The most magical time of year is here!
I don’t know about you, but the sparkle in my children’s eyes and their excitement about the holiday season make my heart go pitter-patter. What a perfect time to start family traditions!
One of our favorite things to do as a family each year is visit local light displays. It’s a magical evening of pure nostalgia; each location offers a unique and beautiful experience.
Here I have compiled a list of Wisconsin holiday lights and displays that are near and dear.
Holiday Fantasy in Lights in Madison
Olin Park, 1156 Olin Turville Dr., Madison
November 9-January 4
Free (with encouragement of donations)
Olin Park’s Holiday Fantasy Lights is an exceptional place for festive lights. I have memories of visiting since I was a child, and now I bring my children each year. There is something extraordinarily magical about the lights — seeing an eclectic mix of holiday scenes and images depicted with colorful bulbs as you drive through the park, along with an astonishing view of the Wisconsin State Capitol and the glistening of city lights reflecting off Lake Mendota.
More info here.
Rotary Lights in La Crosse
Riverside Park, 410 Veteran Memorial Dr., La Crosse
November 29-December 31
Free (with encouragement of donations)
Let me start by saying that La Crosse does not mess around when it comes to their holiday rotary lights and displays! They have everything you need on sight to make you feel as if you are in the middle of a Hallmark Christmas movie. You can enjoy the rotary lights by walking, driving or a princess carriage ride through the park — and how many times can you say that you rode in a carriage through a pathway of thousands of twinkling Christmas lights and music? You can savor hot chocolate and homemade treats inside the large gingerbread house, and the park hosts several events such as breakfast with Santa, an ugly sweater run, a local choir, Santa with live reindeer and live music and more during the holiday season.
More info here.
Rotary in Lights in Waunakee
Waunakee Village Park, 410 E. Main St., Waunakee
November 24-December 29
Free (with donations expected)
My children and I ended here on a whim last year, and boy I am glad that we did. This felt like one of those “everything happens for a reason” moments and will forever be a traditional visit for us. Each year, thousands of families drive or walk through Waunakee’s Village Park to enjoy the lights display, which started fifteen years ago with a few Christmas lights. With a large and lifelike gingerbread house, a large gazebo and a path of thousands of lights and lit displays all reflecting off of a large pond in the center, it felt as if we were walking through a real gingerbread village.
More info here.
Holiday Light Show in Janesville
Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville
November 29- December 26
$10 adults, $5 children under 13, free for kids 2 and under. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.
This holiday light show hosts local musicians, plus live entertainment with Santa! Dress warmly and take your time walking under the Christmas lights through a twenty-acre landscape. Peaceful Illuminated trails are perfect for photo opportunities, and the littles will love playing in the life-size elf house and walkway of lively animated displays! Afterward, warm up with homemade holiday cookies, hot chocolate and even pizza.
More info here.
Oshkosh Celebration of Lights
520 Pratt Tr., Oshkosh
November 29-January 5
$10 per car, $1 off with canned food donation
Wisconsin’s largest holiday light and music display is a tradition eighteen years in the making! Drive through an enchanting mile-long dazzling lit roadway with snow sculptures and a hundred-foot-tall Christmas tree along the shoreline of Lake Winnebago. The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights offers several family-oriented activities, such as workshops with Santa, crafts and games in the elves’ secret hideout.
More info here.
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
Downtown Milwaukee
November 21-January 1
Free, bus rides $1
Last but definitely not least, this is for sure on our family Christmas bucket list this year! The festival sees three downtown parks — Cathedral Square Park, Pere Marquette Park and Zeidler Union Square — lit up with lights and animated displays. Walk through downtown Milwaukee to view the glowing holiday lights, or for a buck take hop on the Jingle Bus! Relax with your loved ones and enjoy a forty-minute tour with narration by Milwaukee Downtown’s Public Service Ambassadors, who highlight downtown landmarks and the most decorated scenes. There are also many family-friendly activities scheduled at the parks throughout the festival.
More info here.
I hope that you can take time and visit one or many of the light displays mentioned here. Holidays can be a stressful time and can seem like the busiest time of year. Take time to slow down this year, live in the moment with your family and create lasting traditions and memories that may be carried on for many generations to come with your children. Remember, you can never take too many pictures, give to many hugs, read too many books or watch too many holiday movies!
Photo by Alexis Phillips.