🎄 Step Into the Magic: Christmas Carnival of Lights at Jellystone Park™
When the leaves fall and the campground settles into winter, something extraordinary happens at Jellystone Park™ in Caledonia, WI. The trails you wandered in summer, the cabins you cozied up in, and the trees that shaded your campsite all year long transform into a twinkling winter wonderland, becoming the home of the Christmas Carnival of Lights, the Midwest’s biggest, brightest, and most dazzling drive-through light show.
With over 3 million sparkling lights, hand-crafted displays, immersive scenes, and magical experiences around every corner, it’s no surprise this beloved tradition draws families back year after year.
And now, it’s your turn to make the magic part of your holiday season.
✨ When the Magic Happens
🗓 November 22 – January 31*
Closed: Thanksgiving (11/27) & Christmas Day (12/25)
January: Open Fridays & Saturdays only
Whether you visit as part of your annual traditions or this is your very first time, the Christmas Carnival of Lights brings joy, nostalgia, and unforgettable sparkle to the season.
🎁 How It All Began, A Tradition Rooted in Family
The Christmas Carnival of Lights started the same way many treasured holiday traditions do, with family.
Back in 2009, the Isaacson family, owners of Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort in Caledonia, asked themselves a simple question:
“What if we shared our favorite holiday tradition with our guests?”
For them, that tradition was driving around together, marveling at the twinkling lights of the season. So they set out to create a magical experience of their own - one that captured the warmth, wonder, and togetherness of the holidays.
What began as a small family idea has become a massive, one-of-a-kind light spectacular that thousands of families now make part of their holiday season.
🌟 Hand-Crafted Magic, Made With Heart
One of the most incredible things about the Christmas Carnival of Lights is that nearly everything you see is handmade by the Isaacson family, their children, and a team of dedicated employees and volunteers.
Each year they:
Design, paint, cut & assemble every display by hand
Adorn trees over 60 feet high with lights
Spend 5 weeks bringing the light show to life
Devote 7,500+ hours of work to ensure the show grows and evolves every season
From dancing lights synchronized to holiday music to whimsical scenes you won’t find anywhere else, every piece of the display is created with love, and it shows.
🚗 A Winter Drive-Through Like No Other
There’s something magical about driving slowly through the quiet, snowy campground, surrounded by millions of twinkling lights that glow between the trees. It’s peaceful. It’s immersive. It’s the kind of experience that brings families closer, sparks conversation, and creates memories that stay with you forever.
Whether you're in your own car, cozied up on Santa’s GIANT Sleigh, or taking a ride on the Golf Cart Holiday Train, you can experience the wonder in a whole new way.
And don’t forget to stop by Santa’s Workshop for:
✨ Photos with Santa
✨ Festive treats & warm drinks
✨ Holiday shopping
✨ Ice skating
✨ Walk-through photo ops
It’s more than a light show, it’s a full holiday experience.
❄️ A Campground Transformed
One of the most special parts of the Christmas Carnival of Lights is that it’s set right here at Jellystone Park™ - surrounded by nature, tall trees, and crisp winter air.
Seeing the familiar summer spaces transformed into a snowy, sparkling wonderland adds an extra touch of magic. It feels like stepping into a storybook… except you’re in it.
💛 Presence, Not Presents
At the end of the day, the Christmas Carnival of Lights is built on one simple idea:
The most meaningful gifts aren’t things, they’re moments shared with the people we love.
So load up the car, grab your coziest blanket, cue the holiday playlist, and get ready to make memories that shine brighter than 3 million twinkling lights!