It’s the 2024 holiday season — depending on who you ask.
But the day after Thanksgiving means numerous holiday kickoff events in communities across Northern Minnesota and the start of most holiday light shows.
Below is a list of lights, festivals and parades celebrating the holidays in the region.
Notice an event or light show we missed? Email us!
Aitkin
Fish House Parade
What: Parade
When: Nov. 29
Where: Downtown Aitkin
Baxter
Sertoma Winter Wonderland
What: Drive-through lights
When: 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 28-Dec. 21, and Dec. 24-31
Where: Northland Arboretum
Cost: $15/vehicle in advance or $20/vehicle at the gate
Bemidji
First City of Lights
What: Parade and fireworks to kick off drive-through or walk-through lights
When: Night We Light Nov. 29, lights season-long
Where: Downtown Bemidji; various locations
Cost: Free
Biwabik
Weihnachtsfest
What: Holiday festival
When: Dec. 7
Where: Carl Shuster Park
Bovey
Small Town Vintage Christmas
What: Holiday festival
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7
Where: Bovey City Hall
Brainerd
Hometown Holidays
What: Tree lighting, window displays and Small Business Saturday deals
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 30
Where: Downtown Brainerd
Cost: Free
Chisholm
Bringing Light to Chisholm
What: Holiday festival
When: 5 p.m. Dec. 5
Where: Downtown Chisholm
Kiwanis Club's Holly Jolly
What: Family event
When: 4-7 p.m. Dec. 12
Where: Minnesota Discovery Center
Cost: Free
Cohasset
Light the Night
What: Holiday festival
When: 5-7 p.m. Dec. 5
Where: Cohasset City Hall
Deer River
Winterfest
What: Holiday festival
When: Dec. 7
Where: Various locations
Detroit Lakes
Parade of Lights
What: Tree lighting and parade
When: 5:30-6 p.m. Dec. 2
Where: Downtown Detroit Lakes
Cost: Free
Duluth
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
What: Walk-through lights
When: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 23-Dec. 28
Where: 700 W. Railroad St.
Cost: Free; parking $10/vehicle
Larger Than Life Lights
What: Walk-through lights
When: Friday-Saturday Dec. 6-21
Where: Lake Superior Zoo
Cost: $5/member, $10/non-member, free for ages 2 and under
Exhibition Drive Holiday Sound and Light Show
What: Drive-through lights
When: 5-10 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 31
Where: 2725 Exhibition Drive
Cost: Free
Grand Marais
Oh Ole Night
What: Holiday festival
When: 5:30-10 p.m. Nov. 29
Where: Downtown Grand Marais
Cost: Free
Holiday Harbor Village
What: Holiday festival
When: Dec. 6-7
Where: Downtown Grand Marais
Grand Rapids
Lights in the Pines
What: Drive-through lights
When: 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 22-Dec. 21, and Dec. 22-23
Where: Itasca County Fairgrounds
Cost: $10/passenger car or truck, $25/ small transportation bus or van
Hibbing
Winter Wonderland Yuletide Festival
What: Holiday festival
When: 3-7 p.m. Dec. 12
Where: Hibbing Public Library
Nisswa
City of Lights
What: Holiday festival
When: Nov. 29, beginning at 11 a.m.
Where: Downtown Nisswa
Cost: Free
Northome
5th Annual Christmas Parade
What: Parade
When: 5 p.m. Dec. 7
Where: Downtown Northome
Park Rapids
Heartland Lakes Yuletide Sampler and Community Tree Lighting
What: Holiday festival
When: Nov. 29
Where: Downtown Park Rapids
Roseau
Night of Lights
What: Drive-through or walk-through lights
When: 5-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Dec. 6-22, Dec. 23, and drive-through only Dec. 24
Where: Pioneer Farm, west of Roseau on Highway 11
Cost: Free
Wadena
Christmas in Wadena
What: Drive-through or walk-through lights
When: 5:30-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Nov. 28-Jan. 1
Where: 414 SW Third St.
Cost: Free
Walker
Festival of Lights
What: Holiday festival
When: Nov. 29-30
Where: Downtown Walker
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Bemidji Area Take a Kid Fishing hosts a day of fishing for children ages 10-15 June 10, 2026. Beginners and those with experience are welcome to take part. -
Thousands of free trees have been distributed in the Bemidji area as the community aims to restore the storm-damaged canopy. -
Reclaiming Critical Metals is an Iron Range startup working to create jobs and reduce landfills by recycling e-waste and recovering metals like copper, gold and silver.
