wagon rides).

CityDeck and Downtown Lights

With trees and sculptures in blue is back with several additions, including a mosaic tree, you can see displays nightly on CityDeck along the Fox River, north and south Washington Street, and the Broadway District, all in downtown Green Bay.

On North Washington Street, near Packers Heritage Trail Plaza, the trees get green and gold lights year-round. You’ll find more blue and white trees on South Washington Street across from the Meyer Theatre. This is a free event.

Janesville Christmas Lights

Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show

This one should be on your Christmas list! This is the 25th year of the Rotary Holiday Lights and this year’s display features more than one million lights, festive displays, and animations. Make sure you get your tickets in advance for this massive display as they won’t be for sale at the door. Prices run $5-10 with children 2 and under free.

“We recently visited Janesville for an episode of “The Traveling Cheesehead Visits…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4-4sp4qmVI

Madison Christmas Lights

Best Places to Cruise for fantastic light displays

  • University Avenue at University Bay Drive
  • North Yellowstone Drive
  • Nightingale Lane (Cottage Grove)
  • Lacy Road (Fitchburg)

Fantasy In Lights

With over 50 light displays, The holiday fantasy in lights is a nice drive-through event where you listen to holiday tunes on your car radio and you get free candy canes at the end of it! Olin Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Court, Madison from 4:30-10 PM daily, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. This is a free event.

Henry Vilas Zoo

Enjoy a warm beverage (extra cost for hot cider or hot cocoa) as you take a stroll down candy cane lane and enjoy the festive sights and sounds. Thousands of zoo lights will transform the zoo into a winter wonderland that’s not to be missed. 702 S. Randall, starts the day after Thanksgiving and runs Fridays-Sundays from 5:30 pm – 9 pm until December 30th.| Tickets available for $10 each, kids 3 and under are free. Get a 4-pack of tickets for $35

Milwaukee Christmas Lights

Milwaukee Area Christmas Lights

Candy Cane Lane Light Display

This neighborhood display began in the 80s as a way to raise money for a neighborhood child with cancer. It has grown exponentially since then.

You’ll enter to find a winter wonderland with candy cane-wrapped trees and over 300 houses full of festive holiday lights. You can drive (with your lights on) or walkthrough for a chance to see Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus spreading holiday cheer.

Don’t forget to leave a donation for the MACC fund (which fights childhood cancer) at 95th and Manitoba!

West Allis between 92nd-96th St. and between Montana Avenue and Oklahoma Avenue from Nov. 26 – Dec 26, 2021, with the hours of Monday-Thursday, 6-9 p.m.; Friday 6-10 p.m.; Saturday 5-10 p.m.; Sunday 5-9 p.m.

Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival

3 separate parks in Milwaukee are transformed with thousands of lights. You can even take the Jingle Bus for a narrated tour. Downtown Milwaukee, including Pere Marquette Park, Cathedral Square Park, and Zeidler Union Square, Wisconsin Avenue

Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens

If you are looking for something amazing this holiday season, how about a spectacular drive-through holiday light with more than one million LED lights? The 2021-2022 show has been re-designed by theatrical lighting designer “Laser Bob” Mullins and his talented team and improved from last year with additional displays and even more lighting to highlight the natural beauty of Whitnall Park.

With a 1.5 mile-long trail, you can even drive by Santa!

It is at Whitnall Park, 6751 S. 92nd Street, Frankl from Nov. 19, 2021 – Jan. 2, 202. The hours are 5-10 p.m. (Line opens at 4:30 p.m., Last entry at 9:30 p.m.) and the cost is $25/carload

The Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights

20 minutes South of Milwaukee, the Christmas Carnival of Lights bills itself as “Wisconsin’s biggest and brightest drive–thru” with more than 2 million colorful lights covering a 1.6-mile path through the campground. The fun is found at Jellystone Park Camp-Resort (8425 Hwy 38, Caledonia, WI 53108) from Nov. 20, 2021 – Jan. 1, 2022 (Closed 11/22-11/26 & Christmas Day). Hours: Sunday-Thursday 5-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5-11 p.m. Cost: $30 per car (up to 8 people)

Wonderland of Lights at Racine Zoo

Who needs the North Pole this Christmas season when some of the best Christmas lights can be found at the Racine Zoo? With new displays and a 96-foot tunnel, it’s a great unique experience to take the kids to. It is at 2131 N. Main St., Racine, from Nov. 19, 2021-Jan. 2, 2022 (open every day, including New Year’s Day/holidays!) The hours are from 6-9 p.m. and the cost is $5 per person with kids 2 and under FREE

Sun Prairie Christmas Lights

When looking at Christmas Light Displays in Wisconsin , I can’t leave out my hometown!

