The Best Christmas Light Displays around St. Louis

One our family’s favorite holiday traditions is to drive around and look at the colorful light displays. Some of these trips are through elaborate set ups in various parks with millions of lights. Other displays are put up by festive homeowners who go all out to celebrate the season. No matter which side of the river you are on, here is a list of some great spots to check out this year.

*List has been updated with new events and dates for 2022!

Lights in Illinois

Rock Springs Park Christmas Wonderland – Alton, IL
More than 4 million lights are on view at this drive through display at Rock Springs Park. View cascading waterfalls of lights and lighted trees and displays. Alton is also home to some beautiful old homes and worth a drive through the historic districts to see the grand homes in full Christmas decorations.

Where: 2116 College Ave., Rock Spring Park, Alton, IL 62002
When: Open November 25-December 27, Monday – Friday: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The popular walk-thru night will be back on Monday, Nov. 28 from 6 – 9pm. No vehicles allowed.
Cost: Suggested donation is $7 per car or $1 per person for vehicles with 10 people or more. Admission for the walk through night is $1 per person. 

Winter Wonderland – Lebanon, IL
Lebanon’s Horner Park will once again light up with the Christmas Winter Wonderland. This park features a variety of handcrafted cut outs of various holiday characters, thousands of lights, and a huge waving Santa display. New surprises show up each year on this cute and fun display put on entirely by volunteers.

Where: Horner Park, 11109 Widicus Road, Lebanon, Illinois
When: November 18 – December 31,
Sunday – Thursday 5 p.m.- 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cost: Free. Donations are welcome and normally collected upon entering.

Christmas in Carlyle – Carlyle, IL
Carlyle will kick off the holiday season with their lighted parade the day after Thanksgiving. That same evening, the beautiful light display will light up city park. This is one of our favorite small town displays. Keep an eye for Piper the Penguin. This lighted penguin moves around the park. If you find him, you can enter to win!

Where: 1096 Lake Road, Carlyle, Illinois
When: On November 25th, the Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks at 7:30 p.m. at the City Park. The light display is open November 25- Jan 8, 5 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Cost: Free. Donations are welcome and normally collected upon entering.

Way of Lights – Belleville, IL
Visiting the Way of Lights at the National Shrine of Our Lady Snows is a yearly annual tradition for many metro-east families. This beautiful drive through display features over one million lights depicting the Journey to Bethlehem.

The Visitor’s Center hosts a quilt raffle, decorated trees, and a Lego display. Additional activities include camel & pony rides, petting zoo, and more. Families can enjoy discounts on these activities on Family Tuesdays.

Where: The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. DeMazenod Dr. Belleville.
When: November 18- December 31
Visitor Center open 10 am -9 pm and Tree Display open noon – 9 pm
Outdoor Light Display: 5-9 p.m. nightly (Other exhibits are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas & New Year’s Day but lights are still on.) 
Cost: Free for light display although donations are welcome. Free plush animal with donation of $17 or more.
Lego Display is $5 for anyone ages 4 and up. Camel rides are $8. Carriage rides are also available for additional charge. Family nights on Tuesdays include discounts on activities.

Bethalto Christmas Village – Bethalto, IL
Bethalto Christmas Village is a free, walk through event designed to share the Spirit of Christmas throughout the community and region. The Arboretum in Bethalto will have a one mile walk past lighted trees, glass cottages filled with winter scenes, and more.

On weekends, adjacent Central Park will host Santa in the gazebo, a live nativity, barrel car rides for children, and more. Beverages and food can be purchased. 
Where: E Central St, Bethalto, IL 62010
When: Arboretum light display open daily at 5 p.m. from November 26 – Jan
Central Park attractions will be open 5 to 8 p.m. November 26-27, December 3-4, 10-11, 17- 18.
Cost: Free

Coulterville Holiday Light Display – Coulterville, IL
This small town goes all out for Christmas in an impressive display. Coulterville’s Light Display now spans 15 blocks with two million lights and 600 figures. The City Park features a walk through display of another million lights and decorations. Highlights include a life size Candyland, Frozen ice palace, and Santa’s Playland. Kids can hunt for Blizzard the Elf before stopping at the local DQ for a free Blizzard treat if they find him.

Fri, Sat, and Sun nights include special visits from Santa and his friends plus free hot chocolate, treats, and goodie bags for kids.
Where: 102 W Grant St, Coulterville, IL 62237
When: December 2nd – December 26th, nightly dusk – 9 p.m.
Weekend special kids activities are 5-8 p.m.
Cost: Free

American Farm Heritage Museum Christmas Lights Wonderland – Greenville, IL
The American Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville is a great place to visit any time of year to learn about rural history and ride the miniature train. In December, the grounds light up with a beautiful display of light boxes filled with holiday scenes. You can view the lights by car, train, or walking!

