By Tiegen Brickson, co-owner, The Brix (Our Story) · Last updated October 2026

The quick answer: Bentleyville Tour of Lights runs every night from November 21 to December 26, 2026, at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, MN. It's open 5 to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Walking in is free, and parking is $12 a car ($10 cash). From Canal Park it's about two-thirds of a mile, so you can walk over and skip the parking line.

We're Tiegen and Keenan. Tiegen grew up in Duluth, and we host families in Canal Park year round, so this is what we tell our own guests about Bentleyville.

Bentleyville 2026 at a glance

• 📅 Dates: Nov 21 to Dec 26, 2026, every night, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• 🕔 Hours: 5 to 9 PM Sun to Thu, 5 to 10 PM Fri and Sat
• 💵 Cost: Free to walk through. Parking is $12 per car, or $10 cash
• 🚶 From Canal Park: about 0.6 to 0.8 miles, a 12 to 17 minute walk on the map
• ⏱️ Time to allow: the path is about 3/4 of a mile and takes 30 to 45 minutes, longer with Santa and s'mores

When is Bentleyville open in 2026?

Every night from Saturday, November 21 through Saturday, December 26, 2026, starting at 5 PM. It closes at 9 PM Sunday through Thursday and at 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. It stays open on holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

A few nights are worth planning around:

• Opening night, Sat Nov 21: Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by helicopter between 4:50 and 5:00 PM, then the lights come on at 5:00.
• Sun Nov 22: the UMD Marching Band marches through at 5:30 PM.
• Tuesday Animal Nights, Dec 1, 8, 15 and 22: llamas, alpacas, donkeys and goats from 5 to 8 PM.
• Final night, Sat Dec 26: fireworks at 5:30 PM.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are there nightly from November 21 to December 23, 5 to 9 PM. On busy nights the Santa line can close early so Santa can leave by 9, so don't save him for last on a Saturday.

What's the best night to go to Bentleyville?

Monday through Wednesday. Bentleyville publishes a "Crowd-O-Meter" for the season, and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is marked "best viewing." Fridays are mostly "moderate." Sundays are "busy," and every Saturday from November 28 through December 19 is marked "super busy."

That lines up nicely with a midweek trip. If your crew can do a Sunday to Wednesday stay, you get the quieter nights at Bentleyville, and our condos usually have more weeknight availability too. Check open dates.

How far is Bentleyville from Canal Park?

About two-thirds of a mile. Walking maps put Bayfront Festival Park about 0.6 miles from our Waterfront Plaza building at 325 S. Lake Ave., roughly a 12 to 13 minute walk, and a few minutes more from Aerial Lofts at 345 Canal Park Drive. With little legs, snow boots and wind off the water, plan on 20 to 25 minutes.

Here's our family's route. From Canal Park, cross the blue Minnesota Slip Bridge by the William A. Irvin (in winter it's open to walkers around the clock). That puts you on Harbor Plaza, the rebuilt waterfront behind the DECC where cruise ships now dock in summer. The city finished it in 2025 with a new seawall, a wider walkway and seating. Follow it past the DECC and the Great Lakes Aquarium right into Bayfront Festival Park.

Our tip: We always walk through the new cruise port area by the DECC and the aquarium. You get a great view of the harbor and the Aerial Lift Bridge, and you skip Bentleyville parking completely.

Should you drive or walk to Bentleyville?

Walk if you can. You skip the line of cars and the parking fee.

If you do drive, the Bentleyville lots open at 4 PM every night of the season. Parking is $12 per vehicle, or $10 cash, and they take Discover, Visa and MasterCard. Parking there helps pay for the event. The DECC, the Great Lakes Aquarium and downtown ramps are other options.

There's no Bentleyville train this year. The North Shore Scenic Railroad isn't running its Bentleyville Shuttle Train in 2026, and the Jingle Bus ended in 2024. From Canal Park, walking is faster anyway.

What's free at Bentleyville?

More than you'd expect. Inside the park you'll find:

• Hot chocolate and a cookie at the Cookie House (coffee if you ask)
• Fresh popcorn at the Popcorn Factory
• Marshmallows to roast at the firepits, from the Marshmallow Hut
• A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids 12 and under who visit Santa get a Bentleyville knit hat and a bag of cookies. Kids have to be there in person to get a hat.

