Christmas Light Displays in St. Louis, Missouri

Every year about October time, the giant Ferris Wheel at the Six Flags Amusement park in Eureka, Missouri (about 30 minutes west of St. Louis, on Interstate 44 ) turns into a giant neon orange pumpkin. It winks a jagged eye as you drive by. The great pumpkin is kept company by a large picture of Yogi Bear looming right across the service road from the park.
During the summer, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park and Campground plays host to a large number of the tourists spilling out of its amusement park neighbor. The campground is open from March until October. The park features a swimming pool, mini-golf, and sand volleyball. You can hook up the RV to a nice deluxe station or rent out one of the small prefab cabins.
When the leaves start to fall and the wind turns cold, however, Yogi heads off to hibernate for the winter with Boo Boo tucked neatly under his arm. The friendly folks at the campground say goodbye to the bear and start getting the grounds ready for the big guy in the red suit: Santa Claus.

By the time the great Ferris Wheel pumpkin has blinked his last wink, the giant Santa takes over, waving at all who pass by to come to Santa’s Magical Kingdom. Inside guests are treated to over 2 million shimmering Christmas lights, state-of-the-art animation, and a custom lighted Christmas Fantasy Land. You can jump out of your car and get onboard the Santa Express Train and off you go to the North Pole. The displays include:

Santa’s Flying Reindeer
The Delightful Dancing Dolphins
Water Fall of Lights
Santa’s Country Critter Christmas
The Tunnel of Lights
The Giant Gingerbread House
Candy Cane Village
Toy Land
Elf Land

Well, you get the picture. Once you get out of The Tunnel of Lights, you can head over to Santa’s Christmas Tunnel. This is the only light display in the country to have TWO light tunnels. You can also visit Santa’s Workshop and Santa’s Castle. For all things Santa, this is the place to be. After all it’s his Magical Kingdom. On your way out, there is a nativity scene. Just in case you want to discuss with the kids the true meaning of the holiday.

For something a little bit less on the commercial side, head over to Belleville, Illinois. It’s across the river about 15 minutes east of downtown. There you will find Our Lady of the Snows Shrine. The shrine was founded in 1958 by Father Edwin J. Guild of the Missionary Oblates of Mary, and draws about a million visitors a year.

The annual Way of Lights Christmas display has about 1 million lights, electro-art sculptures, life-sized figures and displays depicting the Christmas story. There is also a display of Christmas trees and a horse-drawn carriage ride. There is also a 2,400 seat amphitheater that hosts special events throughout the year.

If you like your Christmas light displays a little more on the “wild” side, then check out the one at the St. Louis zoo on the day after Thanksgiving. The U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the S. Louis Zoo runs from 5-8 p.m. at the south entrance. On this day the zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland rich in animated light displays including “Penguins in Paradise” and the “Elephant of Lights.” Storytellers, costumed characters, carolers, and the new “Polar Bear Express Photo Station” makes the zoo a little bit like the North Pole, with everything except the snow.