🎡 Light shows, drive-throughs & attractions
Jolly Holiday Lights
A more than 20-year Central Iowa tradition: a drive-through light experience across the Iowa State Fairgrounds, self-billed at around three million lights, with decorated tunnels and displays set up through the grandstand and speedway. You
Santa's Rock n' Lights
A drive-through show of over a mile of color-changing lights choreographed to music at the Living History Farms grounds in Urbandale, with 700-foot lighted tunnels, giant dinosaurs and polar bears. Tune your FM radio to 88.1 to hear the syn
Dome for the Holidays
An indoor, warm walk-through inside the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden's landmark geodesic conservatory dome, filled with thousands of lights among the tropical plant collection plus interactive exhibits, a gnome/gingerbread hunt and s
Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show
A walk-through holiday light show across Reiman Gardens' 17-acre campus in Ames, north of the Des Moines metro on the Iowa State University edge. Visitors wander illuminated tunnels, a mushroom forest, choreographed light shows and a wide f
Miracle on 86th Street
The City of Urbandale lights Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park with more than 80,000 (billed by some guides at 100,000+) lights for a free nighttime walk, with larger-than-life ornament displays, a gingerbread house, a custom-built train and
Tinseltown in Water Works Park
Water Works Park's holiday winter wonderland at the Lauridsen Amphitheater grounds: a lighted stroll-and-bike route with festive lights, live performances, carriage rides, craft vendors, a warming hut, the Top Hat Carolers, Christmas trees
Uptown Wonderlights
More than 50 animated light displays, a light tunnel and a 25-foot show tree spread across six blocks of SW 3rd Street and through the Ankeny Market and Pavilion park in Uptown Ankeny. Free to wander on foot, bike or a slow drive; part of U
Jingle in the Junction Holiday Lights
The Historic Valley Junction shopping district in West Des Moines (along Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue) is strung with roughly 100,000 holiday lights for a free evening walk among the antique shops, boutiques and restaurants. A long-runn
🏠 Decorated home displays
Argo Christmas Lights
A free, no-fee Ankeny home show of thousands of lights synchronized to an FM soundtrack, with a playlist of 'Dueling Jingle Bells,' 'Christmas Every Day' and 'Spidey Bells'
Gingerbread Lane
An Ankeny residential street where around 31 homes go all-in on holiday lights for a walk-or-drive-by neighborhood display, with Santa appearances on weekends
Home locations are shown approximately in the Noelly app to respect residents — please be courteous, keep the street clear, and follow posted hours.