DES MOINES, Iowa — The holiday season is in full swing, and that means holiday light displays are opening! From large productions to small, neighborhood street displays there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Below you’ll find a list of some of the light displays around central Iowa.

Jolly Holiday Lights

Jolly Holiday Lights is back again for the 2024 season with several changes. The holiday lights display has been turned back into a drive-thru experience and is located at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The display is no longer run by Make-A-Wish Iowa and is instead operated by Winterland Inc. One dollar of every ticket sold will be donated to Make-A-Wish Iowa. To learn more visit the Jolly Holiday Lights website.

• Dates: November 29 to January 4
• Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends
• Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds. Enter at Gate 2, located at the intersection of E University Avenue and E 33rd Street.
• Admission: $20 per car, $50 per bus or limo.

Santa’s Rock N’ Lights

Santa’s Rock N’ Lights boasts an over one mile drive-thru light display that’s synchronized to music. Visitors will see over 700 feet of dancing light tunnels, 32 large light sculptures, a guitar playing Santa, and more. To find out more visit the Santa’s Rock N’ Lights website.

• Dates: Most nights between November 29 and December 31
• Hours: Starts at 5 p.m. and ends at different times depending on the day. Must select time slot online.
• Location: Living History Farms in Urbandale
• Admission: Varies between $29.99 to $36.99 per vehicle depending on the night. Must purchase ticket online.

Winter Wonderscape

Winter Wonderscape is a walk-thru display featuring over 150,000 lights across the 17-acres of outdoor gardens at Reiman Gardens. The display includes light tunnels, laser-lit disco balls, light strands across the frozen lake, and more. Reiman Gardens is also offering something new this year — s’mores roasting stations! To learn more visit their website.

• Dates: Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from December 5 to December 28. Also open on Monday, December 23. Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with last entry window from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: Reiman Gardens in Ames
• Admission: $14 for members, $16 for adults, $7 for children ages 2 to 12, free for kids under 2.

Dome for the Holidays

The Des Moines Botanical Garden is hosting a new holiday lights display this year. Dome for the Holidays features thousands of twinkling lights, blown glass sculptures, a holiday train display, and a gnome hunt. For more information visit the Des Moines Botanical Garden’s website.

• Dates: Open Wednesday through Sunday from November 16 to December 31; Monday, December 23; Monday, December 30; and Tuesday, December 31. Closed on November 22, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
• Hours: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
• Location: Des Moines Botanical Garden
• Admission: $15 for adults, $9 for kids 13 and under, free for kids under 1. Tickets include a specified time window for entry and must be purchased in advance.

Gingerbread Lane

Gingerbread Lane is a neighborhood drive-thru light display that’s been a holiday tradition for over 30 years. Organizers of the display collect cash and non-perishable food donations for the Food Bank of Iowa. Last year organizers say they raised over $14,600 and collected over 3,500 pounds of food. To stay up-to-date on when the light show is running follow their Facebook page.

• Dates: December 6 to December 31
• Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Location: SE Richland Court in Ankeny. Look for the Gingerbread Lane entrance sign.
• Admission: Free

Miracle on 86th Street

Every winter the Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park in Urbandale is turned into a winter wonderland with over 50,000 holiday lights, a custom-built train, large ornamental displays, a gingerbread house, an ice-skating rink, and tons of holiday events. One of those events is the Tree Lighting. To learn more about the events and the lights display visit the City of Urbandale’s website.

• Dates: The Tree Lighting takes place on November 26. The holiday lights will be on every night until January 6.
• Hours: The Tree Lighting will start at 5:30 p.m. If enjoying the lights on a different night they’re best viewed after the sun goes down. The park closes at 10:30 p.m.
• Location: Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park in Urbandale.
• Admission: Free

Windsor Wonderland Holiday Lights

Residents of Windsor Heights get to show off their Christmas light decorating skills as part of the annual Windsor Wonderland Holiday Lights contest. On the night of December 6 judges will drive around the city and decide the winners in five different categories. To learn more about the contest and the other events during the Windsor Wonderland visit the city’s website.

• Dates: Judging will be held on December 6 and the winners will be announced on December 7. The decorated houses can be seen on any night during the holiday season.
• Hours: Lights will be best viewed after sundown.
• Location: Windsor Heights
• Admission: Free

Winter Wonderlights

Explore over 50 animated holiday light displays in Uptown Ankeny. The light displays can be enjoyed on foot, on a bicycle, or in the warmth of your vehicle. To learn more about Winter Wonderlights click here.

• Dates: November 8 to December 31
• Hours: Lights are turned on after sunset
• Location: Displays can be found around six blocks of SW 3rd Street, as well as throughout the Ankeny Market & Pavilion Park in Uptown Ankeny.
• Admission: Free

Magical Nights of Lights

The Magical Nights of Lights drive-thru display will return for a fourth year in Indianola. Organizers are once again accepting free-will donations that will benefit local charities. Follow the Magical Nights of Lights Facebook page to stay up-to-date on when they’re open.

• Dates: Friday and Saturday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas
• Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: Pickard Park in Indianola
• Admission: Free

Maytag Park Holiday Lights

Maytag Park will be decorated for the holidays once again. The drive-thru light display features over 200 different displays and thousands of dazzling lights. To learn more about the display click here.

• Dates: November 30 to January 1
• Hours: Dusk to 11 p.m.
• Location: Maytag Park in Newton
• Admission: Free

Beaverdale Holiday Lights

Along Ashby and Wallace Avenues you can find dramatic displays of holiday lights. For decades residents in this part of the Beaverdale Neighborhood have gone all out for their annual light show. Visitors can also tune in to a radio station to listen to music synched up with the light displays.

• Dates: December 7 to December 31
• Hours: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Location: Ashby and Wallace Avenues, east and west of Beaver Avenue
• Admission: Free

Merry-N County Christmas

The Merry-N County Christmas light display has returned for a fifth year. The drive-thru light display boasts over 75 different decorative displays, including a lighted historic village. Visitors can tune in to KNIA/KRLS 95.3 FM to listen to Christmas music while driving through the display. Kiddos can also drop off their letters to Santa in a special mailbox. The display is presented by THRIVE Knoxville and the Marion County Historical Society. To learn more click here.

• Dates: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from November 22 to December 22. Also open December 23 and 24.
• Hours: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: Marion County Park in Knoxville
• Admission: Free-will admission. Credit cards are accepted.

Lights at Kennedy

Experience a drive-thru show with light displays from local businesses and organizations that are choreographed to music. While the show is free to attend, all donations made will go toward supporting the Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma and Fort Dodge Young Professional organizations. Click here to learn more.

• Dates: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from December 6 to 22.
• Hours: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Location: Kennedy Park Campground in Fort Dodge
• Admission: Free, but free-will donations are encouraged.