Bentleyville Tour of Lights Transforms Duluth Waterfront
Bentleyville Tour of Lights Transforms Duluth Waterfront
By Caitlin Hannah
Each winter, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights transforms Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth into an illuminated winter wonderland with Christmas music and more than 5 million lights. According to organizers, it's actually the largest free walk-through lighting display of its kind in the country, and one of several local events lighting storefronts and skies during the holiday season.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights, Duluth
Bentleyville's 128-foot Christmas tree is more than twice the height of the one in Rockefeller Center, and is covered with 100,000 LED lights that dance to holiday music. Using more than 5.5 miles of rope light, festive displays include Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, and such Minnesota icons as Split Rock Lighthouse, Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge, Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox and more.
As you stroll through the sprawling display, visitors can sip on complimentary coffee and hot cocoa and munch on popcorn and holiday cookies, or roast marshmallows over a campfire. Children can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus every night. Each child 10 and under will receive a new knit winter hat during their visit. During the 2022 season, 27,000 hats were distributed. Other festive costumed characters will be roaming the event for photos.
A fireworks display at Bentleyville Tour of Lights / Ronny Purba
This year's event — Bentleyville's 20th birthday — runs from Saturday, Nov. 18 through Tuesday, Dec. 26. The show is free, but monetary donations are appreciated. Guests are also encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army.
Follow posted signs to find parking at an official nearby lot, the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center or Great Lakes Aquarium. Visitors may also board the Bentleyville shuttle train that departs from the Fitgers complex at 4:35 and 6:35 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Find more things to do in Duluth and check out 10 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Minnesota.
Caitlin Hannah is Explore Minnesota's senior digital social strategist. When traveling around the state, she likes spending time near the water, hiking, antique shopping, trying new restaurants, and watching hockey.