Here's where to find holiday light displays in South Bend, Mishawaka and across Michiana

Here's a list of holiday light displays across Michiana:

St. Joseph

The city of St. Joseph has turned on its free light display along the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Through Feb. 15, the display will be on daily from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.

Downtown SB

The “Holiday Light Parade” that had been set for Dec. 10 in downtown South Bend has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 17, thanks to a rainy forecast. The parade with lighted vehicles and floats will take about 30 minutes, traveling down East Jefferson Boulevard from Notre Dame Avenue to Niles Avenue. Free parking will be available in all three city-managed garages, along with free street parking and additional free parking at the Parkview Atrium lot and Zion Church lot. No parking will be permitted along the parade route from 4 to 8 p.m. The parade is presented by Visit South Bend Mishawaka.

4H Fairgrounds

The St. Joseph County 4H Fairgrounds at 5117 S. Ironwood Dr., South Bend, hosts a free drive-through light show from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 and Dec. 17-19.

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South Bend zoo

“The Gift of Lights” at Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend runs from 5 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through Dec. 19 with added decorations and lights. Santa will be in the River Run Yurt from 6 to 8 p.m. every night, and visitors can “meet a princess” from 6 to 8 p.m. each Sunday — no extra charge for the visits.

Express train tickets cost $5 for ages 2 and older and include a lighted route, a Christmas present and hot chocolate sample. The train will run as weather permits, while the carousel will not be running in winter. Food and drink will be sold at the café and snack bar, with adult drinks and snacks at the Round Barn Monkey Bar as weather permits.

Admission to “The Gift of Lights” is $11 for ages 15 and up, $6 for ages 3-14 and free for ages 2 and younger. Visitors get $1 off admission if they bring a pop-top can of soup for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. Tickets can be bought at the gate or at www.potawatomizoo.org/lights.

Winding Brook

The Winding Brook subdivision in Mishawaka has brought back its annual drive-through display of holiday lights on neighbors' homes. It runs nightly on Dec. 12 and Dec. 16-25. Hours are from 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 6 to 10 p.m. on other days. Enter on Merrifield Drive off Day Road in Mishawaka. This is between Edison Lakes Parkway and Fir Road. It’s free, but donations collected will go to local charities.

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Osceola

Grace Church at 58343 S. Apple Road in Osceola will host a free drive-through light display that’s focused on the nativity, plus narration, from 7 to 10 p.m. each night on Dec. 12 and from Dec. 16-26.

Elkhart

Wellfield Botanic Gardens, at 1011 N. Main St., hits 1 million lights in this season’s “Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights,” having grown to that target number each year as part of the popular walk-through light display’s five-year plan.

Follow nearly one mile of paths for lights circling the water reservoirs, which reflect their twinkling colors. Warm up at fire pits and with hot and cold beverages for sale. Recorded holiday music will play through the gardens.

This year you can use your tickets for any night or time that the lights are on, unlike last year when you had to book specific time slots to avoid overly packed pandemic crowds. Masks are optional in all spaces at Wellfield. Also returning is the Giving Tree where each night a portion of ticket sales will support a different charity in Elkhart County.

Tickets cost $12, $7 for ages 3-12 and free for those under age 3. “Winter Wonderland” is open Dec. 12 and then daily from Dec. 17 to 23, then again on Dec. 26. On those nights, Wellfield closes for general admission at 5 p.m., then reopens at 5:30 p.m. for the light display. The admission gate closes at 8:09 p.m., while visitors can stay until 9 p.m. Visit Wellfield’s website for more information about parking, nearby construction and event details at wellfieldgardens.org. Tickets are available online or at the gate.

LaPorte

The drive-through “Magic of Lights” at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds and Event Center, 2581 W. Indiana 2, is now open from 5 to 10 p.m. CST each night through Jan. 2. This display features nearly 1 million twinkling lights on a 1.5-mile route, including the themed areas “12 Days of Christmas,” “Tropical Holidays,” “Santa’s Mountain” and “The Enchanting Tunnel of Lights.” There’s also a “Jolly Holiday Village” where you can park for a visit with Santa and a firepit s’mores package. This light display is a first for LaPorte County, brought in by a private company to several locations around the U.S.

Tickets cost $40-$20 per vehicle, depending upon when they’re purchased, if purchased online or at the gate, and whether you’re visiting on a weekday or weekend. Limo/party bus tickets cost $100-$40 per vehicle. For details, visit magicoflights.com/events/laporte.

Shipshewana

The 1.5-mile drive-through “Lights of Joy” display in Shipshewana features more than 2 million LED lights, open every Tuesday through Sunday through Dec. 31. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Shipshewana Trading Place and Blue Gate Hospitality partnered with Winterland, Inc. to bring the fourth annual display.

It winds through the grounds of the Shipshewana RV Park. Visitors enter via the grounds of the Shipshewana Flea Market on Indiana 5 (345 S Van Buren St.) and exit onto County Road 200 North. Cost is $20 per vehicle. Tickets can be bought at the gate or online at ShipshewanaLightsofJoy.com.

Niles

“Lights at Fernwood” runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Jan. 2 at Fernwood Botanical Garden at 13988 Range Line Road. It will be closed on Dec. 24-25.

Back after a hiatus that began in 2008, this reimagined light show includes a machine that pumps the smell of candy canes as you walk past river birch trees whose trunks are wrapped to look like the swirling mints.

And you’ll hear the sound of birds from speakers that a recent grant helped to install. Meanwhile, you’ll be walking a 50-foot stretch of paved path where you’ll see images of birds cast by light projectors.

Almost 40 stars from three to six feet wide hang in one section of tall trees.

The half-mile of garden paths for the light show begins at the visitors center, where beverages, snacks, fire pits, restrooms, an elevator to reach the paths and the gift shop will be available.

Fernwood recommends booking tickets in advance to ensure enough parking and safe traffic off of Range Line Road; tickets will be sold at the event only if available.

Unvaccinated visitors must wear masks when inside the buildings (you can avoid going inside, too). No mask requirement outside. These COVID protocols are subject to changes based on state and county guidelines.

Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $10 for ages 3-12 and free for ages 2 and younger. To order or volunteer or find other details, visit www.fernwoodbotanical.org.

Three Rivers

Riverside Church at 207 E. Michigan Ave., Three Rivers, brings back its “River Lights of Wonder” and biblical story of Christmas now through Dec. 31. It’s open Thursdays through Sundays. It’s a drive-through experience on all of those nights, but Sundays and Thursdays also allow a walk through from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Visit www.riverlightsofwonder.com for details and additional festivities.

Follow Outdoor Adventures columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures. Contact him at 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Christmas lights in Winding Brook, St. Joseph, Dowagiac, Osceola