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