Feel the holiday anticipation in Beloit! Discover all the top festive events and activities with our guide. Whether you're rediscovering your city or seeing it for the first time, our guide brings you the best of Beloit's festive season.
This year, the Downtown Beloit Grand Lighted Holiday Parade invites families and friends to enjoy a charming procession of dazzling floats and festive cheer. Experience the magic of the Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show, where colourful displays adorn the gardens, creating a unique visual experience. And definitely don't forget the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, where city streets come alive with twinkling lights and seasonal spirit. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Beloit
- Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival (Milwaukee)
- Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show (Janesville)
- Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens (Hales Corners)
- Henry Vilas Zoo Lights (Madison)
- Downtown Beloit Grand Lighted Holiday Parade
- Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee)
- Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens (Green Bay)
- Christmas Carnival of Lights (Caledonia)
- Holidazzle
- Country Christmas (Pewaukee)
See these and even more events listed below!
Beloit Holiday Light Displays
Downtown Beloit Grand Lighted Holiday Parade
What to Expect:
Fireworks and lighted floats.
Description:
The Downtown Beloit Grand Lighted Holiday Parade is a spectacular event featuring live music, tree lighting, and a lighted parade. It brings the community together to kick off the holiday season with vibrant floats and festive atmosphere.
Where: Beloit | More Info: Downtown Beloit Grand Lighted Holiday Parade
Holiday Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with bonfire and luminary walk.
Description:
Join us for the Holiday Tree Lighting at Nature Confluence, featuring a bonfire, s'more making, unlimited hot cocoa, a luminary nature walk, holiday crafts, and family photo opportunities. The event culminates with a tree lighting ceremony followed by caroling.
Where: South Beloit | More Info: Holiday Tree Lighting
Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show
What to Expect:
Dazzling after-dark walk with over 1.5 million lights.
Description:
The Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show features over 1.5 million twinkling lights, themed light displays, and animations in a family-friendly outdoor setting. The event takes place at the gardens' paths, with doors opening at 4:30 PM and last admission at 8:30 PM. The lights go dark at 9 PM each evening.
Where: Janesville | More Info: Rotary Botanical Gardens Holiday Light Show
Henry Vilas Zoo Lights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting with extensive light displays and activities.
Description:
Henry Vilas Zoo Lights features over one million lights, unlimited carousel rides, and Santa photos until December 23rd. Adult beverages are available for purchase with valid ID.
Where: Madison | More Info: Henry Vilas Zoo Lights
Christmas Carnival of Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through light show with Santa's GIANT Sleigh rides.
Description:
The Christmas Carnival of Lights at Jellystone Park features a 2 million dazzling light drive-through show, Santa's GIANT Sleigh rides, and outdoor ice skating. Enjoy specialty items like hot cocoa and soft serve ice cream at Santa's Workshop.
Where: Caledonia | More Info: Christmas Carnival of Lights
Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
What to Expect:
Dazzling light displays and interactive holiday scenes.
Description:
The Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival features over 500,000 lights and dozens of animated displays in downtown Milwaukee, transforming three parks and several streets into vibrant winter scenes. The event includes a Jingle Bus tour, an Ornament Trail, and a switch-flipping ceremony with live music and fireworks.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival
Fox Cities Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Handicap-accessible trails with new and favorite holiday displays.
Description:
The Fox Cities Festival of Lights is a community-driven holiday light display at Darboy Community Park, featuring over 100,000 lights, new custom-made displays, and a half-mile walk through wooded trails. Santa visits every night except December 24 and 25.
Where: Harrison | More Info: Fox Cities Festival of Lights
Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens
What to Expect:
Botanically-themed light displays with over 350,000 lights.
Description:
The WPS Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens features over 350,000 twinkling lights in 40 nature-themed displays, including the caterpillar, butterfly house, and Lake of Lights. Visitors can indulge in cookies and hot beverages, shop for gifts, and enjoy the Green Bay Area Model Railroaders Club display.
Where: Green Bay | More Info: Garden of Lights at Green Bay Botanical Gardens
Rotary Lights
What to Expect:
Spectacular holiday light display with diverse activities.
Description:
Rotary Lights in La Crosse, Wisconsin, features over 3 million lights at Riverside Park, with events including a parade, live nativity, and Santa visits.
Where: La Crosse | More Info: Rotary Lights
Enchantment in the Park
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light show with community service focus.
