WEEKENDER BLOG

(photo courtesy Cedar Falls Community Main Street)

Bundle up the kids, pack takeout from your favorite restaurant, turn on your favorite holiday music and make family memories with magical winter nights spent enjoying the sites of holiday light displays in 2024! 

Many of the larger displays are synchronized to music. If you park your car to watch, please be courteous of others and don't block driveways and please dim headlights while parked. 

Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Tour
December 13-31, 2024

Cedar Falls residents submitted their decorated home to be included on the 2024 Cedar Falls Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Tour! 

Starting December 13, a downloadable map will be available or printed maps may be picked up at City Hall (220 Clay Street) and the Visitor Center (6510 Hudson Road). Gather with friends and family, grab some cocoa from your favorite coffee shop, and enjoy a twinkling tour through Cedar Falls. 
 

Santa's Workshop
November 29 - December 21
2nd and State Streets, Cedar Falls

Enjoy the exciting light display at Santa's Workshop in the Cedar Falls Downtown District. It's the perfect backdrop to your holiday photos. Kids, don't forget to drop off your letter to Santa in his mailbox by his workshop before December 19!  
 

Davis Family Lights
Come and witness the magical holiday light display by the Davis Family. Enjoy the beautiful lights synchronized with music played on 90.3 FM. 

Oxford Lane, Cedar Falls

M-Thurs. 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Fri-Sun: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Around the area

Waverly Lights
November 29 – December 31
103 Eliasen Avenue, Waverly (20 minute drive)
319-269-9638

After 16 years, 2024 will be the last year to view the Wiechmann family’s display. Waverly Lights is a 20 minute light show with twinkling lights dancing to holiday music...just tune to 107.1 on your radio dial when you visit! The show starts at 5:00 pm and runs until 9:00 pm daily.

Krumwiede Light Display - 2024 updates TBA
December 1 - December 29
3708 5th Avenue NW, Waverly (25 minute drive)

View thousands of lights, character figurines at this drive-through display. Display will be lit Sunday - Thursday, 5:00 - 9:00 pm and Friday and Saturday, 5:00 - 10:00 pm. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it will be lit from 5:00 - 11:00 pm. 
 

Hickory Hills Holiday Light Show
December 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 
3338 Hickory Hills Road, La Porte City (30 minute drive)
319-433-7275

Businesses and organizations have decorated Hickory Hills Park with thousands of lights for you to enjoy as you drive through the park's campground! $10/vehicle (cash or check only), 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

(Hickory Hills Holiday Light Show, photo courtesy Hickory Hills Park) 

Sumner Christmas Light Show
November 16 – January 1
Sumner City Park at 547 Columbia Avenue, Sumner (45 minute drive)

Lights in the Park features inflatables, animation, a lighted 30-foot tree and dancing lights set to music; tune to 91.5. Lit nightly, 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Visit their Facebook page to see when Santa will be in the park. Free will donation. 

Little Light of Mine - check this link for 2024 updates.
November 29 – December 31
Mikkelson Park at 1013 E. Spring Street, New Hampton (45 minute drive)
641-394-2777

Drive through the park with your radio dial tuned to 99.5 FM to hear music synchronized to their light display. Once a memorial light display, and now in its fifth year, the community’s display offers visitors the message, “If one person lets their light shine, it will inspire others to gather and do the same.” The park is illuminated nightly, 5:00 – 10:00 pm.  Check out their link to find out how to get tickets for their Horse-drawn wagon rides under the lights.  

Festival of Lights - check this link for 2024 updates.
November 27 - December 31
928 North Pine Street, West Union (1 hour drive)

The West Union Recreation Complex is decked out for the holidays! Throughout December, be sure to tune your radio to 99.5 FM to hear the sounds of Christmas as you drive through the park. They have over 40,000 lights and they'll be on 5:00 – 10:00 pm nightly.

If you’d like more information about Things to Do, Places to Eat & Drink or a Place to Stay, we invite you to contact the Cedar Falls Visitor Center at 319-268-4266. We’re open  9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday, at 6510 Hudson Road. And, if you want to find additional events taking place in the Cedar Valley, visit our online calendar at CedarValley365.com. 
 

We wish you a holiday filled with the magic and joy of the holiday season! 

(photo courtesy Waverly Lights)
 

1. christmas lights
2. christmas lights
3. family-fun
4. holiday light displays
5. outdoor
6. things to do
7. things to see
8. winter