13 Magical Reasons to Visit Glow Holiday Festival in Minnesota This Year
Looking for a little holiday cheer in your life? You have to check out the Annual Glow Holiday Festival in St Paul.
The Glow Holiday Festival is a must-see event for anyone searching for that perfect holiday experience. Held annually at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, this festive occasion offers something special for everyone. From the stunning light displays to interactive attractions, this has been the one show I see every year.
I am so impressed with the expansive displays and they keep offering something new every year making it a fresh experience.
The Glow Holiday Lights Festival is at the CHS Field in St Paul in 2024! They have some great displays, spread out over two floors. It is amazing!
Whether you’re traveling with family, going on a day trip, or looking for great photo ops, Glow has it all.
This post is sponsored by DayTripper and Glow Holiday Festival. I received complimentary admission in exchange for an honest review.
13 Reasons to Attend the Annual Glow Holiday Festival in St Paul
Experience Over a Million Lights
As soon as you enter the Glow Holiday Festival, you’re greeted with a dazzling spectacle of over a million holiday lights.
The interactive walk-through design allows you to immerse yourself in stunning displays like the Enchanted Forest and Tremendous Trees.
These mesmerizing installations are perfect for capturing magical holiday moments. Find more light inspiration in Minnesota’s breathtaking holiday events.
A Hands-On Holiday Adventure for Families
Families will love the interactive exhibits scattered throughout the festival. From Bright Bikes, where you can pedal to light up Christmas trees, to playing in the expanded light maze, there’s no shortage of activities to entertain kids and adults alike.
My kids love to jump on the light up teetertotters, or the swinging chairs.
xplore Minnesota’s Winter Magic
Glow brings the enchanting beauty of Minnesota’s winter landscapes to life with twinkling, snow-dusted themes. The festival is a perfect way to experience that “True North” vibe without the freezing temperatures.
The St. Paul Winter Carnival is another winter classic to check out.
Walk Beneath LED Northern Lights
Have you always wanted to see the Northern Lights? The Glow Holiday Festival offers a reimagined version with 1,000 LED tubes cascading above you. It’s a jaw-dropping experience that feels magical as you stroll through the illuminated path.
Incredible Photo Opportunities
Glow is packed with Instagram-worthy spots that let you capture picture-perfect memories. Visit Selfie Plaza for fun frames, take a shot under the angel wings, or get silly with the Glitter Critters.
Don’t forget your camera—you’ll have endless reasons to post festive photos this season.
Ride the Thrilling Giant Slide
The 150-foot Giant Slide is always a hit, especially with kids. Glide down on an inner tube from the concourse level to the field while enjoying a breathtaking view of the festival grounds.
It’s an exhilarating ride, and while it costs extra, it’s worth every penny.
Meet Santa Claus Himself
Kids and adults alike can visit Santa in his cozy and warm tent. Whether you’re sharing your wish list or snapping holiday photos, the Santa experience is a cherished tradition you won’t want to miss.
Enjoy Festive Food and Drinks
Holiday treats and hot drinks are scattered throughout the festival for your enjoyment. Warm up with hot chocolate, cider, or indulge in sweet treats like roasted marshmallows at the s’mores fire pits.
For the adults in the crowd, beer and wine are also available.
Food is located around the main concourse on the top level.
Zip Line Over Glittering Lights
Add some thrill to your holiday fun with Vixen’s Zip Line, soaring 30 feet high over 300 feet of dazzling displays. This attraction may cost extra, but it’s perfect for anyone seeking a unique perspective of the breathtaking lights below.
Bike-Powered Christmas Trees
Take part in an eco-friendly holiday activity! Pedal at the Bright Bikes exhibit to illuminate the towering Christmas tree in front of you. It’s fun for all ages, and kids especially love seeing their efforts light up the night.
Support Local Charities
Each ticket sold contributes $1 to various local charities, making your visit more meaningful. Every night a new charity is featured. Organizations like United Way, Salvation Army, and others benefit from this initiative, ensuring your holiday outing helps spread joy beyond the festival.
Get Lost in the Expansive Light Maze
The larger-than-ever light maze is a fun challenge for everyone. With twists and turns illuminated by hundreds of lights, it offers an exciting way to explore the festival while getting some exercise.
Pro tip: Loop counter-clockwise to enjoy the maze fully.
Warm Up by the Fire Pits
December in Minnesota can be unpredictable when it comes to the weather. Glow has plenty of heated tents and fire pits where you can take a break from the attractions and enjoy a moment toasty and relaxed.
They even have some igloos for your family to enjoy.
How Much It Costs to Attend Glow Holiday Festival in St Paul?
Tickets are on sale now for $21.75 for Adults, $12.75 for Children. Kids 3 and under are free.
Aside from food and merchandise, the only other thing that costs are the Slide. It’s $4 per ride. You can purchase tickets through their website.
When is Glow Holiday Festival open?
Glow Holiday Festival is open Nov. 21 – Jan. 5, 2025 from 5 pm-9pm.
What’s New This Year?
They have a lot of the same displays, rearranged and added some little homes in the forest.
The Reindeer Run has been completely redone. The bright bikes are there, along with campfires for s’mores and teeter-totter.
There are plenty of places to warm up, including domes and huts.
You can stay as long as you like and do the loop as many times as you wish.
What I loved was there wasn’t as much dead space between displays. The upper level was all on hard concrete, while the ground level was the field’s gravel.
Warm up at the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum
So not a holiday related thing, but unless you are going to a St Paul Saints game, when will you get the chance to step inside?
This free museum is open to talk into, plus on a cold day, it’s the perfect place to warm up. They have all kinds of memorabilia from the early days of baseball.
FAQs for Attending the Glow Holiday Festival in St Paul
Buy tickets ahead of time. They do sell them at the gate but they will sell out. Tickets are good for a one-hour entry window. Tickets are non-refundable.
Make sure to bundle up. When in doubt, bring it. This is Minnesota after all.
The entire festival is cashless. Bring a credit card or debit card for all transactions. The kids were able to pay with cash for the glowing merchandise off the cart.
The entire festival takes about 1 hr to get through.
Where to Park for Glow Holiday Festival In St Paul?
The closest parking to Glow is at the St Paul Farms market directly across the street. It’s $20.
If you want to save some money, can you park at Union Depot. We paid about $4 total for parking for just over an hour we were there. From Union Depot, it was about three blocks away.
There is always street parking too.
Would I go back to the Glow Holiday Festival in St Paul?
Yes, this is truly a magical experience that my family loved. One of the things I hear from the community about Glow is the ticket prices. They’d rather go to one of the free displays around town.
Let me just say, a family trip to Duluth or Mankato, with a hotel is going to cost you more than seeing this close to home. For the price of a tank of gas, you’ll get a family of four into Glow and not have to drive a long way.
Glow Holiday Festival is exceptionally well done. Crowds are smaller and the experience is memorable. This is a new holiday tradition for my family.
Looking for more great Christmas Light Displays around the Twin Cities? Here are some of my favorites!
Where to See the BEST Christmas Lights in MN
The Newest Holiday Light Display in Wisconsin: Miracle at Big Rock
The Spirit of Winter: Festival of Lights Display in Waconia
