Holiday Light Displays in Saint Louis

If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit there are plenty of holiday light displays around town.  For many families getting in the car and driving around looking at Christmas lights is a favorite holiday tradition for both the young and old.  So grab the coffee or hot chocolate, bundle up and get in the car to go see some dazzling lights! The following are just a few of the many light displays in the area.

Winter Wonderland – Tilles Park

Open November. 23 – January 1

Closed Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31)

Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park in Brentwood is one of the best known Christmas light displays in the area.  For 26 years this display, created by St. Louis County Park employees, has featured over a million lights depicted in various Christmas scenes.   These displays include the popular tunnel of lights, the Twelve Days of Christmas, Santa and his reindeer, Santa’s toy workshop and the sparkling river.

Winter Wonderland is open for vehicle traffic Sunday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Saturdays are reserved for carriage rides only.  Tickets for nightly carriage rides can be purchased through Metro Tix by calling 314-534-1111 from 9 a.m. to 9p.m. seven days a week.

Admission Fees: (paid as vehicles exit the park):

$9 Family vehicle

$15 Limousine

$30 Commercial transport van

$75 Tour bus

Directions:

All vehicular traffic to Winter Wonderland MUST enter from Southbound McKnight Rd.

From I-64/40: Head south on McKnight Road. Vehicular traffic should stay to the right and enter the park from the McKnight Road. entrance gate.  All traffic exits the park from the Litzsinger Road. exit gate.

 

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows – Way of Lights Christmas Display

Open nightly November 18 – January 1

Drive-through Light Display 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Free admission to the outdoor drive-through light display and Children’s Village.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville hosts its annual Way of Lights event with a drive-through light display and several other family activities.  This event includes Christmas lights, tree and wreath displays, an interactive children’s village, live animal display, camel rides and an indoor laser show.

Location:

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
442 South De Mazenod Drive
Belleville, IL 62223-1023
Phone 618-397-6700

 

Saint Louis Zoo – Wild Lights

Open November 25-27, December 2-4, 9-11, 16-23, 26-30
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

The U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo is an enchanting light display featuring thousands of colorful lights, animated displays and seasonal sounds throughout the zoo grounds.  Light displays include penguins in paradise, fantasy butterfly garden, snowfall flurry walk, poppin’ prairie dogs and a gingerbread house display.  Visitors can also go nose-to-beak with the birds at Penguin & Puffin Coast and hear fireside stories about penguins, reindeer and other animals.  There are also live performances from local choirs on select nights as well as a craft corner in the zoo’s Lakeside Café.  The kids can also climb aboard their favorite animal on the Conservation Carousel for $3 per person.

Admission Fees:

$4 for Zoo Friends members (no passes)

$5 for general public

Free for children under two

Tickets are sold until 8:15 p.m. each night.

Directions:

From I-64/40 eastbound and westbound
Take the Hampton exit (34-B) and follow signs to Forest Park. At the first roundabout, turn left (west) on Wells Drive and arrive at the Zoo’s South Entrance. Alternate: From the Hampton exit, turn south on Hampton, right on Oakland, right on Tamm and arrive at South Entrance.

From I-44 eastbound and westbound:
Take the Hampton Ave. exit. Drive north about one mile and cross the Hampton Ave. bridge. At the first roundabout, turn left on Wells Drive and arrive at the Zoo’s South Entrance.

 

Santa’s Magical Kingdom – Jellystone Park, Eureka

Open Nightly November 18 – January 8

Sunday – Thursday 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Santa’s Magical Kingdom, located in Jellystone National Park in Eureka, (next to Six Flags) is a 35-acre holiday light display filled with animated scenes and millions of lights. Drivers enter the display through the four-story tall kingdom doors.  Displays include Santa’s flying reindeer, a waterfall of lights, giant gingerbread house, candy land, toy land, tunnel of lights, Blessed Nativity, Santa’s workshop, present wrapping factory and more.  It has been voted the Midwest’s most spectacular light display.  Santa’s Express Train rides and old fashioned holiday wagon rides are also available.  Train rides operate Monday through Thursday November 21 to December 15 at 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The train carries a maximum of 30 passengers.  Wagon rides operate Monday through Thursday November 18 to January 8 from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Admission Fees:

$19Family vehicle (no larger than 12 feet high and 30 feet long)

$30 Limousine

$30 Commercial transport van

$30 Small bus

Directions:

From Westbound I-44: Take I-44 to Six Flags Exit 261 in Eureka, Mo. Make a right at the first light as you exit the highway then left on Fox Creek Road at the next stoplight. Proceed one-eighth mile to the Santa’s Magical Kingdom entrance on the right.

From Eastbound I-44: Take I-44 to Six Flags Exit 261 in Eureka, Mo. Make a left on Six Flags Road after you exit the highway then left at the stoplight on Fox Creek Road. Proceed one-eighth mile to the Santa’s Magical Kingdom entrance on the right.

These are just a few of the many commercial light displays around the St. Louis area.  For more, check out these lists for local commercial and neighborhood light displays.