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Best Holiday Lights Displays In Minnesota

The holiday season in Minnesota is always a magical time for family and the community. While winters can be long and cold, the holidays usually do a lot to warm everyone up and keep seasonal depression at bay. Minnesotans love to decorate and observe the season with traditions and time spent with family and friends. Many enjoy attending events, light shows, or just driving around to view ornately decorated neighborhoods and homes. These are some events and ideas for places to see holiday lights this year.

christmas lights
(credit: CBS)

Star Limousine Holiday Lights Tour
1299 Eagan Industrial Road
Eagan, MN 55121
(952) 895-0095
www.limostar.com

Relax and leave the driving to a professional. Rather than risking an accident from trying to drive and view holiday lights, hire a limo service to drive you around in comfort. Forget trying to find the best neighborhood to cruise — Star Limousine service knows all of the prime spots from having done holiday light tours for years. Choose your vehicle — they have options for two to 32 people — and bring some holiday spirits to enjoy with the tour. A video fireplace, Christmas music, glassware and ice are provided for a 2-3 hour tour.

Prairie Lights
George Moran Drive and Donegal Cove
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
www.prairielights.com

What's better than just lights? Lights and music! Add both of these festive and holiday "musts" and you have the Prairie Lights Display. Every year, the Prairie Lights can be seen on a very special house outside of Minneapolis, in Eden Prairie. A light show is synched with music that is played on the radio and the show is repeated every 15 minutes. The show starts on Nov. 25 and runs until Jan. 3 at dusk. The lights are computer controlled and a new musical piece is chosen each year. This is one fantastic show that is not to be missed!

holiday lights
(credit: Thinkstock)

Bentleyville
Bayfront Festival Park
700 Railroad St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 740-3535
www.bentleyvilleusa.org

Bentleyville is known as the biggest and best holiday light display in Minnesota. Taking over the entire Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Bentleyville is a sight that you have to see to believe. This display, located along the shores of Lake Superior, offers a giant walk-through spectacle featuring billions of lights, holiday music, concessions and even a visit from Santa. In the center of it all is a fire pit and a 128-foot Christmas tree. Enjoy this free event, but bring a donation of food or an unwrapped toy for those who may be struggling during the holidays this year. Bentleyville runs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 27.

Related:  Neighborhoods With The Best Holiday Lights In Minnesota

Lake Phalen Christmas Lights In The Park
1615 E. Phalen Drive
St. Paul, MN 55106
(651) 291-2820
www.stpaulpolicefoundation.com

Cruise around Lake Phalen in St. Paul between Nov. 20 and Jan. 1 to catch one of the most innovative and lively light shows this year. The community of St. Paul puts a drive-by display together each year to help raise money for the services and needs of the community. The charge is $10 a car, no matter how many friends you squeeze in, and the show is definitely worth it. Catch over 50 different animated light displays as you stay warm and comfortable in your car.

Hang Christmas Lights

Gerten's And Linder's Garden Center Holiday Lights Display
5500 Blaine Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
(651) 450-1501
www.gertens.com

Enjoy a fascinating light and Christmas display while getting some ideas for decorating your own home. Gerten's Garden Center, a Minnesotan business, features beautiful plants and over 80 decorated Christmas trees to see and enjoy. Over 10,000 lights highlight the display, and some great ornaments and gifts are available to see and purchase.

Related: Best Holiday Markets In Minnesota

Andrea Wodele is a freelance writer who has lived in the Twin Cities for the last 10 years. Her hobbies include exercising, driving kids around, watching Minnesota sports, and reading self-help literature. Examiner.com.

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