Minnesota Is Now Home To America’s Longest Christmas Light Show

Christmas is filled with special traditions—decorating the tree, sharing meals with family, and enjoying festive lights that brighten the winter season. One of my most cherished traditions is visiting the incredible light show at Sibley Park in Mankato each year with my young children.

This region has some incredible Christmas attractions, like Miracle at Big Rock, Sam’s Christmas Village, and the Rotary Lights in La Crosse. And, did you know that the longest walk-through Christmas light show in the United States is here in Minnesota? It's truly amazing and definitely worth experiencing.

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Experience America’s Longest Christmas Light Show—Only in Minnesota

The longest walk-through Christmas light show in the United States started in 2001 when Nathan Bentley decorated his home in Esko with Christmas lights.

Each year his display grew bigger, and by 2003, it had turned into a "walkthrough" event with Santa Claus visiting on weekends.

What started as a small light display at Nathan Bentley's home in Esko, Minnesota, has grown into a magical holiday wonderland, featuring over 5 million lights and drawing over 250,000 visitors annually.

Today, the attraction is hosted at Bayfront Festival Park, where parking is $10, but admission is free.

Visitors can enjoy complimentary hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, and popcorn, and even roast marshmallows by the fire pits. Santa and Mrs. Claus are there every night to meet the kids!

Bentleyville in Duluth runs through December 28th. It’s open nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The five million lights are switched on at 5:00 p.m. each evening, and if you arrive at opening time, you can join in the countdown to see the lights come on.

Visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items or new, unwrapped toys for donation. Last year, over 250,000 guests helped raise nearly 8,000 pounds of food and more than 1,300 toys for those in need in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.