2023 Holiday Light Displays in Eastern/Central Iowa [LIST]
Festive holiday displays will be lit up all across Eastern and Central Iowa this year! Using Travel Iowa and Facebook, we put together a list of some of the best and brightest that you won't want to miss in 2023:
Holiday Lights at the Lake (Drive-Thru)
- West Overlook Campground, Iowa City
- Open from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year's Eve
- Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Wednesday evenings are walk-throughs ONLY - no vehicles
- Cost
- Car/Van - $10
- Mini Bus/Small Limo - $30
- School/Charter/Party Bus or Large Limo - $50
- Walk-through Wednesdays are $5 per person
- Cash is accepted at the gate - tickets can be purchased in advance HERE
Mount Pleasant Festival of Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Midwest Old Threshers Campground, Mount Pleasant
- Open from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year's Eve
- Nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Fun Run/Walk-Through November 18th & 19th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Cost
- Fun Run/Walk-Through is $5 per person (ages 4 and under are free)
https://www.facebook.com/MPFestivalofLights/photos/a.446531678791688/5487676941343778/
Five Seasons Lights (Walk-Through)
- McGrath Amphitheatre, Cedar Rapids
- Open December 1st through New Year's Eve
- Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Visits with Santa on Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- No cost to attend, but donations are accepted
Jolly Holiday Lights (Walk-Through)
- Outlets of Des Moines
- Open November 17th through January 7th (closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day)
- No cost to attend
- Ticketed Events (costs money to attend):
- Jolly Holiday Lights Kickoff Ceremony
- Breakfast With Santa
- Sip & Shop Night
Tannenbaum Forest (Walk-Through)
- Festhalle Barn, Amana Colonies
- Open Fridays through Sundays from November 24th to December 17th
- Holiday Fun & Games Weekend – November 24th through 26th
- Prelude to Christmas – December 1st through 3rd
- Children’s Weekend – December 8th through 10th
- Holiday Traditions Weekend – December 15th through 17th
- Admission is free, but free will donations to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital are encouraged
City of Christmas Display of Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Rand Park, Keokuk
- Open Thanksgiving through New Year's Day
- November 23rd from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- November 24th through December 23rd from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Christmas Eve open all night beginning at 5 p.m.
- Christmas Day through New Year's Day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- No cost to attend
Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland (Drive-Thru)
- Hawkeye Downs, Cedar Rapids
- Open November 17th through January 2nd
- Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (or later)
- Cost
- $24.95 per passenger vehicle (up to 8 people)
- $59.95 per activity van (up to 25 people)
- Purchase tickets HERE
Winter Wonderscape (Walk-Through)
- Reiman Gardens, Ames
- Thursdays through Saturdays in December
- Timed entry between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - gates close at 8 p.m. and event runs until 9 p.m.
- Cost
- $15 for adults
- $13 for Members & ISU Students
- $7 for ages 2 to 12
- Free for ages 2 and under
- Purchase tickets HERE
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=515630273927704&set=pb.100064422081833.-2207520000&type=3
Festival of Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Lost Island KOA Resort, Waterloo
- December 1st through 3rd, 8th through 10th, and 15th through 17th
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sundays are for walk-throughs ONLY
- Cost is $20 per vehicle
https://www.facebook.com/HoHCedarValley/photos/pb.100076292649169.-2207520000/227625393074603/?type=3
Holiday Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Pulpit Rock Campground, Decorah
- Open nightly from Thanksgiving through Christmas Night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Walk-through Night Wednesday, November 22nd from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Fireworks show on Tuesday, December 12th starting at 6:30 p.m.
- Cost is a free-will donation for Helping Services for Youth & Families
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=534960318679072&set=pb.100064953241252.-2207520000&type=3
Symphony of Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Eagle Point Park, Clinton
- Open nightly from Thanksgiving through December 30th
- Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost is $8 per car with an additional $2 per person in vehicles with more than 10 people
Jingle Bright Holiday Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Delaware County Fairgrounds, Manchester
- Open Fridays through Sundays in December (plus Christmas Day)
- 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Cost is a free-will donation
Painting with Lights
- Downtown Oskaloosa
- "This holiday celebration illuminates Oskaloosa's downtown buildings with over 200,000 lights. The brilliant display covers all four sides of the town square"
- New Dancing Lights Show at City Square Park
- Lights will be turned on November 18th and will turn on each evening until January 7th
- The 36th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, December 2nd at 7 p.m.
