The best FREE Christmas Lights in Iowa!

We’re building a list of the best FREE Christmas Lights in Iowa. No admission, no reservation, just beautiful Christmas lights for your family to enjoy! We are just getting started with the list, so you’re welcome to add your suggestions/favorites. You can add them to the comments section below or email them to brian . abeling @gmail.com

What qualifies to make the list?

• First, it must be FREE, no reservations, no admission cost. We are allowing sites that are free-will donation.
• It can be a community-based display from a town, a neighborhood display, or even a single home.
• We’re not looking for events that scheduled on limited dates – but holiday displays that run the entire month of December.

Painting with lights in Oskaloosa, Iowa

WHERE: Town Square in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa
WHAT: Over 200,000 LED lights illuminate the downtown district. The lighting ceremony for 2024 is Nov 18th and the display runs nightly thru Jan 1st.
WEBSITE: https://iowaroadtrip.net/painting-with-lights-in-oskaloosa/

Holiday Lights in Pella, Iowa

WHERE: Central Park in Downtown Pella, Iowa
WHAT: Free holiday lights on display within Central Park from late November thru Jan 1st.
WEBSITE: https://iowaroadtrip.net/shopping-and-a-winter-walk-in-pella-iowa/#Holiday_lights_in_Central_Park

Keokuk City of Christmas, Keokuk, Iowa

WHERE: 1401 Stripe St, Rand Park, Keokuk, Iowa
WHAT: Considered Iowa’s best FREE drive through Christmas light display. It’s sponsored by the City of Keokuk.
WEBSITE: City of Christmas Facebook Page

Merry-N County Christmas, Knoxville, Iowa

WHERE: Marion County Park, 306 Willetts Dr, Knoxville, Iowa
WHAT: Drive thru Christmas display held in Marion County Park that runs late Nov thru Jan 1st. Cost is free will donation.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/events/9242160185803051/9242160192469717

The best FREE Christmas lights in Central Iowa

Miracle on 86th Street, Urbandale, Iowa

WHERE: Charles Gabus Memorial Tree Park, 3600 86th St, Urbandale, IA
WHAT: A walk through holiday display located next to the Urbandale Library that features lights, ice rink, and custom built train for kids.
WEBSITE: https://iowaroadtrip.net/miracle-on-86th-street/

Gingerbread Lane, Ankeny, Iowa

WHERE: SE Richland Ct, Ankeny
WHAT: During the month of December, the houses on Richland Court turn into Gingerbreak Lane. With festive lighting, they tell the original Gingerbread story. Cost if free, but they do collect canned goods for the Food Bank of Iowa.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067701970972

Gleefully Giving in West Des Moines, Iowa

WHERE: 3608 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, Iowa
WHAT: A private residence with a solid Christmas display including some awesome pine tree cutouts that are backlit and a mailbox to drop off your letters to Santa! (and they will respond back to you via mail!)
WEBSITE: https://iowaroadtrip.net/gleefully-giving-in-west-des-moines/

Hometown Holidays Aglow, Ankeny, Iowa

WHERE: SW 3rd Street, Uptown, Ankeny, Iowa
WHAT: 25 animated LED displays located on SW 3rd Street in Ankeny, Iowa.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/TheUptownAnkeny/

Argo Christmas Lights, Ankeny, Iowa

WHERE: 1023 NW 32nd St, Ankeny, IA
WHAT: Drive by Christmas light show at a private residence in Ankeny, Iowa. For the full experience, tuned to 94.7 FM and enjoy the show.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/ArgoChristmas/

Beaverdale Holiday Lights, Des Moines, Iowa

WHERE: Ashby and Wallace Avenues, East and West of Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
WHAT: Over 50 homes in the Beaverdale neighborhood decorate for the holidays and lights are running through the month of December.

