Completely Reimagined Holiday Lights Event Coming To Minnesota Landscape Arboretum This Winter

For a number of years now, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the Twin Cities suburb of Chaska has been hosting a beautiful winter lights attraction around the Christmas season.

Known as "Winter Lights", this event has been the arboretum's take on the holiday lights display trend, leaning into displays that highlight plant life, winter, and the holiday season.

This year, that event is getting completely reinvented from the ground up.

What is the new holiday lights experience coming to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum?

The brand-new lights display coming to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum this winter is being called "Northern Lights", promising an "illuminating" new experience that puts the trees in the spotlight of this new event.

Organizers with the arboretum say this new event is designed to "honor the brilliance of our northern climate", using professional light projection, uplighting, and other lighting methods along with synchronized sound to bring a festive new light to various kinds of trees on the arboretum's grounds.

READ MORE: 2026 To Be Final Season Of Brainerd Sertoma's 'Winter Wonderland' Lights Attraction

Just like the previous Winter Lights event, this new Northern Lights event is an all-ages experience. The new event will feature 18 all-new, interactive experiences that "transform the grounds and buildings into a light-filled wonderland with nature in the spotlight".

What are some of the highlights visitors can look forward to at Northern Lights?

While the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum hasn't shared everything about the Northern Lights event, they have shared some highlights to look forward to. They include:

Glittering Gorge: This is an illuminated trail that goes to a garden lookout overlooking a sparkling canyon of lights that blankets the entire canopy of trees surrounding it.

Canopy Pass: Going further into the gardens at the arboretum, you'll be surrounded by trees bathed in color-changing light.

Vibrant Vitae: Down the hill from the main area, you'll find a bonfire area with a view of a bunch of arborvitae lit up with dynamic, changing lighting along to synchronized sound.

Geometric Gardens: In the perennial garden area, you'll find 5 large-scale geometric sculptures that use light and shadow to create a mesmerizing scene of nature-inspired patterns.

Shadow Play: Another area you'll find is a 60-foot-long interactive shadow wall, where visitors of all ages can move and dance to create unique shadows from an explosion of different-colored lights.

Radiant Rootstock: There will be an indoor area where you can not only warm up, but also check out more artful lighting bathing the room in geometric shadows and patterned lights.

Get our free mobile app

There will be even more to explore, with more details coming about additional elements at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Northern Lights.

When is Northern Lights? How much will it cost to attend?

The first-ever Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will open on November 20 and remain open until January 3. Hours each night are from 4:30 pm until 9:30 pm.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Arboretum members (adult tickets): $25
• Non-member adult tickets: $35
• Children through age 15: Free with a paid adult

Parking is also free.

Tickets are available in advance through the Northern Lights page on the arboretum's website.

While I thoroughly enjoyed their Winter Lights attraction, this sounds like it will be even better yet! I am looking forward to checking it out this winter!