Get outside and enjoy the crisp, fresh air of a winter evening, as you experience 16 outdoor light displays, featuring flowers, nature and winter fun, on an accessible, stroller-friendly walk that’s just over a half-mile at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Warm up midway through the walking tour at a bonfire and roast marshmallows over the fire -- s’mores packages will be for sale. Artist Jennifer Hedberg’s luminescent ice sculptures will also be part of the display. Embrace all that a Minnesota winter has to offer -- dress for the weather!

Inside the Oswald Visitor Center, you’ll find festive decor, the Arboretum’s Gift & Garden Store, several bars serving hot cocoa, cider and alcoholic beverages and the Arboretum Cafe, offering snacks, sandwiches, salads, desserts and a rotating featured hot entree.

Want to avoid parking at the Arboretum? Buy tickets to take a Southwest Metro Transit Bus to Winter Lights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday general admission nights. Purchase the “bus tickets”, and park at the Southwest Transit East Creek Transit Station (2120 Chestnut St. N., Chaska). Buses will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 10 PM with the first bus leaving the station at 4:45 PM. 

$10 for Arboretum members, $15 for non-members, free for children ages 15 and younger. Winter Lights tickets go on sale to Arboretum members on Nov. 1 and to the public on Nov. 5.

Special Event Nights

Winter Lights Opening Night

November 18, 2021, 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Join in the fun as we light up the Arb with Winter Lights. Lighting ceremony will begin at 6:30 PM. Stay to enjoy cookies and hot cocoa while you get the first look at the 2021 show. Enjoy live music from the Holiday Heralds. The Arboretum Cafe will be open, selling snacks, sandwiches, salads and Chicken Coconut Curry or Vegetable Curry with Jasmine Rice.

$10 for Arboretum members and children, $25 for non-members and free for infants younger than 1 year.

Winter Lights Photography Night

December 1 & 8, 2021, 4:30 – 6:30 PM or 6:30 – 8:30 PM

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's mesmerizing Winter Lights display, normally closed on Wednesday evenings, will be opened only for photographers.

Make Reservations, $25 for Arboretum members and $40 for non-members.

Winter Lights Family Nights 

December 2 & 9, 2021, 4:00 – 6:00 PM and 6:30 – 8:30 PM

This family-friendly evening includes complimentary hot cocoa, cookies and crafts. The Arboretum Cafe will be open, selling snacks, sandwiches, salads, desserts and Meat Lasagna/Eggplant Parmesan on Dec. 2 or Swedish Meatballs over fettuccine/Mushroom Stroganoff on Dec. 9.

$10 for Arboretum members and children, $25 for non-members and free for infants younger than 1 year.

Winter Lights Date Night

December 16, 2021, 5:00 – 10:00 PM

Bring your date to Winter Lights, and stroll through the lights with an adults-only crowd. Take a dance class from Costa Rica Ballroom, and enjoy live music. Event price includes one drink ticket. The Arboretum Cafe will be open, selling snacks, sandwiches, salads, desserts and a hot menu featuring Meat Lasagna and Eggplant Parmesan.

$20 Arboretum members and $35 non-members (adults only)

Winter Lights New Year's Eve Party 

December 31, 2021, 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Bring the whole family to bid farewell to 2021 at the Arboretum. Stroll through the Winter Lights display, play family-friendly games, make luminaries and share your wishes for the new year, commemorate the night at a photo booth, enjoy live music starting at 7 PM and celebrate the coming year with countdowns at 8 PM, 9 PM and 10 PM. The final 10 PM countdown will include a sparkling apple juice toast, and all guests will take home party favors.

$5 for children, $15 for Arboretum members and $30 for non-members