Christmas lights guide: Places to see in Sioux Falls

Trent Abrego, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·5 min read

It’s time to get in the holiday spirit, whether that’s setting up your Christmas tree, cozying up with a cup of hot cocoa or driving around Sioux Falls to get a glimpse of the holiday lights.

The good news is you’re in luck. In Sioux Falls, two residents have worked hard to create a map and a list to see the colorful spectacles.

Josh Hayes, a Sioux Falls resident, put together a compiled map of a route that takes an estimated two to three hours. The route starts on North Phillips Avenue, ends on West President Street, and includes 21 stops. That can be found here.

Matt Luke, President of Complete Media, has been compiling a list of top attractions for about 10 years, he said. In all those years, there haven’t been as many displays as there is this year. With a list so long, Luke estimated it could take up to four hours of driving, and suggests to split the routes up over a couple of days.

Here are some of the top attractions in the city.

Falls Park is filled with light displays on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.
Falls Park is filled with light displays on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.

Top attractions

Winter Wonderland Falls Park has transformed into a Christmas destination for those looking for lights and great sights. Lights at Falls Park were initially lit back on Nov. 18, and it's scheduled to run through the new year, with a closing date of Jan. 8.

Last year, Falls Park had more than 355,000 total lights with more than 25 miles of light strings and 270 trees decorated, according to Experience Sioux Falls. Winter Wonderland is open nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Brande Circle Another spot in town to see the bright lights is in southern Sioux Falls.

On Brande Circle, is one of the most expansive setups in the town, Luke said. It includes music on the radio (97.7) and the show is also banded together with other lights in the neighborhood. The show starts at 7800 S. Brande Park Cir., in Sioux Falls, according to Dakota Holidays.

Lights and inflatables fill a front yard on Lotta Street on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.
Lights and inflatables fill a front yard on Lotta Street on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.

Lights on LottaIn southern Sioux Falls, Lights on Lotta illuminate the sky.

Lights on Lotta has events throughout the season and can be found here. Donations are going towards Big Paws Canine Foundation, according to the attraction’s Facebook page, and music can be heard by turning on 97.7 FM. Lights on Lotta can be seen at 311 W. Lotta St., according to Dakota Holidays.

Candy Cane Lane This one is a traditional favorite, Luke said, and its back for another year. Candy Cane Lane was started in 1963 on Day Avenue near Cherry Rock Park, according to previous reporting from the Argus Leader. And, it’s still going strong. Candy Cane Lane is at 845 S. Day Ave.

Western Wonderland Off of Western Avenue, Black Rock Circle is one of the top spots to see this year, Luke said. He went on to say that there are about 15 to 20 houses that participate in the festivities. Western Wonderland can be seen at 2101 W. Black Rock Cir.

And if thats not enough, here’s a full list of some attractions around town, classified by areas of Sioux Falls.

“Candy Cane Lane” is filled with houses showing off Christmas lights on Day Avenue on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.
“Candy Cane Lane” is filled with houses showing off Christmas lights on Day Avenue on Friday, December 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls.

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East

  • Star of the East (starts on 700 block of N. Savannah Drive, ends on 1000 bock)

  • Polar Bear Lane (starts on 100 block of N. La Salle Avenue, ends on 300 block of Penstemon Avenue)

  • Water Wood Wonderland (8301 E. Water Wood St.)

  • Church Lane (starts on 500 block of S. Churchill Avenue, ends on 900 block)

  • Santa's Sleigh (600 S. Edward Dr.)

  • Snowflake Lane (836 S. Lowell Ave.)

  • Sioux Falls Christmas Village (805 S. Jessica Ave.)

  • Candy Cane Lane (845 S. Day Ave.)

  • Making Spirits Bright (2905 E. 22nd St.)

  • Penguin Lane (1713 S. Point Dr.)

  • Christmas Tree Lane (S. Graystone Avenue)

  • Burns So Bright (2718 S. Burns Knoll Cir.)

  • Christmas Light Acre (3304 S. Tim Trail)

  • Fireplace Lane (4808 Fireside Ave.)

  • Train Lane (starts at 4200 block of S. Magnolia Avenue, ends on 4600 block)

South

  • Christmas on the Court (3716 S. Lewis Ct.)

  • CandyLand Pass (1901 E. Arrowhead Pass)

  • Emmanuel Lane (4004 S. Otonka Pass)

  • Santa Clause Lane (4516 S. Pin Oak Ct.)

  • Lights on Lotta (311 W. Lotta St.)

  • Brande Christmas Lights (7800 S. Brande Park Cir.)

  • Western Wonderland (2101 W. Black Rock Cir.)

  • IceCapades (7001 S. Redstone Ave.)

West

  • Christmas Video Projection (7001 W. 66th St.)

    • A 14-minute Christmas video projection with music playing on 88.9 FM. This attraction will run nightly until 10 p.m. through Dec. 31. 

  • Silent Night (5704 W. 53rd St.)

  • Elf Lane (6709 W. 52nd St.)

  • Holiday on Holbrook (5700 S. Holbrook Ave.)

  • Jacob’s Lightshow (7205 W. 64th St.)

  • Tribby Tail Light & Music Show (4516 S. Tribbey Trail)

    • Runs from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 on Sunday through Thursday. On Saturday, the attraction has the same start time but shuts off at 11. 

  • Hanson Light Show (1805 Kinderhook Ave.)

    • Runs through Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. to 11.

  • Newberg Illuminations (7612 W. President St.)

  • Winter Wonder Chaos (6512 W. Essex Terrace)

Central

  • Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (800 S. Williams Ave.)

  • Luminary Lane (1716 S. Hawthorne Ave.)

  • Myers’ Lights (1819 S. Hawthorne Ave.)

  • Christmas Magic in Sioux Falls (2005 S. Phillips Ave.)

  • Sioux Falls Christmas Tree (301 E. 27th St.)

  • Christmas Story (1815 S. Fourth Ave.)

  • The House of Kriz (2205 S. Crestwood Rd.)

  • Washington Pavillion (301 S. Main Ave.)

  • KELOLAND Tower (501 S. Phillips Ave.)

  • Lights on Phillips (598 S. Phillips to 337 N. Phillips)

  • Winter Wonderland (131 E. Falls Park Dr.)

North

  • North Olympia Christmas (North Olympia Drive)

  • Holidays on Presentation Court (3022 N. Presentation Ct.)

  • Light Display (927 N. Minnesota Ave.)

  • Lights & Sounds of Christmas (805 W. 13th St.)

  • Bent Grass (5201 W. Bent Grass St.)

  • Grassland Christmas (2805 N. Lyme Grass Ave.)

Out of Sioux Falls, but still local

  • Spectacular on South Mary (431 S. Mary Ave., Tea)

  • Party on Partridge (720 Partridge Cir., Tea)

  • Light Display (316 Marie Cir., Harrisburg)

  • Living Nativity (124 E. Second St., Canton)

  • Light Display (1150 Sunset Dr., Beresford)

  • Forestburg Lights/Steele Lights (340 W. Corliss Ave., Forestburg)

  • Lights on Linden (1010 Linden St., Luverne, Minn.)

Did we miss a location? Email Tabrego@gannett.com to get your show on the list. Information was compiled through Dakota Holidays and reader’s comments. 

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Christmas lights and top attractions in Sioux Falls 2022