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Christmas with kids in La Crosse
In La Crosse, Christmas shines along the river. Since 1995 volunteers have lit Riverside Park for the holidays, growing from 250,000 lights to about three million.
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The story of Christmas in La Crosse
How La Crosse celebrates
La Crosse celebrates Christmas with Rotary Lights, a drive-through and walk-through display in Riverside Park. Duane Moore, an incoming Rotary East president, got the idea in 1994 from a church light display in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and wanted a project to bring local Rotary clubs together. The park first lit up on November 24, 1995, when the mayor and Santa threw the switch. About 500 people came, and there were 250,000 lights. Today the display runs from the day after Thanksgiving through December 31, and it is free, with donations of food and cash for local pantries.
Christmas last year in La Crosse
The 31st season of Rotary Lights opened on Friday, November 28, 2025. Hundreds gathered for a Santa-led countdown and fireworks from the La Crosse Skyrockers across the river, and about three million lights came on. Volunteers had spent the month before setting up displays, shelters, tree lights and the ice rink. The park was open from 5 to 10 pm nightly, with carriage rides, Santa and reindeer visits, a live nativity on ten nights and a quiet All Abilities Night on December 1. Santa also visited places around the area, including a Holiday Light Up Parade in Trempealeau.
Fun facts about Christmas in La Crosse
Rotary Lights grew from 250,000 incandescent lights to about 3,000,000 LED lights, and it draws roughly 140,000 to 160,000 visitors a year. The first year collected 13,000 food items, and in 2018 donors gave 318,000 items to 14 pantries. Over the years the park has added live reindeer, an ice rink, hay rides and an ice castle for Santa. The display has also inspired a 5K run and a breakfast with Santa. La Crosse organizers have advised 14 other communities on starting their own displays.
Traditions today
- Rotary Lights in Riverside Park: About three million lights glow nightly from the day after Thanksgiving through December 31.
- Santa in the park: Santa is in the park nightly through December 23 from 5 to 8 pm, with a train table for kids in line.
- Live nativity: A live nativity was held on ten nights during the 2025 season.
- Food drive: Visitors can bring non-perishable food or cash to help Coulee Region pantries.
- Opening night countdown: A Santa-led countdown and fireworks open the season each year.
- All Abilities Night: A low-sensory evening with quiet music, no flashing lights and a calming area.
A fact for kids
In La Crosse, a park by the river glows with about three million lights every December. It started in 1995 with 250,000 lights, and Santa helped switch them on.
Questions about Christmas in La Crosse
What is the biggest Christmas tradition in La Crosse?
Rotary Lights in Riverside Park is the biggest. Since 1995 it has lit the riverfront from the day after Thanksgiving through December 31. About three million lights, Santa, a live nativity and carriage rides make it a favorite for families across the Coulee Region.
When did Rotary Lights begin?
Rotary Lights first lit up on November 24, 1995. The mayor and Santa threw the switch, about 500 people came, and the display used 250,000 lights. The idea came in 1994 from a church light display in Tulsa, Oklahoma, seen by Rotary East's incoming president Duane Moore.
Why is it in Riverside Park?
Organizers first considered Myrick Park, then Pettibone Park. Traffic, access to power and the risk of floods to the wiring led them to choose Riverside Park. The park sits by the river, and fireworks for opening night are launched across the water.
How many lights are there today?
About three million LED lights now glow in Riverside Park. That is a big jump from the first year, when 250,000 incandescent lights were used. Volunteers spend about a month setting up displays, shelters, tree lights and the ice rink before opening night.
How many people visit each year?
The library archives say Rotary Lights draws about 140,000 to 160,000 visitors a year. That number comes from an article around the 25th season in 2019, so recent crowds may differ. Plan for crowds on a display this popular, and arrive early.
When did the 2025 season start and end?
