Are you looking for something to do this holiday season? Do you enjoy looking at Christmas lights and spending time in the crisp winter air? Then head on down to the La Crosse Rotary Lights Holiday Display held at Riverside Park. This is their 29th year! Their amazing displays, which have over three million lights, attract around 130,000 visitors per year. You can enjoy the displays by walking, driving, or taking a carriage ride. You can also meet Santa, go ice skating (depending on the weather), and get hot chocolate and cookies. 

This is a fantastic event to do with family and friends. It’s incredible to see all of the effort that gets put into the displays. They even have several music synchronized animation displays that are absolutely incredible to see and listen to. There are also tons of great photo opportunities if people want to take pictures and make memories. Rotary Lights is free; although, they do accept voluntary food and cash donations. The display is open through Dec. 31, 2023, and Santa and a couple of his reindeer will be at the park through Dec. 23. The park opens daily at 5 p.m. The gates close after the last car in line at 10 p.m. The exceptions are the Rotary Lights close at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and they close at 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve.

I have been going to Rotary lights for a few years, and I hope to go again this year. Even though they often have the same displays from past years, it is still really fun to go. It’s especially enjoyable if you bring someone new with you and get to see their face light up as they experience everything. I will say that it does get quite cold there when walking around, so make sure you bundle up before heading out. If you do get too cold though, they have a cozy, heated igloo where you can wait to warm up. Another cool thing is the ice rink. I haven’t personally gone on it yet, but it looks super fun. Although you do have to check if it’s open because it is completely controlled by mother nature, so it may not be ready for skaters. Personally, I thought the light displays themselves were incredible! Sometimes it was hard to keep up with everything, and it just seemed like there was too much to look at. You can definitely spend a lot of time there if you try to see everything they have.

I find it amazing how they put this up every year for people to come and see. It brings so much joy to so many people. The displays are made possible by the help of just over 3,000 volunteers. Having started in 1995, the purpose of Rotary Lights is to help feed the hungry of the Coulee Region by raising food donations. It is truly a place of wonder and holiday spirit. If all of this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, then don’t be afraid to stop by and check out the La Crosse Rotary Lights Holiday Display!