Description:
Enchantment in the Park is an interactive holiday light show featuring over 1 million LED lights, live music, and festive activities like horse-drawn carriage rides and fire pits. The event supports local food pantries and nonprofits.
Where: West Bend | More Info: Enchantment in the Park
Country Christmas
What to Expect:
Spectacular drive-through holiday lights display with animated figures and holiday scenes.
Description:
Country Christmas is a drive-through holiday lights display featuring over a million lights on 40 wooded acres. The event includes animated figures, holiday scenes, and a visit to Christmas Village and the Streets of Bethlehem.
Where: Pewaukee | More Info: Country Christmas
Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting with synchronized light displays.
Description:
The Milwaukee County Zoo transforms into an illuminated destination with hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights, specially adorned pathways and forested areas, and decorative displays. This event features unique light displays, including the 28-foot Pixel Pine Tree and the LiteZilla Light Wall, along with festive food and drinks, live ice carving demonstrations, and special VR experiences.
Where: Milwaukee | More Info: Wild Lights at Milwaukee County Zoo
Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with festive activities and holiday market.
Description:
Sam's Christmas Village and Light Tour in Somerset, Wisconsin, features over 12 million lights, a Christmas market, reindeer farm, and s'mores cabins. Enjoy festive music and holiday activities amidst the beautiful winter scenery.
Where: Somerset | More Info: Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
East Troy Lights
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show in downtown East Troy Square.
Description:
East Troy Lights is an interactive holiday light show in downtown East Troy Square, featuring synchronized lights and music. The event includes a beautifully lit four-car train from the East Troy Electric Railroad, hot chocolate, cookie decorating, and holiday performances.
Where: East Troy | More Info: East Troy Lights
Beloit Holiday Markets and Shopping
Winter Crafter & Farmers’ Market
What to Expect:
Local vendors selling a variety of seasonal goods.
Description:
The Beloit Winter Crafter & Farmers' Market is a weekly event held every Saturday from November through April, featuring local vendors selling produce, baked goods, honey, jams, and artisan crafts.
Where: Beloit | More Info: Winter Crafter & Farmers’ Market
Holidazzle
What to Expect:
Sparkling lights and festive activities throughout Downtown Beloit.
Description:
Holidazzle is an award-winning holiday event in Downtown Beloit, featuring sparkling lights, festive activities, and holiday shopping at multiple locations throughout the downtown area.
Where: Beloit | More Info: Holidazzle
Holiday Used Book Sale
What to Expect:
Unique opportunity to find pre-loved holiday books.
Description:
The Holiday Used Book Sale at Talcott Free Library offers a wide selection of gently used books, perfect for finding new holiday reads or stocking stuffers.
Where: Rockton | More Info: Holiday Used Book Sale
Beloit Other Holiday Activities
Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens
What to Expect:
Guided winter walks and live jazz music.
Description:
Join us at Boerner Botanical Gardens for Winterfest 2024, where you'll enjoy indoor activities, guided winter walks, and live music by Kai Simone Jazz Experience. Free hot cocoa is available, and the event is free to attend.
Where: Hales Corners | More Info: Winter Wonders at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday celebration with historical reenactments and traditional crafts.
Description:
Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin features historic buildings adorned with holiday greenery, offering hands-on activities, traditional crafts, and festive traditions from various ethnic backgrounds.
Where: Eagle | More Info: Home for the Holidays at Old World Wisconsin
An Old Fashioned Christmas Festival
What to Expect:
Historic venue with restored buildings and festive activities.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Willow Springs Gardens, where families and the community come together to create memories and traditions. The 40-acre venue features lovingly restored buildings, perfect for an old-fashioned Christmas festival with activities like corn mazes, sleigh rides, and more.
Where: Wausau | More Info: An Old Fashioned Christmas Festival
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Machesney Park (11 miles)
- Janesville (12 miles)
- Loves Park (13 miles)
- Rockford (17 miles)
- Belvidere (19 miles)
- Woodstock (33 miles)
- Freeport (33 miles)
- Fitchburg (38 miles)
- Huntley (39 miles)
- McHenry (41 miles)
- Crystal Lake (41 miles)
- Lake in the Hills (42 miles)
- DeKalb (43 miles)
- Madison (43 miles)
- Algonquin (44 miles)