The 31st season opened on Friday, November 28, 2025, and ran nightly through December 31. Hours were 5 to 10 pm, with 5 to 9 pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and 5 to 11 pm on New Year's Eve. See our La Crosse Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
Does Rotary Lights cost money?
Admission is free. Visitors are asked to give non-perishable food or cash for Coulee Region pantries, and carriage rides cost extra, $25 per couple or $40 per family in one source. Treats such as a $20 teddy bear support the Hunger Task Force.
What happens on opening night?
Hundreds gather for a Santa-led countdown, and the La Crosse Skyrockers set off fireworks from across the river. In 2025 about three million lights came on at once. Dress warmly, since late November evenings by the river can be cold.
When can kids see Santa at Rotary Lights?
In the 2024 season Santa was in the park nightly through December 23, from 5 to 8 pm. A train table helps kids pass the time in line. Hours can change by year, so check our La Crosse Christmas events guide on this page.
Is there a quiet night for sensory-sensitive children?
Yes. All Abilities Night, presented by the La Crosse Area Autism Foundation, is a low-sensory evening with quiet music, no flashing lights, slower-moving lights and a calming area. In 2025 it was on December 1 from 5 to 8 pm.
What is the live nativity?
A live nativity was held on ten different nights in the 2025 season at Rotary Lights. A live nativity and Christmas Eve service were added after early visitors felt something was missing from the display, which began as a simple light show.
How did the food drive start?
Collecting food has been part of Rotary Lights from the start. The first year gathered 13,000 items, and in 2018 donors gave 318,000 items to 14 pantries and food distribution centers. It is a simple way to teach kids about helping neighbors.
How many volunteers run Rotary Lights?
Seven Rotary clubs and about 500 volunteers started the event. Today nine clubs and 3,250 volunteers take part, according to the library archives. The display pays its own costs without city tax dollars, and profits support community projects and nonprofits.
What other features have been added over the years?
Over time the park added live reindeer, an ice skating rink, carriage and hay rides, an ice castle for Santa, and a bonfire with s'mores. There is also an opening night parade, a 5K run and a breakfast with Santa for children.
Have other communities copied Rotary Lights?
Yes. La Crosse organizers have advised 14 other communities that wanted to start their own displays, according to the library archives. The idea itself came from a church light display in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so it has already traveled a long way. Rotary Lights began in Riverside Park as a project to bring local Rotary clubs together.
Where else can kids see Santa around La Crosse?
In 2025, Santa appeared at Valley View Mall in La Crosse on November 29, at the Children's Museum of La Crosse on December 13 and in nearby towns such as Onalaska, Holmen and West Salem. Our La Crosse Christmas events guide on this page lists this year's visits.
How do I explain Rotary Lights to a small child?
Say it is a giant light show in the park that neighbors built so everyone can enjoy it for free. Kids can look for Santa, reindeer and the nativity, and bring food for families who need help. Bundle up, since you may walk outside.
What was the first Christmas display like in 1995?
It was called Rotary Lights: A Christmas Jubilee. About 500 people attended the first night, and the display used 250,000 lights. Compared with today's three million lights it was small, but it set the pattern of a free, family-friendly display with a food drive.
Is the display friendly for toddlers?
It can be. Toddlers may enjoy the lights, the Santa line with its train table and the carriage rides, and a heated igloo and s'mores were listed too. Evenings can be crowded, so go early in the evening and use a stroller or carrier.
Where can I find this year's La Crosse Christmas dates?
See our La Crosse Christmas events guide on this page for dates we have confirmed this season. Rotary Lights usually opens the day after Thanksgiving, but hours and special nights change by year, so check the official site before you go.
Sources
- 'Tis the 25th Season for Rotary Lights, La Crosse Public Library Archives
- UPDATE: Rotary Lights now open for 31st season in Riverside Park, WIZM
- Rotary Lights Celebrates 30 Years of Light Displays, News8000
- Santa Events in the La Crosse Area (2025 season), La Crosse Local