bentleyville tour of lights 2022

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Duluth Winter Village by Day; Bentleyville by Night

– Duluth Winter Village by Day –

– Bentleyville by Night –

Duluth Winter Village + Bentleyville

Date:  Saturday, Dec. 3 & Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022

Time: Duluth Winter Village | 10 AM– 5 PM

Bentleyville Tour of Lights | 5 PM –10 PM on Saturday, Dec. 4 & 5 PM – 9 PM Sunday, Dec. 4

Where: Duluth Winter Village is outside overlooking the harbor behind the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) at 350 Harbor Drive.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights is walking distance from Duluth Winter Village in Bayfront Festival Park.

Price: FREE to attend both events / Pay to park at the DECC

So what is the Duluth Winter Village? 

Inspired by European Christmas Markets, the Duluth Winter Village brings holiday charm with roaming carolers, local goods sold from 26 wooden cabins decked with live greenery.  There are also bonfires, free indoor ice skating, a petting zoo, a 25-foot lit tree in our Yule Hall, and, of course – Lift Bridge views.

Cabins filled with local goods

There will be 50+ vendors at the event, including Hucklebeary, Duluth Coffee Company, Frost River, Northern Waters Smokehaus, Blue Heron Trading Company, Anna Bailey Art, Lake Superior Art Glass and many more.

Photos by JaneCane Photography

Food & cups of cheer inside the Yule Hall

Inside the Yule Hall, it’s as ‘North Shore Magic’ as it gets. And that’s even before the Minnesota comfort foods (think grilled cheese, seasonal soups, mac & cheese) and cups of cheer – adult and otherwise available in our Yule Hall.

Decorated with a 25-foot live lit tree (!), twinkly lights, and places to sit to enjoy your grilled cheese, chili, and other great eats from local vendors such as Scenic Cafe, TBSP Waffles, Love Creamery, Duluth’s Best Bread, Yes Cheese, the DECC, and others.

Or enjoy Bloody Mary, adult hot cocoa or cider, or a Minnesota craft beverage to bring the merry.

AND FREE ATOMIC ICE SKATING!

Free Ice skating is back with festive lights, free skates rental (limited availability), and a live DJ, the Crunchy Bunch, from 2 PM – 5Pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights

You likely already know that the Bentleyville Tour of Lights is the largest, free, outdoor light event in the nation! Which always makes for a memorable weekend up North. It’s a walk-through event with hot cocoa, s’mores, and other treats all given by Bentleyville and its sponsors.

Santa also visits Bentleyville! Each child 10 and under who visits with Santa will receive a knit winter hat and cookies.

To avoid the crowds when attending Bentleville, we recommend visiting after 8 pm Sun-Thur or after 9 pm on Fri-Sat.

Graphic provided by Bentleyvillusa.org

Learn more about Bentleyville here

Book your hotels now

As our friends at Visit Duluth say it well, “From fancy to family-friendly, and city life to lake views, Duluth’s hotels offer a variety of options and amenities for solo travelers, couples, families and groups.” Check out the local hotels list and book your stay today.

Parting shot…

Bentleyville Tour of Lights

Home / Bentleyville Tour of Lights

The holiday season is upon us, which means Bentleyville is opening soon! Bentleyville Tour of Lights is known as America’s largest FREE walk-through lighting display. Guests can leisurely stroll under the glow of over 4 MILLION Christmas lights at Bayfront Festival Park, situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior. Guests can also enjoy complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn and roasted marshmallows, as well as warming up at one of the many fire pits!

Get your photo taken with Rudolph, visit with Santa and tell him about your year and something special you are asking for this year, and even get to have a little chat with Mrs. Claus. Kids under 10 receive a free Bentleyville hat when visiting with Santa!

For those looking to visit Bentleyville on opening night, make sure to arrive early so you can watch Santa make his famous arrival by skydiving into Bentleyville at 4:30 pm. If you want to wait for closing night to visit, there will be fireworks at 6:30 pm!

Whether you’re a Duluth native or visiting for the weekend, Bentleyville now has a new feature this year to help give the best experience at Bentleyville! The Crowd-O-Meter is a helpful calendar to help assist you while you plan your visit. The Crowd-O-Meter shows how busy each day of the month is and what days to avoid if you want to optimize your experience at the tour of lights.

