Load Up The Car & Get in the Spirit at These St. Louis Light Displays
It's a holiday tradition for many families; bundling up, dumping a gallon of hot chocolate into a thermos and driving through the light displays in one of the St. Louis parks. Some families make their trek through the same park every year, and even on the same day. But why not spice up the holiday season by driving through a few or trying a new display on for size?
In the mood to venture East? Bellevillle, Illinois is home to the famed Our Lady of Snows Way of Lights display. In it's 40th year, this display runs from November 20th through January 3rd and stretches more than 1.5 miles. If you are in the mood for more than just keeping your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, they even have a laser light show, a petting zoo and events like a 5k run on January 2nd. Everything kicks off at 5:00 pm each evening, with the indoor activities winding down at 9:00 pm and the lights dimming at 10:00 pm.
On the far reaches of St. Louis' western suburbs the Yogi Bear Campground in Allenton, Missouri (also home to Six Flags St. Louis) is transformed each year into Santa's Magical Kingdom. Featuring a wandering path that leads cars under tunnels of lights and past scenes from the North Pole, the experience has expanded this year to include a store where you can shop for gifts and pictures with Santa. Santa's Magical Kingdom is open from November 20th through January 3rd starting at 5:30 pm every evening, and closing at 10:30 pm from Sunday through Thursday and 11:00pm Friday and Saturday.
If you have a hankering to head up north, you can head to O'Fallon, Missouri to enjoy their Celebration of Lights festival at Fort Zumwalt Park. This will be the 18th year for the display, and their big walkthrough night is coming up on December 8. Each year thousands of people gather to walkthrough the light display which is created by area businesses, church groups and organizations. The park flips on the light at 6:30 pm each evening November 27 through December 30 (with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) with walkthrough night kicking off at 6:00 pm.
All of the light displays have a per car entrance fee, which varies per display so check their websites before heading over. And of course there are carriage options available at all of them for people looking for something more romantic or traditional.
