Where To See The Best Christmas Light Displays in Iowa 2018
It's almost Christmas time!!! We can hear those sleigh bells ringing already. You've probably been seeing a lot of Christmas lights going up around your neighborhood (some more extravagant than others.) Well, if you want to see light displays that outshine your neighbors, we've got you covered. These Hawkeye state displays are in order of closest to furthest from Cedar Rapids. Also, you can click on the titles of each display to be directed to their website for more information.
Amana
The charming Amana Colonies are a delightful place to be around Christmas. They have several pre-Christmas festivities according to Only In Your State, and you can see "over 40 Christmas trees decked out with twinkling holiday lights". Check it out for yourself Fridays through Sundays through December 16.
Blue Creek Christmas- Center Point
This light display is one that you won't have to drive far for. Blue Creek Christmas is a short drive north of Cedar Rapids with over 90,000 lights synchronized to more than 25 minutes of music! The show runs through January 6 and it's FREE! It's open weekdays from 5:30p.m.-10 p.m. except for Fridays and Saturdays it stays open until 11:00 p.m., and on Christmas Eve and Day it is open until midnight.
Anamosa
Jones County's Anamosa also made Only In Your State's list of magical light displays in Iowa. Take a little drive down Main Street and feast your eyes on some stunning displays.
Christmas City Celebration-Wyoming
This little city in Jones County features a "canopy of Christmas lights that span four blocks along the Main Street," according to Only In Your State. They even held an official lighting of the tree celebration at the beginning of the month!
Waverly Light Display
According to Travel Iowa, this display has been around for over 25 years and is now a show that people from all over the Midwest make the drive to visit. It's described as a "Christmas spectacular with choreographed music. So, the light displays literally dance." What's even better is that the owners donate all of the proceeds to St. Jude's Research Hospital. The show continues through Christmas.
Festival of Lights Christmas Display- Mt. Pleasant
This one is like no other. "The Midwest Old Threshers campground lights up 60 acres of their park in what is described as the largest holiday light display in the Midwest," according to Travel Iowa. You can drive through this magnificent display that's open from 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. through December.
Check out some photos HERE!
Symphony Of Lights- Clinton
This is a loop of lights that just over a mile long. You can see 40 holiday displays like castles, blue streams, a gingerbread lodge, and more that is made of over 500,000 lights.
Jolly Holiday Lights- Altoona
You'll take a 2.5 mile ride through nearly 100 light displays! Plus, you can stop in to Santa's village for hot cocoa. Take your holiday cheer to the place that's been lighting up the holiday for more than 20 years. Hours are from 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. through December 29. The park will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. All of the proceeds from your admission go to Make a Wish Iowa.
Keokuk
This one also made Travel Iowa's list of light displays in the area. This display is located at Rand Park in Keokuk. You'll see 100 lighted displays with almost one million lights! "Over 20,000 people each year drive through the display, some making several trips to make sure they see it all," according to the report.
Fort Dodge Light Display- FINAL YEAR
This light display has been making headlines as it is in it's last year. This is a beautiful display that was put on each year by almost 90-year-old Merlin Forts. You can see the story and some of the beautiful lights in the video from the KCRG report here.