About Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Complimentary hot cocoa, popcorn, cookies, and roasted marshmallows are provided as well. You can also get your picture taken with reindeer. Children ten years old and under who visit Santa will get a knit hat.
Sitting right on the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfront Festival Park, you will have a stunning view out into the chilly water of the great lake. This Christmas event started in one man’s front yard before relocating to the park and has since surpassed welcoming more than 300,000 visitors every year to see the incredible displays, from fairy lights, the festival of lights, the Christmas light show of twinkling lights, light festival, blinking and Christmas lights.
There are also curtain Lights, icicle lights, LED curtain lights, twinkle lights trees, light exhibition, net lights, meteor shower lights, and rope lights, among others!
Bentleyville Tour of Lights Dates (2022)
The Bentleyville Tour of Lights will be open starting on November 19 to December 26, 2022.
There are more than 3 million lights strung on displays, tunnels, buildings, and entrances, among others. On top of that, you can also enjoy free cookies, popcorn, hot cocoa, and roast a marshmallow or two while you are walking through.
Children can also pay a visit to Santa and visit the snowmen and reindeer.
Where Is Bentleyville Lights Located and How to Get There
The Bentleyville Tour of Lights is currently located at Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, Minnesota.
If you are from the south, you can take 35 North to Duluth, then go exit at 5th Avenue West. Then turn right, and go exit right to Railroad Street. Finally, turn left on Railroad Street.
Also, parking is available on the left near the park entrance.
Festival of lights Hours
The festival hours for the Bentleyville Tour of Lights are scheduled from Sunday to Thursday, 5 PM to 9 PM, and Friday to Saturday, 5 PM to 10 PM.
It’s worth mentioning that Bentleyville is the official collection site for the Salvation Army. So, make sure you bring non-perishable food items or any new, unwrapped toy when you visit the festival. All donations are distributed to Salvation Army Corps in Duluth, Grand Rapids, Virginia, and others.
How Much It Cost to Visit Bentleyville Tour of Lights
One of the cool things about the Bentleyville Tour of Lights is that it’s totally free! Remember that this is a free walk-through light show.
The event doesn’t have any form of reservation. That means all guests entering are first come, first-come-first-served. However, there is a $10 fee for parking your vehicle.

Weather and What to Wear to the lights fest
Before visiting the Bentleyville Tour of Lights, make sure you know the weather. So, is it cold there in December?
Yes. In fact, daily temperatures lower by 9°F, from 34°F to 25°F. It rarely falls below 7°F or exceeds 47°F. What’s more, the daily temperatures rarely fall below -8°F and exceed 34°F.
So, make sure you keep your body warm throughout the event. Wear a winter coat, either a down jacket, a wool coat, or a lined trench coat. The length could also vary based on your preference.
Make sure you also wear a sturdy pair of boots. That’s always a given. You can get away with regular shoes, but they’ll get dirty and might not keep your feet as protected and warm as you’d wish.
Hotels nearby the tour of lights
Duluth is the ideal place to come for a soothing lakeside ambiance and a sense of historical heritage. Even though it’s a relatively small town, there are a shocking number of places you can stay in Duluth.
Here are some options for you to consider:
- Comfort Suites Canal Park
This features modern, fresh interiors in its spacious guest rooms, making for a soothing atmosphere. They also come with seating areas, bathtubs, fireplaces, and an outdoor terrace where you can soak up those majestic lake views.
Some rooms feature small kitchens, but guests can enjoy their hot breakfast every morning. You will also find an indoor pool and hot tub for guests to use at their leisure.
- The Suites Hotel at Waterfront Plaza
Are you searching for a place to stay in a historic building? You may wish to go for this one. Nestled in a building dating back to the late 1800s, rooms here contain original features combined with modern, functional design.
There is a swimming pool for the guests to use, a hot tub, and a gym. There’s a game room as well.
- Sheraton Duluth Hotel
The Sheraton Duluth Hotel is a friendly and warm place to stay. Guests could enjoy a variety of rooms, each with subtle lighting, dark wood furnishings, and a big bed with crisp white linen.
If you’re not spending your time in the area, you can enjoy the hotel’s indoor pool, work out in their fitness center, or indulge in the hot tub.
Where to Eat
The soothing breeze off the lake and access to hikes and other adventures make Duluth the ideal road trip destination. But don’t forget to stop along the way for a sumptuous meal.
Here are the best places where you can grab some food and drink after visiting the Bentleyville Tour of Lights:
- Northern Waters Smokehaus
This is a place that is steps away from Lake Superior. It’s a specialty sandwich store located in the De-Witt-Sietz Building.
Unique combinations of vegan, meat or seafood sandwiches are accessible along with butcher cuts, from jerky to smoked fish.
- Lake Avenue
This place serves a sophisticated menu in a sun-drenched room. The classic entrees they offer have a twist, such as the bulgogi Wagyu steak or brick chicken chimichurri. It is also the ideal stop for a romantic night close to the lake, not to mention their wine list is amazing.
- Vikre Distillery
This is a family-owned distillery that utilizes hyper-local grains and botanicals to create spirits, from aged Aquavit to boreal gin. The cocktail room serves nibbles from Northern Waters Smokehaus along with zero-proof, classic, and seasonal cocktails.
- OMC Smokehouse
The St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and beef fat fries are just some of the few awesome favorites at OMC Smokehouse. For all things meat, it is also a Lincoln Park District staple. You can pair your meal together with a few local IPAs.
- Duluth Grill
This renovated grill house has become a famous spot for Midwestern road-trippers. Here, you can expect the dishes to range from Mediterranean omelets to chilaquiles and be served in a classic woodsy interior. How cool is that?
Many fans have sought to plan a whole road trip just to get an order of the Korean Brussels sprouts.
More Things to Do in the Area
It is difficult to beat the diverse 4-season attractions of Duluth, especially for adventure lovers seeking outdoor fun. Perched along the northern shore of Lake Superior, Duluth also revels in its harborside local and is popular as the land where the water meets the sky.
- Canal Park and the Lakewalk
You can sit and watch the ships sail the harbor, or you can stroll in the water for some people watching. The eastern end of Lake Walk connects to Leif Erickson Park and Duluth Rose Garden, a wonderful place to visit if you enjoy a picnic and a harbor view.
- Lake Superior View and Zoological Society
The Lake Superior Zoo offers the opportunity to see more than 140 species of animals from across the globe. Among its famous residents are 2-toed sloths in the Nocturnal Building, which is home to numerous unique species.
- North Shore Scenic Drive
With beautiful vistas and the lovely beauty of Lake Superior at each turn, the 148-mile drive along Highway 61 offers visitors amazing opportunities to encounter life along the lake.
You can start at the waterfront Canal Park and stroll northeast. Sceneries along the way enthrall as acres of aspens, the remarkable Sawtooth Mountains, beaches, cliffs, and waterfalls compete for your attention.
- Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center
This place is one of the most visited tourist spots in Duluth. This informative and historical museum in Canal Park provides a nod to the celebrated maritime history of the lake and the significant role Duluth Harbor played in forming the early American steel industry.
- Enger Park and Enger Tower
Established in 1939 of native blue stone, the eighty-foot Enger Tower sits atop the bluffs of Duluth. It’s located in Enger Park and embellished with a green beacon. Did you know that Enger Tower looms 531 feet above the leak? It offers top views of the city and Duluth Harbor.
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Here are 2 more festivals of lights that you should visit:
Spanish Fork Festival Of Lights
Boston Lights