Since Thanksgiving night, dozens of cars line up each night to see the delight of the lights illuminating Robbins Island Regional Park in Willmar. The Celebrate the Light of the World drive-thru holiday light display features hundreds of lights dancing to festive tunes that drivers can play via their car radio. While many things have changed this year due to COVID-19, this annual holiday event stayed relatively the same.
This is the third year Willmar Fests has held Celebrate the Light of the World at the park in Willmar. The display will be lit every night from 5 to 10 p.m. through New Year's Day. This year, donations collected at the end of the display will go to Habitat for Humanity, Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, United Way and Salvation Army.
Where to see other holiday lights
Driving around to look at holiday lights may be one of the brightest things about the upcoming holiday season for many families. And it is totally safe given this year's COVID-19 concerns.
But where to go to see the best and brightest lights? Here is a list compiled by the West Central Tribune, with community support:
Benson
Mitness home, 4 miles south on Highway 29, then 1 mile east on 50th which is a gravel road, then south a quarter-mile on 20th. Welcome to drive into the yard to enjoy the lights and music display.
Blomkest
Newberg home, 8 miles south of Willmar on Highway 71, then 1 ¾ mile west on 165th Avenue, which is a gravel road. Welcome to drive into the yard to enjoy the lights.
Danube
400 block of First Street, north off U.S. Highway 212
Granite Falls
Candy Cane Lane, 11th Street north of Ninth Avenue
Skyline Drive
Litchfield
Across U.S. Highway 12 in downtown
Corner of South Marshall Avenue and South Pacific Street, lights with music, 5 to 10 p.m. nightly until Dec. 31
600 block of South Marshall Avenue
500 block of South Sibley Avenue
100 block of East Nelson Street
500 block of South Swift Avenue
400 block of East Quail Drive
700 block of South Davis Avenue
Towmaster west of town, at the junction of Highway 12 and County Road 22
Murdock
East edge of town on Highway 12
Olivia
1200 block of Walnut Avenue West
Ninth Street North
300 block of 10th Street North
Renville
500 block of Dupont Avenue Northeast
Spicer
42nd Street Northeast, 2½ miles west of Spicer on County Road 10.
Northeast Willmar
Celebrate the Light, Robbins Island, drive through display, donations accepted for several charities.
Train engine with blowing smoke at the Kandiyohi County Historical Society
Country Club Drive Northeast
Eagle Ridge Drive Northeast and Northwest
Corner of 37th Avenue Northeast and Eighth Street Northeast
3900 block of Eighth Street Northeast
Northwest Willmar
300 block of Eighth Street Northwest
500 block of Ninth Street Northwest
300 block of 10th Street Northwest
300 block of 17th Street Northwest
600 block of Ella Avenue Northwest (on the lake)
1300 block of Ella Avenue Northwest
1600 block of Ella Avenue Northwest
College Park Circle Northwest
27th Street Northwest (Collegeview)
1600 block of 16th Avenue Northwest
3200 block of Third Avenue Northwest (Vos Park)
Southeast Willmar
23rd Street Southeast between Highway 12 and Willmar Avenue
Fifth Avenue Southeast (cul de sac) off 23rd Street Southeast
700 block of 24th Street Southeast (Pheasant Meadows)
500-600 blocks of 25th Street Southeast
2300 block of Third Avenue Southeast
600 block of 19th Street Southeast
1800 block of Olena Avenue Southeast
1200 and 1300 blocks of 11th Street Southeast
Southwest Willmar
100 block of Kandiyohi Avenue Southwest (Christmas tree through roof)
700 block of Eighth Street Southwest
400 block of Highland Road Southwest
400 block of 14th Street Southwest
400 block of 10th Street Southwest
Corner of Trott Avenue Southwest and 10th Street Southwest
Monongalia Avenue between Eighth and 10th Streets Southwest
Corner of 11th Street Southwester and Monongalia Avenue Southwest
Grace Avenue Southwest east of 15th Street Southwest
1100 and 1200 block of Grace Avenue Southwest
16th Street Southwest between 15th Street and 15th Avenue
17th Street Southwest between Willmar Avenue and Monongalia Avenue
18th Street Southwest, south of Willmar Avenue
1900 block of 22nd Street Southwest
Southeast corner of 15th Street Southwest and Richland Avenue
Southwest Corner of 15th Street Southwest and Willmar Avenue
700 block of 25th Avenue Southwest
25th Avenue Southwest between Sixth and Ninth Street Southwest
Richland Avenue between 20th Street and 6th Street Southwest
Selvig Park corner of Fourth Street and Becker Avenue in downtown
Windows of Barn Theatre on Fourth Street in downtown