The holidays are one of the busiest seasons of the year, which is why we created a list of things that you don’t want to miss in your area!
Wisconsin:
- Milwaukee: At Candy Cane Lane in West Allis between 92nd and 96th Streets and between Montana and Oklahoma Avenues, 300 plus houses are decorated in Christmas lights for the holiday season. Entry is free, but cars are asked to bring an at-will donation that goes to the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) fund to help battle childhood cancer.
- Madison: Just a short drive from downtown Madison, the city of Monona hosts a candlelit snowshoe hike. Hundreds of tea lights light up the path for visitors to snowshoe. Snowshoes and the shuttle bus to the area are both free.
- Green Bay: Santa’s Rock n Lights Show at the Brown County Fair Grounds is a one-mile drive though a light show experience with over 700 feet of dancing light tunnels. The show also contains 3-D polar bears and dinosaurs with music for the dancing lights.
Iowa:
- Cedar Rapids: The Gingerbread House Party is an annual gingerbread house-decorating contest held at the NewBo City Market. You can enter into one of two categories: family team and adult team. They will also have festive beer, hot chocolate, snacks and Santa Claus.
- Des Moines: For the month of December, you can visit the Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show at Reiman Gardens. You can walk though the 17-acre site, which includes tunnels, laser lights and even a 20-foot-wide fountain.
- Davenport: The Geneseo Christmas Walk-themed “All of the Lights” takes place in downtown Davenport where streets will be lit up with Christmas light displays. They will also hold a tree lighting ceremony, a 5k run, trolley rides and a parade.
Illinois:
- Chicago: At Willow Hill’s Winter Magic located in Northbrook, you can enjoy a drive-through Christmas light experience. It is one-mile long and has a 250-foot animated video tunnel that vehicles drive through.
- Rockford: Every year at the Rockford Park District, the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition takes place. Teams come from around to state to compete. Entry into the park to watch is free.
- Bloomington: On Wednesday, December 15, Bloomington invites its residents to travel around town for the Holiday Lights Tour. Everyone will meet at the Lincoln Leisure Center where snacks and drink are provided and then travel around to see the lights and sights.
