WEEKENDER BLOG

(photo courtesy Cedar Falls Community Main Street)

Bundle up the kids, pack takeout from your favorite restaurant, turn on your favorite holiday music and make family memories with magical winter nights spent enjoying the sites of holiday light displays in 2023! 

Many of the larger displays are synchronized to music. If you park your car to watch, please be courteous of others and don't block driveways and please dim headlights while parked. 

Cedar Falls

Santa's Workshop
November 25 - December 21
2nd and State Streets, Cedar Falls

Enjoy the exciting light display at Santa's Workshop in the Cedar Falls Downtown District. It's the perfect backdrop to your holiday photos. Kids, don't forget to drop off your letter to Santa in his mailbox by his workshop before December 21!  
 

Davis Family Lights
Come and witness the magical holiday light display by the Davis Family. Enjoy the beautiful lights synchronized with music played on 90.3 FM. 

Oxford Lane, Cedar Falls

M-Thurs. 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Fri-Sun: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Around the area

Festival of Lights
December 1-3; 8-10; 15-17
Lost Island KOA, 4550 Hess Road, Waterloo
319-232-3823

This will be a festive drive-thru event with displays built by churches, businesses and organizations. Displays will be lit 6:00 -  8:00 pm. Drive thru on Fridays and Saturdays or leisurely walk thru the displays on Sundays. Tickets are $20/vehicle and can be purchased at the event or in advance HERE. 
 

Waverly Lights
November 23 – December 31
103 Eliasen Avenue, Waverly (20 minute drive)
319-269-9638

With more than two decades of experience, the Wiechmann family’s display has gained attention and has won several light display competitions. Waverly Lights is a 20 minute light show with twinkling lights dancing to holiday music...just tune to 107.1 on your radio dial when you visit! The show starts at 5:00 pm and runs until 9:00 pm daily.

Krumwiede Light Display 
December 1 - December 30
3708 5th Avenue NW, Waverly (25 minute drive)

View thousands of lights, character figurines at this drive-through display. Display will be lit Sunday - Thursday, 5:00 - 9:00 pm and Friday and Saturday, 5:00 - 10:00 pm. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it will be lit from 5:00 - 11:00 pm. 
 

Hickory Hills Holiday Light Show
December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 
3338 Hickory Hills Road, La Porte City (30 minute drive)
319-433-7275

Businesses and organizations have decorated Hickory Hills Park with thousands of lights for you to enjoy as you drive through the park's campground! $10/vehicle (cash or check only), 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

(Hickory Hills Holiday Light Show, photo courtesy Hickory Hills Park) 

Sumner Christmas Light Show
November 18 – January 1
Sumner City Park at 547 Columbia Avenue, Sumner (45 minute drive)

Lights in the Park features inflatables, animation, a lighted 30-foot tree and dancing lights set to music; tune to 91.5. Lit nightly, 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Free will donation. 
 

Little Light of Mine - check this link for 2023 updates.
November 24 – December 31
Mikkelson Park at 1013 E. Spring Street, New Hampton (45 minute drive)
641-394-2777

Drive through the park with your radio dial tuned to 99.5 FM to hear music synchronized to their light display. Once a memorial light display, and now in its fifth year, the community’s display offers visitors the message, “If one person lets their light shine, it will inspire others to gather and do the same.” The park is illuminated nightly, 5:00 – 10:00 pm.  Check out their link to find out how to get tickets for their Horse-drawn wagon rides under the lights.  

Festival of Lights - check this link for 2023 updates.
November 22 - December 31
928 North Pine Street, West Union (1 hour drive)

The West Union Recreation Complex is decked out for the holidays! Throughout December, be sure to tune your radio to 99.5 FM to hear the sounds of Christmas as you drive through the park. They have over 40,000 lights and they'll be on 5:00 – 10:00 pm nightly.

If you’d like more information about Things to Do, Places to Eat & Drink or a Place to Stay, we invite you to contact the Cedar Falls Visitor Center at 319-268-4266. We’re open  9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday, at 6510 Hudson Road. And, if you want to find additional events taking place in the Cedar Valley, visit our online calendar at CedarValley365.com. 
 

We wish you a holiday filled with the magic and joy of the holiday season! 

(photo courtesy Waverly Lights)
 

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