15 Great Midwest Holiday Destinations

From November 25 to December 24 during Saint Charles Christmas Traditions, historic Main Street is a scene of holiday splendor. Visitors can expect Victorian carolers, shopping, dining and storytelling during this annual festival, which has been running for 48 years.

Related: Get Our Guide to Christmas in St. Charles

In 2019, the Chicago Botanic Garden debuted Lightscape, a coproduction with Sony Music that featured installations like a choir of singing trees and the stunning Cathedral of Light. The event returns November 11, 2022 to January 8, 2023. 

More to enjoy in Illinois: Illumination: Tree of Lights at The Morton Arboretum from November 19, 2022 to January 7, 2023; ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, November 19, 2022 to January 1, 2023; and the East Peoria Festival of Lights from November 24, 2022 through January 2, 2023.

An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City, Branson, features 6.5 million twinkling lights, more than 30 live holiday shows on outdoor stages, shopping, dining and more. Don't miss Coming Home for Christmas, an all-new live show featuring singing, dancing and music. November 5–December 30, 2022. 

On weekends during the holiday season, Victorian carolers, live reindeer and a roaming Santa pepper a five-block stretch of cheerfully decorated shops and restaurants.

Related: Escape to Stillwater for a Romantic Winter Weekend

Bask in the glow of holiday cheer with the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail. Seek dazzling displays including four million lights on an old-fashioned mill, and even whole zoos lit up for the season. The trail takes you around Ohio to the best light shows in the state, from musically coordinated displays to magically decorated gardens and estates. Download the trail map and go on a road trip with family and friends and give them the gift of an unforgettable holiday experience. 

The Swedish community of Lindsborg, Kansas, begins its celebrations in mid-November with the Holiday Open House, when downtown shops light up and unveil their themed window displays. Don't miss the delightful Snowflake Parade on December 3 and the season's feature attraction, the St. Lucia Festival, on December 10. Festivities run through the Annandag Jul (another day of Christmas) church service on December 26.

Related: Don't Miss These Holiday Traditions and Events in Lindsborg

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, more than a million lights turn the garden into magical holiday scenes. Visitors can also enjoy s'mores, drinks and entertainment. Tickets required. Opens November 18, 2022.

More holiday traditions in Missouri include An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson and Country Club Plaza Lights in Kansas City.

If road trips are high on your holiday wish list, look no further than South Dakota. Breathtaking national parks and monuments, roaming herds of bison, more than 300 miles of snowmobile trails and more are waiting for you and your loved ones to enjoy. 

The annual Garden of Lights festival features over 300,000 lights plus horse-drawn carriage rides through the gardens. Wander through the icicle forest and keep an eye out for illuminated butterflies, giant caterpillars and more. Advance ticket purchase required. November 25 through December 30, 2022.

More holiday festivities in Wisconsin include the 20th annual Oshkosh Celebration of Lights November 25 to December 31, 2022. 

During the Bentleyville Tour of Lights, a 12-story-tall animated Christmas tree towers over the drive-through light show (over 4 million lights) at Bayfront Festival Park. Donations of nonperishable foods and new unwrapped toys suggested. November 19 to December 26, 2022.

More holiday activities in Minnesota include the Glow Holiday drive-through on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.

Yuletide activity awaits at Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. On Main Street, merrymakers can enjoy warm beverages, caroling and holiday goodies while marveling at its decor. Historic homes are also dressed in their Christmas best, and some offer tours. Each evening is capped off with a fireworks finale.  

At the base of the peninsula, Traverse City is a fabulous winter weekend escape for cozy-seekers and adventurers. Enjoy activities such as cross-country skiing at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, then relax with a glass of ice wine to watch the sun set over Lake Michigan.

Explore the softer side of the Hocking Hills as the seasons change. Late fall ushers out the spectacular autumn colors and ushers in a winter wonderland.  Cozy cabins and luxury lodges provide the ideal vantage point for taking in all the surrounding beauty.