The best FREE Christmas lights in NE Iowa

Five Seasons Lights, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

WHERE: 475 1st St SW, McGrath Amphitheater, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
WHAT: A walk-through Christmas lights display. No admission, but free-will donations are accepted.
WEBSITE: https://www.creventslive.com/events/2024/five-seasons

Mechanicsville, Iowa

WHERE: 708 East 1st Street Mechanicsville IA
WHAT: A private residence with a monstrous display that is synced to music!
WEBSITE: https://iowaroadtrip.net/the-marvel-of-mechanicsville/

Holiday Lights in Pulpit Rock Campground, Decorah, Iowa

WHERE: 505 Pulpit Rock Rd, Decorah, IA
WHAT: A drive through Christmas lights display at the Pulpit Rock Camp Grounds in Decorah, Iowa. No admission, but they accept free will donations.

Jingle Bright Holiday Lights, Manchester, Iowa

WHERE: 200 East Acers St., Delaware County Fairgounds, Manchester, Iowa
WHAT: Drive thru holiday lights display held at Delaware County Fairgrounds.
WEBSITE: https://delawarecofair.com/events/

Tannenbaum Forest, Amana, Iowa

WHERE: Festhalle Barn, 4707 220th Trail, Amana, Iowa
WHAT: Indoor walk through holiday lights display held within the Festhalle Barn in Amana, Iowa. Admission is free, but free will donations are accepted for Children’s Hospital.
WEBSITE: https://amanacolonies.com/things-to-do/festivals/tannenbaum-forest/

Lights in the Park, Sumner, Iowa

WHERE: Sumner City Park, Sumner, Iowa
WHAT: Drive thru holiday lights display with no admission, although free will donations are accepted. Free will donation.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/exceleratingsumner/

Little Light of Mine, New Hampton, Iowa

WHERE: Mikkelson Park, New Hampton
WHAT: Drive thru Christmas lights display held at Mikkelson Park in New Hampton, Iowa
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/littlelightofminenh/

Waverly Lights, Waverly, Iowa

WHERE: 103 Eliasen Ave, Waverly, Iowa
WHAT: Annual holiday light show located at a private home in Wavery, Iowa. Produced by the Wiechmann family. The show is 20 minutes long, cost is free, but donations for St. Jude’s Hospital are accepted.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/waverlylights

Blue Creek Christmas, Walker, Iowa

WHERE: 4942 Blue Creek Ct Walker, IA
WHAT: Annual holiday display located at a private home in Walker, Iowa.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/bluecreekchristmas

Festival of Lights, West Union, Iowa

WHERE: 928 North Pine St., West Union, Iowa
WHAT: Annual holiday lights that features both a drive thru and a walk up display that is coordinated by a non profit organization at the West Union Events Center
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064741204284

Krumwiede Lights Display, Waverly, Iowa

WHERE: 3708 5th Ave NW, Waverly, Iowa
WHAT: A drive up display located on west side of Waverly, Iowa . Cost is free, but donations are accepted.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/people/Krumwiede-Light-Display/100063753991982/

The best FREE Christmas lights in NW Iowa

Winter Wonderland in Le Mars, Iowa

WHERE: 629 Plymouth St SW, Le Mars, Iowa
WHAT: A private residence that has been decorated for over 35 years!
WEBSITE: https://iowaroadtrip.net/visit-the-winter-wonderland-in-lemars-iowa/

Lights at Kennedy, Fort Dodge, Iowa

WHERE: Kennedy Park Campgrounds, 1417 Nelson Ave, Fort Dodge, Iowa
WHAT: Drive thru Christmas displays at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Admission is free-will donation.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/LightsatKennedy

Lueders Ridiculous X-Mas Lights, Lake Park, Iowa

WHERE: 1078 110th Street, Lake Park, Iowa
WHAT: Famiy run drive by Christmas displays in Lake Park, Iowa.
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/LuedersRidiculousXMasLights

The best FREE Christmas lights in SW Iowa

Christmas in Atlantic, Iowa

WHERE: Chestnut Street in Atlantic, Iowa
WHAT: 200,000+ LED lights stretch along 6 blocks of Chestnut Street in Atlantic, Iowa.
WEBSITE: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/chamber/annual-events/christmas-in-atlantic/