The miniature train runs on weekends through a special North Pole light display. Hill’s Fort is also open on Friday evenings to view a historical reconstructed fort.

Where: 1395 Museum Ave Greenville, IL
When: Lights open daily from 5-9 p.m. November 25th – December 31st.
Train rides on Fri, Sat, Sun. evenings.
Cost: Free to drive or walk through lights, but donations welcome. $5 for train ride for anyone over age 2.

World Wide Technology Raceway Wonderlight’s Christmas – Madison, IL
The largest synchronized light display in the St. Louis area will return to the metro-east this season at World Wide Technology Raceway. The Wonderlight’s Christmas display features more than 1-million lights each moving in sync to Christmas music. The show features things like floating snowflakes, shooting stars, giant dancing trees, and five immersive tunnels of light along a 2 mile drive through path.

Where: 700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, IL
When: November 11th – January 1. Open 5-10 p.m. daily
Cost: Tickets are $30 per car. It is recommended to purchase tickets online in advance to enter during 2 hour time slots.

Residential Light Displays

There are several homes throughout the metro-east that put on an impressive displays as well. Make an evening of it to check out these streets.
*List is being updated as displays are confirmed. It’s possible an address may be listed that had lights last year, but not this year. Please let me know if you find any corrections!

You can also find a list and map of lights on the St. Louis Holiday Light Hopping site.

Looking for more holiday events around the metro-east? Check out a full list of Christmas activities and events at Madison County Mom.

Lights in Missouri

Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden – St. Louis, MO
Garden Glow surrounds visitors with a spectacle of dazzling installations and nearly two million lights. The display features photo opportunities, traditional holiday music and festivities, and delicious food and drinks as the Garden is transformed around into a winter wonderland. Santa Claus will be on site November 21–22, 28–29, December 5–6, 12–13 from 5-9 p.m.

Where: 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO
When: November 19th – January 7th. Doors open at 5 p.m., last entry at 8:45. Closed Christmas Eve and Day.
Cost: $3-$20 per person. Specific Wednesdays are Family Nights with $3 kids admission. Tickets available online.

Wild Lights at the Zoo – St. Louis, MO
Wild Lights are back and better than ever this year at the St. Louis Zoo with many new attractions. Take a walk on the wild side past animal themed displays, fun photo opportunities, entrance to Penguins and Puffins, the Insectarium, and over one million lights. Admission includes entrance to the 4D Theater. (The Conservation Carousel is closed for repairs so it is not included this year.)

Where: 1 Government Dr. St. Louis, MO 63110
When: Select nights November 25- December 30th Two time slots are available each night, 5-6:30 and 6:30-8:30 p.m. You can stay as long as you wish until the event ends at 8:30.
Cost: $11-$14 for members, $13-$16 for non members depending on the date. Children under 2 are free. Tickets are available online.

Santa’s Magical Kingdom – Eureka, MO
Santa’s Magical Kingdom is one of the largest light displays in the area. Millions of lights are on view along with a tunnel of dancing lights, model St. Louis Arch, Toy Land, and 300′ tall lighted “waterfall.” Kids can drop off a letter to Santa in the North Pole mailbox. Kris Kringle’s general store will be open this year with a selection of gifts and personalized ornaments.

Where: 5300 Fox Creek Rd, Pacific, MO
When: November 18th – January 8th
5:30 pm to 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday
5:30 pm to 10:30 pm Sunday-Thursday
Cost: $30 per carload on Mon-Thurs. and $35 on weekends. Admission is cash only (paid when exiting), an ATM is available in the general store. Train and old fashioned wagon rides are also available for $16 per person and include admission.

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park – St. Louis, MO
St. Louis County Parks transforms Tilles Park each holiday season into a Winter Wonderland. One of the most popular displays in the area, visites can view mor than a million twinkling lights, various holiday scenes, a tunnel of lights, a toy factory, holiday bells, a bubbling stream and Santa and his reindeer. The lights can be viewed by car or carriage ride.

Certain nights are walk through only nights with leashed dogs, stollers, and wagons allowed. Pre-registration is required for the walk nights.

Where: 5300 Fox Creek Rd, Pacific, MO
When: November 18th through December 30th from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Check the website for exact dates as certain dates are for walkers only while others are for cars and carriages.
Cost: $15 per carload, payable by cash or check only or by credit card online in advance. Carriage ride costs varies by size of the household group and tickets are available online. Walk nights are $8 per person.