For Bentleyville first-timers, here are a couple of tips:

• Arrive Early- The park opens at 5 pm, so if you want to ensure you get a spot, arrive around 4:45 pm so you are the first to get in line for Santa and you get to experience the park before the big crowds get there
• Go to Santa first- To make sure you get a chance to talk with Santa, make sure that is the first thing you do when arriving at the park. That way you get your chat with Santa and still have time to enjoy all the other parts of Bentleyville. Remember: ONLY kids under 10 will get a free 2017 knit Bentleyville hat
• More layers are better than none- Granted there are multiple gifts shops to stop at during your time at Bentleyville to get winter apparel if you get cold, but it’s better to come prepared for the elements then be chilly during your time at the park. The park is on the shore of Lake Superior, so it can get very windy and cold
• Visitors with Disabilities- For guests that require handicap accessible trails, they are encouraged to visit during the week so they are able to experience the park with fewer people. If your child is in a wheelchair and is wanting to see Santa, make sure to tell a staff member so they can make that happen.
• No Pets- All pets must be left at home or with a babysitter
• Bentleyville is FREE and open to the public, however, guests are encouraged to bring nonperishable food or an unwrapped gift for the toy drive
• Strollers- There are free strollers to use close to the entrance of the park but they are on a  first come first serve basis, so if you are in need of a Bentleyville stroller make sure to arrive early or bring one from home

Hours & Dates:

November 18th – December 26th, 2017

Sunday – Thursday 5 pm-9 pm

Friday & Saturday 5 pm- 10 pm

Bentleyville visitors encouraged to explore ALL Duluth, especially Canal Park!  Check out lodging locations , dining options and all things Canal Park at canalpark.com

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Turning your typical family vacation into a bucket list adventure!

2023 bentleyville tour of lights – tips for your first trip.

Is your family ready to get into the Christmas spirit?  Well, there’s no better way to do that than to visit the 2023 Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, Minnesota.  How many lights are there?  Only five million!  There’s Christmas music playing, Santa Claus listening to little kid’s wishes, and twinkling lights everywhere you look.  Duluth, Minnesota is a family-friendly and fun city to visit anytime during the year , but you definitely don’t want to miss Christmas time!

(This post includes affiliate links for your convenience.  Read my disclosure policy here .)

Bentleyville opens on November 18, 2023, and runs nightly thru December 26, 2023

Here are 25 tips for your first trip to bentleyville tour of lights:.

• Give back during your visit and bring an unwrapped toy or food item to donate to the Duluth Salvation Army.  There are boxes for these donations near the entrances.  Bentleyville has free admission, but they do appreciate any cash donation that is made at the various donation boxes throughout the display to “keep the lights on”.   You can also find donation information on their website .

This is the entrance nearest to Amsoil Arena.

• If it’s the weekend, Bentleyville Tour of Lights will be very crowded.  I would highly recommend visiting during the week, if possible.  Check the crowd calendar on their website before planning your trip, so you know what to expect.  One year we went on a 26 degree Wednesday evening and it wasn’t very busy at all, it was the perfect night.  Also check the event schedule at the neighboring Amsoil Arena and DECC so you can anticipate parking issues and crowds.

Related:  Does Your Family Have a Monthly Bucket List?  Check out my Family Bucket List Printables on Etsy!

• The five million lights are turned on at 5:00 each evening.  If you are there at the opening (and you should be), you can take part in the countdown to the lights turning on.  Bentleyville is open on Sunday-Thursday from 5:00 – 9:00, and Friday-Saturday from 5:00 – 10:00

• If you arrive at Bentleyville before 5:00, and don’t want to wait outside, step into the gift shop.  It’s open, warm, and full of Bentleyville Tour of Lights souvenirs.  There are Christmas ornaments, shirts, and every color of stocking cap that you can imagine.
• If you are there at opening, and want to visit with Santa, go right to the Santa line first (follow the signs).  The line will be the shortest, and you’ll have plenty of time to see the light displays and get some treats once you are finished.

Stand by the fire and enjoy a marshmallow or two.

• At the half way point around the tour of lights, there are fire pits for roasting marshmallows.  One building advertises s’more fixings, but you’ll have to pay for them.  Go across the way to the marshmallow hut for a roasting stick and two free marshmallows per person.  Roast your treat and return the sticks where designated.  Maybe have a few wet wipes in your bag for the sticky fingers.
• Since you’ll be outside while walking thru Bentleyville, dress warm!  Snow pants, hats, scarfs, the whole nine yards.  Part of the tour has you walking along the shore of Lake Superior, and the wind can be unbearable.

