It's an every year kind of thing and it's just as good as I remember from my childhood! Yay for holiday traditions read more

Holiday Fantasy In Lights - Entrance - Observatories Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Our Thanksgiving night tradition, after all the turkey, football, food & fun. We all get in the car & head to Olin Park to enjoy the free Holiday Fantasy in lights. The holiday music goes on along with the parking lights through the park. Many displays are the same favorites year to year, but there is usually at least one new display. Every year, the lights are set up a little differently but still a glowing wonder to see, which we love. This year, the glowing tree on top of the hill was a new display along with two drive-through colorful tunnels. Our family favorite is the glowing Capitol light display on front of the actual Capitol glistening on Lake Monona. At the end we give a small donation & in exchange for candy canes. Sometimes, if it's not busy, we drive through again. Happy Holidays read more

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Used to come to this 15 years ago when I lived in the area... hasn't changed much. In fact most of the lights are the same as they were long ago! Still it's Christmas and it's nice to have something free (donation excepted upon exit) to do to raise your holiday spirits. Did get a kick out of the fact that Yelp sponsors a display! But why a dog? read more

Holiday Fantasy In Lights - Observatories Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was a such nice experience while visiting Madison. It was free with donations accepted. You can slowly drive thru or people stroll, run, and walk their dogs. I wanted to get some exercise so I asked if I could go back through while walking my dog and they said it was fine. Parking is nearby. While walking, I noticed cords were everywhere and on the grass it wasn't that safe if you weren't paying attention. I think with covid going on, is passing out candy canes the smartest idea right now? Have to knock a couple stars off due to safety negligence. read more

Holiday Fantasy In Lights - Beautiful display - Observatories Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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My family and I had a great time. It's worth preserving as part of Madison's holiday traditions. read more

Holiday Fantasy In Lights - Worth visiting! It was a very joyful experience for me and my family. It's worth preserving as part of Madison's holiday traditions. - Observatories Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The lights are a family tradition for me that I'm happy I can continue with my son's my oldest is 6 and he loves it the youngest probably will to but as of right now hes in my tummy I love all the sponsors they have for these beautiful lights read more

This annual light exhibit is a nice holiday event. It is a short drive from downtown or off the Beltline on John Nolan Drive. It is a drive thru exhibit that takes about 15 minutes to go through. You can listen to their radio station on 95.7 or to any channel with holiday music. Some lights having "moving" pieces. There are some Madison specific scenes as well as general holiday scenes. During the hours of 4 and 8 pm, the exit is manned with volunteers handing out mini candy canes. If you are so inclined to donate a buck or more in the donation box before the volunteer booth, it goes to cover the cost of the electricity. Any extra funds raised gets donated to the volunteer charities involved with set up and manning the booths. I happily through at least once each season. read more

Hard to beat a free holiday light show you can enjoy without leaving the toasty inside of your car! I'm kind of a grinchy grinch but I do love Christmas lights. Part of why the HFIL appeals to me is they have a good mix of holiday displays and more neutral pieces like Bucky Badger and the Capitol building. This year they've added a dancing tree display with its own radio channel that just loops Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" on repeat. You have two opportunities to catch it, first on your drive in and then when you loop up and back around you are on a hill that lets you overlook it from a center vantage point. On this year's trip the advertised radio station for the lights was broadcasting dead air, but there are multiple channels in town that play Christmas music all day every day for the duration. Last year we tried the hayride after the lighting ceremony and ended up waiting an hour in the cold for the 5K runners to clear the path. I've found the best time to view the lights is on off times - the lines to get into the park can back up quite a ways down John Nolen. Our Thanksgiving weekend visit had no wait and was uncrowded enough we could space out our drive. Turn your lights down to parking mode if you can to avoid annoying the people around you; my car doesn't give me the option while my car is running. I see all your side eyes, people, but there's not a whole lot I can do aside from cutting wires or pulling fuses - definitely more effort than I'm willing to make for a once-a-year drive through the lights. read more

What a wonderful holiday light display! It's a plus that you don't have to get out of the car to see all the beautiful light displays! Stay nice and toasty inside the car while listening to Xmas music as you see Bucky Badger, the Capitol, Yelp doggie and MANY others! No reall winter to speak of this year...this will get get you in the Holiday spirit for sure! read more

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It feels like a long time ago since we've been here, but it looks like there were more lights this time around. We came around 10:30pm on Christmas and there was still a lot of cars coming in and driving through more than once. It was fun to see the Yelp display! read more

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Too cute and the family will love it. Backseat drivers heed the unannounced BYOB laws. read more

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I come from St. Louis where drive thru holiday lights are a huge thing. When I found out they had them here in Madison for free, I knew I had to check it out. I'd say the big reason I'm giving this place 4 stars instead of 3 is because the whole show is free (although they do suggest a donation at the end). I enjoyed the displays, but thought it was a little bare (at least not as adorned as the light shows I'm used to in other cities). I appreciated that they handed out candy canes and dog treats at the end (I brought my 2 dogs along). Finally, I was pleased that it wasn't too crowded (came on a Tuesday night). If you haven't seen the Holiday Fantasy in Lights, you should! read more

This is one of my favorite Holiday Traditions in Madison! It's free and open from dusk until dawn so you can avoid the line if you're an early bird or night owl! read more

Fun little trip at least once during the Christmas season. Tip for the drivers: turn off your headlights while driving through or you'll look like a fool. :) Parking lights only. read more