When the nights draw in and the lakes freeze, Minneapolis puts on a show of lights, and the easiest way to see it is from a warm seat. The Holiday Lights Trolley Ride runs for about an hour and a quarter in the holiday season and takes you past displays of festive lights around the city, with a guide pointing out the stops and the stories behind them. The tour starts and ends at the historic Pillsbury Club on East 22nd Street, where a holiday market with local vendors sets the mood before you board. On the ride, passengers get to judge and rank the stops, choosing the fan-favourite home of the season, which turns an ordinary lights drive into a friendly competition and keeps children and adults engaged. It is a relaxed, family-friendly outing that asks nothing of you beyond staying seated, which is a real advantage when temperatures fall below freezing. The tour is advertised for all ages and offers special pricing for children, so it works for a family with young kids, a multigenerational group or a couple looking for a seasonal date. Because it is a seasonal product, it is available during the Christmas and holiday period rather than all year, and it is worth booking early for weekend evenings, when families tend to fill the trolleys first. It also fits easily around dinner or a visit to a downtown holiday market.
How it works
You choose your date when you book and receive a mobile voucher. The tour lasts about an hour and a quarter and begins and ends at the Pillsbury Club, 100 East 22nd Street, Minneapolis. Service animals are allowed, the tour is described as suitable for all fitness levels, public transport is nearby and infants sit on an adult's lap.
Because it is a seasonal tour, dates run through the holiday period only, so check what is available for your trip, and confirm the cancellation terms when you book, since this tour does not state them as clearly as the others.
What to expect
You board the trolley, settle in and head out to see the lights. The route passes festive displays, and the guide shares the stories and the details that make each stop different. Along the way you judge and rank the displays to pick a favourite, so bring opinions.
The market at the start gives you a chance to buy something warm to eat or drink, look at local vendors and enjoy the atmosphere before the ride, and it is worth arriving early to make the most of it. You see the lights from the trolley rather than walking among them, which keeps the evening comfortable.
Making the most of it
Wear warm layers for the walk from the car or light rail to the boarding area, bring a camera that works well in low light and expect photographs through glass. Sit near a window if you can, and let children help with the ranking, since the contest is one of the best parts.
For a different seasonal evening, combine the ride with dinner in the North Loop, or choose the candlelight ghost trolley on another night for a spookier take on the same trolley format. By day, the narrated trolley tour is a good orientation, and the skyway walking tour keeps you warm and indoors.
What to expect
The experience
A seated evening trolley ride past holiday light displays, with a holiday market with local vendors and a contest to rank the stops.
Best time
Evenings during the Christmas and holiday season, when the displays are lit.
How long
About an hour and a quarter, starting and ending at the Pillsbury Club on East 22nd Street.
Tips
Arrive early for the market, dress warmly, and sit by a window for the best view of the lights.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families, couples and groups who want a warm, easy way to see the seasonal lights.
- Families
- Advertised for all ages with special child pricing, and the ranking contest keeps children engaged.
- Couples
- A cosy seasonal date that pairs well with dinner or a visit to a holiday market.
- Pair with
- Dinner in the North Loop, or the narrated trolley tour by day.
- Time needed
- About an hour and a quarter plus time to arrive early for the market.
Good questions
When does the holiday lights trolley run?+
It is a seasonal tour offered during the Christmas and holiday period, so check dates for your trip when you book.
How long is the ride?+
About an hour and a quarter, starting and ending at the Pillsbury Club on East 22nd Street.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes, it is advertised for all ages with special child pricing, and infants sit on an adult's lap.
Do we get off the trolley?+
No. You watch the displays from your seat and judge and rank the stops as you go.
Is the trolley accessible?+
The tour is described as suitable for all fitness levels, and service animals are allowed.