Holiday Fun at Grant’s Farm – St. Louis, MO
Grant’s Farm holiday light display is back again and expanded this year. Guests will start off with a view of “Inspiration Hill,” including the famous Clydesdales. They will drive past the North Pole and a brilliant light tunnel on the way to the Busch Family Estate House. Visitors will view a magnificent, 50-foot illuminated tree and the grand finale at the farm’s historic Main Gates.

Where: 10501 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123
When: Thrusday-Sundays 5-9 p.m. November 25th-December 30th for drive through event
Mondays and Wednesday are walk through nights.Closed December 24 & 25.
Cost: $39-$49 per vehicle to drive through depending on date, reservations required online.
Walk through is $10 per person plus $15 parking fee, reservable online.

World of Illumination – Eureka, MO
World of Illumination bills itself as the world’s largest animated drive through light show. This brand-new to St. Louis synchronized light display is open on the Six Flags parking lot.

Where: 4900 Six Flags Rd, Eureka, MO
When: November 18 – Jan 1
Cost: Tickets start at $39.99 per car with tickets available online for specific time slots

Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights & Winterfest – St. Louis, MO
In collaboration with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, thousands of lights will shine on Keiner Plaza downtown each weekend. Visitors can expect a whimsical lighting experience, a fabulous animated projection show, photo ops, and the Salvation Army Tree of Lights.

Where: 500 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 
When: November 19th – January 1st. The holiday lights are on daily while special Winterfest events including ice skating, igloos, and winter markets are held Fridays 4 – 8 p.m. and weekends 12 – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free

Anheuser Busch Brewery Lights – St. Louis, MO
This annual Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch is back to a walk through event with over a million lights, a dazzling light show, lighted tree, fire pits, igloos, and kids area with train rides and an ice maze. A parade kicks off each night at 7:30 with floats, trolleys, and the famous Clydesdales.

Where:  1200 Lynch Street, enter off Arsenal Street, drive up and down Pestalozzi Street 
When: Select nights November 17th – December 30th
Cost: $10 per person for adults, $5 for kids 6-20, 5 and under free.

Holiday Night Lights – Wentzville, MO
The annual Wentzville Holiday Night Lights display is back this year at Rotary Park. Visitors can enjoy a one-mile light display that features large illuminated commercial scenes and tunnels of twinkling lights. On Saturdays visitors can enjoy a visit with Santa inside the Kolb Building which has been transformed into a winter wonderland. A walk through event is planned for Dec 12. Carriage and hayride sleigh rides are available on select nights.

Where: 2577 W Meyer Rd, Wentzville, MO
When: November 25-December 30th 5:30-9:30 p.m. , closed Christmas Day. Drive through portion closed Dec 4 and Dec 12 for 5K and walk through events.
Cost: $10 per car for up to 6 people, $1 for each additional passenger. Online registration is required for carriage and sleigh rides or for walk through event.

Celebration of Lights – O’Fallon, MO
Celebration of Lights is a drive-through holiday light display held at Fort Zumwalt Park. Each scene is designed and funded by local organizations, churches and businesses. All tickets must be purchased in advance.

Where: 1000 Jessup Lane, O’Fallon, MO
When: November 25 – December 30th, Sunday – Thursday, 6–9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6–10 p.m. Closed Christmas Day. Celebration of Lights is closed to vehicles on November 28, December 5, December 6 and December 12.
Cost: $12 per vehicle. Walk through event is $5 per person. Specialty rides are additional cost.

Lost Hill Lake Grove of Lights – St. Clair, MO
Lost Hill Lake Events is holding its second annual Grove of Lights Holiday Experience. Each weekend visitors can enjoy a walk through holiday light display with photo ops, cozy bon fires, and kids crafts and activities. Santa makes an appearance on select Saturdays with food and artisan vendors will be on site. Bring an unwrapped toy to benefit the charity toy drive.

Where: 2300 Mill Hill Rd. St. Clair, MO
When: Weekends in November and December through Christmas, 5 – 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $15 for adults and $7 for children over 3.

Residential Light Displays

There are a huge amount of festive home to view around St. Louis. Here are some must sees.
*List is being updated as displays are confirmed. It’s possible an address may be listed that had lights last year, but not this year. Please let me know if you find any corrections!

You can find many more residential displays around St. Louis and a map and driving routes at Holiday Light Hopping.

Do you know of any other great light displays to add to the list?