Winning Best of Sun Prairie a few years – check out 2000 Colorado Avenue. Jeremy and Stephanie have a ton of lights going from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

Waunakee Christmas Lights

Waunakee’s Village Park transforms into a winter wonderland with light-lined streets and holiday displays. Enjoy the lights either on foot or from the comfort of your own vehicle. Daily from November 21 to New Year’s Eve.

Other Public Light Displays

  • Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights in Caledonia – Featuring thousands of light displays that stretch over a mile, a Santa, and a gift shop.
  • Phoenix Park Lighting Display in Eau Claire – While there are a somewhat small amount of lights (around 30,000) in this display, the trees in Phoenix Park are lit up beautifully lighting the way to the Phoenix Park Bridge.
  • La Crosse Rotary Lights – This display features an impressive 3 million lights along with Santa and his reindeer, hayrides, and live music. Oh…don’t forget about the Ugly Sweater 5k!
  • Festival of Lights in Ladysmith – This display features thousands of lights, a live nativity scene, and music
  • The Rotary Winter Wonderland in Marshfield – Featuring over 1 million lights, a Santa, and horse-drawn carriage rides
  • Rotary Making Spirits Bright in Sheboygan – Featuring a drive-through display over 1 mile long with large choreographed displays.
  • Country Christmas Light Show in Waukesha – Features over 250 displays and over 1 million lights.
Christmas Tree Lighting Celebrations

Christmas Tree Lighting Celebrations

This time of year many communities are excited to share their holiday light displays as well as getting Santa Claus to make an appearance before Christmas Eve keeps him busy! A Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is a great way to create a festive backdrop for the other events to experience.

First of all, the State Capitol Tree Lighting. December 3, 12 – 1 p.m. Inside the Capitol Rotunda for an hour-long presentation with remarks from the Governor and music from a youth choir. Learn where this year’s giant tree is from, and see the ornaments created by kids from across Wisconsin.

  • Middleton Tree Lighting – November 20, 4 – 5:15 p.m. Start with popcorn and cider at the Middleton Area Historical Society and Rowley House Museum. There’s crafts, hot chocolate, games and dance performances. Santa will arrive at Middleton City Hall to light the tree and take photos at 5:15 p.m.
  • New Glarus Tree Lighting – December 4, 6:30 p.m. Their daily Adventsfenster window will be revealed, followed by tree lighting. Visit the Depot for treats and enjoy music from carolers and the holiday alphorns. It really seems like a Christmas village.
  • Oregon Tree Lighting – December 3, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Santa rides into town on a firetruck to light Oregon’s holiday tree. Afterward, head to the local fire station for a chili dinner and photos with Santa.
  • Stoughton Tree Lighting – December 2 – 5 Stoughton’s weekend-long holiday celebration is overflowing with old-world charm. The annual lighting of the Love light Tree kicks off a weekend of music, artisanal shopping, local food, and more.
  • Sun Prairie Tree Lighting – December 4, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Firetrucks dress in their holiday best as they lead the parade to a tree-lighting celebration with Santa.
  • Verona Tree Lighting – December 4, 5 – 7 p.m. The tree lighting ceremony is at 5:20 p.m. at Central Park. See Santa ride in on a firetruck, and enjoy a drive-thru chili supper at the Verona Senior Center.
  • Waunakee Tree Lighting – December 3, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Join Santa and his dancing elves for Waunakee’s community tree lighting. There will be Rotary Lights at Village Park, boutiques open for shopping, and a parade heading down Main Street at 6:30 p.m.

We hope that helps you find some holiday cheer – between drive though displays, local tree lighting celebrations, and holiday light shows, how can you go wrong? Seriously, get yourself a set of Christmas Lights BINGO cards and have fun yourself!

Did we miss one that should be on our list of Christmas light displays in Wisconsin? Tell us in the comments!

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