Merry-N County Christmas (Drive-Thru)
- Marion County Park, Knoxville
- Open Fridays through Sundays from November 17th through December 24th
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Cost is a free-will donation
https://www.facebook.com/THRIVEKnoxville/photos/pb.100069231005278.-2207520000/1481982665622308/?type=3
Holiday Nights 'N Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Greater Ottumwa Park
- Open November 18th through December 29th
- Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost is $10 in advance at any Elliott Oil location or $12 at the gate - season passes are $45
https://www.facebook.com/GOPIPOttumwa/photos/a.385707008637419/1331450840729693/
Lights at Kennedy (Drive-Thru)
- Kennedy Park Campground, Fort Dodge
- Open December 8th through 10th, 15th through 17th, and 22nd through 23rd
- 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost is a free-will donation
Santa’s Rock n Lights (Drive-Thru)
- Living History Farms, Urbandale
- Open "most days" from November 24th through December 31st
- Cost is $29.99 to $36.99 per vehicle (up to six people)
- $7 extra per person over 6 people
- Tickets MUST be purchased in advance - get them HERE
https://www.facebook.com/santasrocknlights/photos/gm.537411434971735/3496350157262691/
Lights in the Park (Drive-Thru)
- Sumner City Park
- Open nightly from November 18th through sometime between Christmas and the New Year
- 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Christmas Tree Lighting November 18th at 5 p.m.
- Cost is free, but donations are accepted as you exit the park
Little Light of Mine (Drive-Thru)
- Mikkelson Park, New Hampton
- Open November 23rd through December 31st
- Horse-drawn Wagon Rides - November 24th & 25th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ($5)
- Santa & Fireworks - December 9th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Cost is a free-will donation
https://www.facebook.com/littlelightofminenh/photos/a.1524772714272222/3493961684019972/
Reflections In The Park (Drive-Thru)
- Louis Murphy Park, Dubuque
- Open November 23rd through January 1st
- 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Walk-Through Event on November 22nd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ($10 for ages 4 and up)
- Cost is $12 per vehicle - advance tickets can be bought at DB&T Banking locations for $10 per vehicle
https://www.facebook.com/478555322658383/photos/pb.100069152975690.-2207520000/1001581003689143/?type=3
Hickory Hills Holiday Light Show (Drive-Thru)
- Hickory Hills Park, La Porte City
- Open Fridays & Saturdays in December
- 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost is $10 per vehicle
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=509571544530377&set=pb.100064326086159.-2207520000&type=3
Waverly Lights (Drive-Up)
- 103 Eliasen Ave, Waverly
- Open daily through January 1st
- Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Show is 20 minutes long
- Cost is free, but donations for St. Jude Children's Hospital can be placed in the green donation box at the end of the driveway
https://www.facebook.com/waverlylights/videos/458831986228381
Blue Creek Christmas (Drive-Up)
- 4942 Blue Creek Ct, Walker
- Open daily through January 7th
- Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Show is 25 minutes long
- Cost is free, but donations for Center Point American Legion are accepted
Festival of Lights, West Union (Drive-Thru & Walk-Through)
- West Union Recreation Center
- Open daily through New Year's Eve
- 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost is free, but donations are accepted
https://www.facebook.com/100064741204284/videos/1318351629004334
Krumwiede Light Display (Drive-Up)
- 3708 5th Ave NW, Waverly
- Open daily through December 30th
- Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost is free, but donations are accepted
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=483200803815049&set=pb.100063753991982.-2207520000&type=3
Iowans Show Off Their Most Beautiful Photos of the State
Gallery Credit: Courtlin
The Lions and Dogs of Brucemore Mansion
Gallery Credit: Brucemore