Verified Christmas event · Duluth, MN
Bentleyville Tour of Lights 2026
A free walk-through light show on the Lake Superior shore in Duluth, open every night from November 21 to December 26, with free cocoa, cookies and Santa.
- Verified by the organizer
- Nov 21 to Dec 26
- All ages
- Free
No tickets are needed. Visit details come from Bentleyville. Rally Takes the Train doesn't sell tickets or take a cut.
Verified- Nightly, November 21 to December 26, 2026Sun to Thu 5 to 9 pm, Fri and Sat 5 to 10 pm
- Bayfront Festival Park700 W Railroad St, Duluth
- FreeParking $12, or $10 cash
- For all agesOutdoors, dress warm
About this event
Bentleyville Tour of Lights fills Bayfront Festival Park in downtown Duluth with lights every night from November 21 to December 26, 2026. This is its 23rd season. Admission is free; parking is $12 a car, or $10 in cash.
Inside, everyone gets free hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and popcorn, and marshmallows to roast at the firepits. Santa and Mrs. Claus are there nightly from 5 to 9 pm through December 23, and each child 12 and under who visits Santa gets a knit Bentleyville hat and a bag of cookies.
Parent tip: Dress for cold wind off the lake, with hats and mittens for the kids. If you want to see Santa, come early: he leaves at 9 pm, and the line can close sooner on busy nights. On stormy days, Bentleyville posts any closure on its homepage and Facebook page, usually by 3 pm.
What kids can do
On site
- Parking
- $12 per car, $10 cash
- Setting
- Outdoors, by Lake Superior
- Language
- English
- Tickets
- None needed, free
- Public transit
- Nearby, says the organizer
- Expected crowd
- About 300,000 visitors, the organizer's estimate
- Verified
- By the organizer,
Dates
- Sunday to Thursday5 to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday5 to 10 pm
- Santa and Mrs. ClausNightly to Dec 23, 5 to 9 pm
Open nightly, November 21 to December 26: Sunday to Thursday 5 to 9 pm, Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 pm. Parking lots open at 4 pm. Special nights: Santa arrives by helicopter between 4:50 and 5 pm on opening night, November 21; the UMD Marching Band plays at 5:30 pm on November 22; animals from Cook County Connections visit 5 to 8 pm on Tuesdays December 1, 8, 15 and 22; fireworks at 5:30 pm on closing night, December 26.
Prices
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Parking, per car | $12 |
| Parking, paying cash | $10 |
Admission, cocoa, cookies, popcorn, marshmallows and the visit with Santa are free. Parking is $12 per car, or $10 when you pay with cash.
Where it is
- Bayfront Festival Park
700 W Railroad St
Duluth, MN 55802
Directions to Bayfront Festival Park (opens in a new tab)
Bayfront Festival Park is outdoors on the Lake Superior shore in downtown Duluth. Parking is in the Bentleyville lots, with more at the DECC and Great Lakes Aquarium. Accessible parking is first come, first served. Free strollers and wheelchairs are lent near the main entrance.
Good to know
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Accessible restrooms
- Accessible parking
- Service animals welcome
- Mostly paved, level ground
Who you will see
- Santa and Mrs. Claus
If the weather turns
If weather closes Bentleyville, the decision is usually made by 3 pm that day and posted on the Bentleyville homepage and Facebook page. It is an outdoor event, so dress for the weather.
Sponsors
Bentleyville lists its sponsors at bentleyvilleusa.org/sponsors.
Follow Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Questions
When is Bentleyville open in 2026?
Every night from Saturday, November 21 to Saturday, December 26, 2026. Sunday to Thursday 5 to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 pm.
Where is it?
Bayfront Festival Park, 700 W Railroad St, Duluth, MN 55802.
Is it free?
Admission is free, and so are the hot cocoa, coffee, cookies, popcorn and marshmallows. Parking is $12 per car, or $10 in cash.
When can kids see Santa?
Santa and Mrs. Claus are there nightly from 5 to 9 pm through December 23. Each child 12 and under who visits gets a knit hat and a bag of cookies.
Can we bring a stroller?
Yes. The park is accessible, and free strollers and wheelchairs are lent near the main entrance, first come, first served.
What if the weather is bad?
Bentleyville posts weather closures on its homepage and Facebook page, usually by 3 pm that day.
Verified by Bentleyville Tour of Lights
The details on this page came from the organizer on November 13, 2026, and the organizer has committed to providing safe Christmas magic for kids. How verification works
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