Bring a little cash or a card for the extras: hot apple cider is $2 at the Cider House, and s'mores fixings are sold at the Cider House and the Lower Gift Shop.

What should you bring?

• Layers. Bentleyville sits right on Lake Superior, and the wind and temperature can change fast. It's easier to take off a layer than add one. (The gift shop sells hats and sweatshirts if someone forgets.)
• A food item or a new, unwrapped toy. Bentleyville collects them at the entrance for The Salvation Army. Last season, 295,300 visitors helped collect 8,074 pounds of food and 1,069 toys.
• A stroller, or borrow one. Free strollers and wheelchairs are available near the main entrance, first come, first served. Bentleyville says the park is fully accessible.

Leave pets, bikes, scooters, skates and alcohol at the condo. Bentleyville's site has the full banned list.

How to do Bentleyville with kids: our simple evening plan

1. Check in at 4 PM. That's our check-in time, and it gives you an hour before the lights come on.
2. Eat early. Make a quick dinner in the condo kitchen or grab something nearby in Canal Park.
3. Walk over for 5 PM. Take the harbor route past the DECC. Getting there early helps on busy nights, especially if Santa is on your list.
4. Do the loop. Lights, cocoa, popcorn and a marshmallow at the firepit.
5. Walk back and warm up. If you're staying in L'Etoile du Nord, Aurora Black, Dockside Suites or another of our Waterfront Plaza condos, you can get to the pool, kiddie pool, hot tub and sauna without going back outside. The pool is open until 10 PM for kids and 11 PM for adults. On Fridays and Saturdays, when Bentleyville runs until 10, head back by about 9 if the kids want a swim.

Photo: @kelseyleephotographmn

Where should you stay for Bentleyville?

Somewhere you can walk from. Canal Park puts you about 15 minutes on foot from Bentleyville, with the lake, the Aerial Lift Bridge and plenty of places to eat right outside your door.

A few of our condos that work well for a Bentleyville trip:

• Grandparents along? Our Waterfront Plaza condos have elevators and step-free access with a ramp from the parking lot. They aren't ADA equipped (no grab bars, lowered counters or roll-in showers).
• Bigger family? L'Etoile du Nord is a 3-bedroom Canal Park condo with a 10-person kitchen island and games, and Dockside Suites is 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Both have the indoor pool, kiddie pool and hot tub on site, all reachable from inside.
• Group of up to 12? Aerial Lofts has 5 bedrooms and 2 kitchens on the top floor of an 1890s warehouse. To be upfront: it's a third-floor walk-up with no elevator, and it doesn't include pool access.

Photo: @kelseyleephotographmn

Bentleyville FAQ

Is there a Bentleyville train in 2026?

No. The North Shore Scenic Railroad isn't running the Bentleyville Shuttle Train this year.

Is Bentleyville open on Christmas Day?

Yes. It's open regular hours on all holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, starting at 5 PM.

Does Bentleyville close for bad weather?

Sometimes. It's outdoors, so closure decisions are usually made by 3 PM and posted on the Bentleyville homepage and Facebook page.

Can you walk to Bentleyville from Canal Park?

Yes. It's about two-thirds of a mile, roughly 12 to 17 minutes on the map. Cross the Minnesota Slip Bridge and follow Harbor Plaza past the DECC and the Great Lakes Aquarium to Bayfront Festival Park.

Stay with us for Bentleyville

Walk to the lights, then walk home to a real living room, a full kitchen and a bed for everyone.

• L'Etoile du Nord: 3 bedrooms, 2,000 sq ft, a 10-person kitchen island and games. Indoor pool and hot tub on site.
• Dockside Suites: 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in Canal Park. Indoor pool and hot tub on site.
• Aerial Lofts: 5 bedrooms, sleeps 12, the full top floor of the 1890s Marshall Wells warehouse. Third-floor walk-up, no pool.

Check open dates

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More Duluth guides: Duluth in Winter with Kids: A Cozy Canal Park Weekend · All Duluth Guides

Official info: Bentleyville Tour of Lights · Bentleyville parking · Bentleyville on Visit Duluth · Bentleyville on Instagram

By Tiegen Brickson, co-owner, The Brix. Tiegen grew up in Duluth and met Keenan in Canal Park in 2011. Last updated October 2026.