Take a moment to enjoy the view of the lift bridge from Bentleyville.

• The first goodies that you’ll come to in Bentleyville are the free cookies and hot cocoa.  Cups will only be filled about 2/3 full, but it may be too difficult for the kids to walk thru the crowds while holding the warm drink.  The cookies are good though, and piled up on platters at the cocoa window.

Related Post:  A Guide to Experience Gifts – Or How to Quit Christmas Shopping

• The second treat on the tour is a bag of popcorn.  You can stay warm while snacking on this by standing next to a fire, or bring the bag home for later.  It might be too cold for those fingers to come out of their mittens.
• There are restrooms, but brrrr.
• If you get there before Bentleyville is open, the fire pits will be burning to keep you warm.  You just have to arrive extra early for a spot by the fire.  Both of the entrances (main entrance and Amsoil Arena entrance) have small fires to stay warm by, and there are numerous fire pits half way through the tour that you can stand by for a quick warm up too.

The tree is 128′ tall and the center of the holiday display.

• Bentleyville is a one way tour, and goes in a counter-clockwise direction.  You can bring your own stroller for the small kiddos, but sleds are not recommended.  Strollers and wheelchairs are available on a first come first served basis, near the main entrance.
• It will take almost an hour to make your way through the holiday light tour, this is excluding a visit to Santa.
• If you post any photos on social media, tag them with #Bentleyville2023.  You will see the giant reminder when you are there. The best spot for a photo of the giant Christmas tree is by the firepits where you roast your marshmallows.
• Kids can visit with Mrs. Claus too.  She has her own display and hands out candy canes.

Related Post:  Christmas Experience Gifts to Give Kids Instead of Toys

• You can add your kiddos names to the naughty or nice lists that are displayed, by making a donation through the Bentleyville website.  The amount is $5 per name.  See this page for more info .  It’s fun to watch the kids hunt for their names, but think twice before you add them to the naughty list.
• Drive by Bentleyville on I-35.  You can take in all of the lights at once, and it really is something to see from a distance.
• If you are planning to spend the night in Duluth, check out the area hotels for special rates.

Kids love the dinosaur display!

• Bring a shoulder bag into Bentleyville.  You’ll probably have to hang onto cookies, bags of popcorn, and your usual supplies that keep the whole family happy!
• If your plan is to visit with Santa, follow the signs that point you where to go.  Kids, ages 10 and under, get a free stocking cap from Santa.

Related Post:  Advent Calendar Activities and Holiday Fun for Your Family’s Christmas Countdown

• Read thru the parking info, and print out the parking map that’s on the Bentleyville website.  On weekends, you’ll probably have to take a shuttle or even the holiday train ($10) to Bentleyville.  On weekdays, you’ll likely be able to park in one of the lots nearby.  Cost to park is $10.
• Take a short walk or drive to Canal Park, and dine in one of the many restaurants before or after your walk thru Bentleyville.

Happy holidays!

• Bring hand warmers for cold fingers.  Also, throw a few blankets into the car so kids can bundle up in them on the drive home.
• Was it a family tradition to drive down to Park Point and walk through the light display at Marcia Hales’ house on Lake Ave?  Her display ended in 2019, but some her lights have been moved to The Merryweather Inn.
• If you are spending the weekend in Duluth, be sure to visit the Great Lakes Aquarium that is adjacent to Bentleyville.  For an extra dose of holiday spirit, take a Christmas tour at Glensheen Mansion.

Your whole family will get into the spirit of the holidays after a walk thru Bentleyville Tour of Lights, and you may be starting a new tradition.

Happy holidays from all of us at That Was a First!

Here’s more info for your visit to Duluth:

• 8 First Experiences for the Whole Family in Duluth, MN
• Reviews of the top hotels in Duluth
• Advent Calendar Activities and Holiday Fun for Your Christmas Countdown

Vicki started That Was a First to inspire families to turn their typical family vacation into a bucket list adventure, by providing in depth information and travel tips for destinations across the country.

We did Bentlyville last year and it was terrific. The Hub surprised me and made reservations at Pier B Hotel and our room overlooked the lights. They had a special rate and shuttles that ran over to the park, so we didn’t have to worry about parking.

My only comment was it was difficult for me to walk. There weren’t really any resting spots along the way. I have a bad back and it’s always an issue for me.

If you haven’t ever been. Make the time. It’s great for young and old.

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Hungry? Order Curbside-Pickup from one of our supporting restaurants and enjoy a great meal after you complete the tour!