There's something about seeing the Twin Cities lit up for the holidays from the back seat of a warm SUV. No scraping the windshield, no circling for parking, and nobody stuck being the designated driver. Just good company, a playlist, and one display after another.
Here's how to plan a holiday lights tour with For Sure Luxury, plus the best displays of the 2026 season.
How a chauffeured lights tour works
Holiday lights tours are booked as hourly chauffeur service, with a 3-hour minimum, so your chauffeur and vehicle stay with you all night. Pick your stops, or let us suggest a route, and our chauffeurs handle the driving, the timing and the parking.
Popular ways to do it:
Family night: one ticketed display, a drive past the big houses, home by bedtime.
Date night: dinner downtown, a walk through Rice Park, then a slow drive down Summit Avenue.
Friends or office group: a walk-through festival with a stop for drinks along the way.
Our luxury SUVs seat up to six comfortably. Bigger group? Ask us about larger vehicles.
The big displays for 2026
Northern Lights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska). The Arboretum's new holiday light walk (formerly Winter Lights). Open evenings Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027, 4:30–9:30 p.m. (closed Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25). Tickets are dated and timed, so buy them online ahead of time and we'll plan the pickup around your entry time.
GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field (St. Paul). Select evenings Nov. 19, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027, 5–9 p.m., with new areas this year. Tickets at glowholiday.com. It's in Lowertown, so it pairs well with dinner nearby.
Rice Park (downtown St. Paul). The tree lighting is Saturday, Nov. 14, and the free light show runs every 15 minutes starting at 5 p.m. through the season, right in front of the Landmark Center. Street parking is tight here; drop-off at the curb isn't.
Free favorites for a slow drive
Summit Avenue (St. Paul): 4.5 miles of historic mansions, at their best in December.
Mears Park and Union Depot (Lowertown): lights, the holiday tree and an easy photo stop.
Holiday Lights on York: a row of homes synchronized to music on the radio.
Stillwater: a historic downtown dressed for the holidays, great for a stroll and a nightcap.
Dates and hours can change, so check each venue's website before you go. If you have timed tickets, send them our way and we'll build the night around them.
A sample evening
Here's one way a 4-hour night can go:
5:30 p.m. Pickup at home, then dinner in Lowertown.
7:00 p.m. GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field, a short drive away. Your chauffeur waits nearby while you walk through.
8:30 p.m. A slow drive past the lights in Rice Park and down Summit Avenue.
9:30 p.m. Home, warm, with nobody stuck behind the wheel.
Prefer the Arboretum? Swap GLOW for Northern Lights in Chaska and have dinner in the western suburbs instead.
Tips for the best night
Book early. December weekends fill fast, especially the two before Christmas.
Go on a weeknight if you can. The ticketed displays are less crowded.
Plan 3–4 hours. Enough for one ticketed display and a drive or two without rushing.
Dress warm for the walk-through displays. Your ride will be warm and waiting when you're done.
Make it a gift
A lights tour is a great gift for someone who has everything. A For Sure Luxury gift card covers the night, and our chauffeurs can hand-deliver it. Order by December 15 for holiday delivery. Send a Gift Card →
Holiday lights tour FAQ
Will our chauffeur wait while we walk through a display?
Yes. Lights tours are booked by the hour, so your chauffeur and vehicle stay with you all night and are ready when you walk out.
Do you pick up in the suburbs?
Yes. We pick up anywhere in the Twin Cities metro, from Edina and Wayzata to Woodbury and Eagan, and build the route from there.
How many people fit?
Our luxury SUVs seat up to six comfortably. For bigger groups, ask us about larger vehicles.
Book your holiday lights tour
Get a quote online anytime, or call or text 612-888-2008. Tell us which displays you'd like to see, and we'll help map out the night.
