‘Tis the season for holiday cheer to light up the Treasure State! Some of the best Christmas lights in Montana are being set up at various homes and businesses throughout the state and preparing for another beautiful season. Several of our cities and towns, like Billings and Bozeman, usually offer maps in early December of the best residential neighborhoods to see the lights—but if you’re looking for a professional display or an event this year, read on. Without further ado, we present to you some of the very best Christmas lights displays in Montana:
- ZooLights, Zoo Montana, Billings
ZooMontana Facebook Our list of some of the best Christmas lights displays in Montana begins in Billings. Every year, Zoo Montana lights up the night for the annual ZooLights celebration. Every weekend in December, you can drive through parts of the zoo for a dazzling light display. They’re also part of Billings’ annual Holiday Parade. For more information, be sure to check out the ZooMontana official website. 2100 Shiloh Rd, Billings, MT 59106, USA
- Christmas Stroll, Downtown Bozeman
Downtown Bozeman Facebook Bozeman’s most beloved holiday tradition is one that will delight everyone in your family. Check out the beautiful downtown light displays and indulge in a hay wagon ride through the streets. Learn more about this year’s event by visiting the official Bozeman Christmas Stroll website. Bozeman, MT, USA
- Missoula Parade of Lights
Jo / Flickr Each year, the Missoula Downtown Association hosts the annual Parade of Lights. The parade typically starts in the early evening, and you’ll have your choice of family-friendly activities all evening. Curious to learn more? Check out the Parade of Lights website for further details. Missoula, MT, USA
- Annual Christmas Stroll, Butte
Main Street Uptown Butte, Inc. Facebook Butte’s annual celebration of the season, which is usually held an evening in early December, includes a Children’s Light parade and a beautiful tree lighting ceremony. Most recently, the official stroll was canceled, but local businesses stepped up and keep the event going. For more information to make sure the event will be held again this year, check out the Uptown Butte Christmas Stroll event page. Butte, MT, USA
- Bright Country Nights, Lewistown
Bright Country Lights MT/Facebook Bright Country Nights is an annual drive-through light show that takes place at the Central Montana Fairgrounds every Thanksgiving weekend. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Curious to learn more? Head on over to the Bright Country Nights website. Lewistown, MT 59457, USA
- Holiday Parade of Lights, Bigfork
Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce/Facebook Next up on our list of some of the best Christmas light displays in Montana is an event known as the Holiday Parade of Lights. Downtown Bigfork always has a beautiful Christmas light setup. Their annual Holiday Parade of Lights takes place in early December. Learn more about this year’s event when you visit the official Holiday Parade of Lights website. If the site hasn’t been updated for the current year, keep checking back, as it will be up soon! Bigfork, MT 59911, USA
- Night of Lights, Columbia Falls
Derek Peplau / Flickr Columbia Falls’ Night of Lights Parade is held on the first Friday of December. Representatives of local businesses, community groups, youth organizations, and others get together to show off their Christmas spirit in the downtown area. For more information, check out the Night of Lights website. Columbia Falls, MT 59912, USA
- Montana Trolley Company Christmas Light Tours, Kalispell
Montana Trolley Co./Facebook Take an hour-long trolley tour of some of the beautiful Kalispell homes that are decorated for Christmas. For more information about planning this one-of-a-kind holiday lights tour in Montana, be sure to visit the official Montana Trolley Co. website. Kalispell, MT 59901, USA
Do you agree that these are some of the best Christmas light displays in Montana? What other attractions would you have listed? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you! Are you hoping for a white Christmas? Take a look at these photos of Montana transformed by snow.
ZooMontana Facebook
Our list of some of the best Christmas lights displays in Montana begins in Billings. Every year, Zoo Montana lights up the night for the annual ZooLights celebration. Every weekend in December, you can drive through parts of the zoo for a dazzling light display. They’re also part of Billings’ annual Holiday Parade. For more information, be sure to check out the ZooMontana official website.
2100 Shiloh Rd, Billings, MT 59106, USA
Downtown Bozeman Facebook
Bozeman’s most beloved holiday tradition is one that will delight everyone in your family. Check out the beautiful downtown light displays and indulge in a hay wagon ride through the streets. Learn more about this year’s event by visiting the official Bozeman Christmas Stroll website.
Bozeman, MT, USA
Jo / Flickr
Each year, the Missoula Downtown Association hosts the annual Parade of Lights. The parade typically starts in the early evening, and you’ll have your choice of family-friendly activities all evening. Curious to learn more? Check out the Parade of Lights website for further details.
Missoula, MT, USA
Main Street Uptown Butte, Inc. Facebook
Butte’s annual celebration of the season, which is usually held an evening in early December, includes a Children’s Light parade and a beautiful tree lighting ceremony. Most recently, the official stroll was canceled, but local businesses stepped up and keep the event going. For more information to make sure the event will be held again this year, check out the Uptown Butte Christmas Stroll event page.
Butte, MT, USA
Bright Country Lights MT/Facebook
Bright Country Nights is an annual drive-through light show that takes place at the Central Montana Fairgrounds every Thanksgiving weekend. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Curious to learn more? Head on over to the Bright Country Nights website.
Lewistown, MT 59457, USA
Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce/Facebook
Next up on our list of some of the best Christmas light displays in Montana is an event known as the Holiday Parade of Lights. Downtown Bigfork always has a beautiful Christmas light setup. Their annual Holiday Parade of Lights takes place in early December. Learn more about this year’s event when you visit the official Holiday Parade of Lights website. If the site hasn’t been updated for the current year, keep checking back, as it will be up soon!
Bigfork, MT 59911, USA
Derek Peplau / Flickr
Columbia Falls’ Night of Lights Parade is held on the first Friday of December. Representatives of local businesses, community groups, youth organizations, and others get together to show off their Christmas spirit in the downtown area. For more information, check out the Night of Lights website.
Columbia Falls, MT 59912, USA
Montana Trolley Co./Facebook
Take an hour-long trolley tour of some of the beautiful Kalispell homes that are decorated for Christmas. For more information about planning this one-of-a-kind holiday lights tour in Montana, be sure to visit the official Montana Trolley Co. website.
Kalispell, MT 59901, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
best Christmas light displays in Montana November 12, 2021 Beth C. What’s the snowiest town in Montana? Come wintertime, Montana is nothing short of a winter wonderland. Thanks to its geography and altitude, the Treasure State receives more than its fair share of snow each season – and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Have you ever wondered, “what’s the snowiest town in Montana?” While the answer can change from year to year, one of the regions that consistently sees a lot of snow is known as Cooke City. Compared to the national average of 39 inches, Cooke City receives an astounding 194 inches of snowfall per year. Snowfall tends to start in the fall season, and it doesn’t melt quickly. When conditions are at their worst, snowmobiling is a popular form of getting around. If you visit Cooke City, you’ll definitely need to embrace a love of all things winter. In fact, snowmelt doesn’t typically happen until mid-June! Learn more about what life is like inside the snowiest town in Montana. What are the best winter attractions in Montana? There’s something positively magical about visiting Montana during the winter. The abundance of snow, festive towns, and beautiful mountain vistas all help visitors and residents alike embrace the season. To make the most out of winter in Montana, we’d recommend checking out the following winter attractions: Silver Crest Winter Recreation Area, Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center, Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, Lava Lake, Milwaukee Railroad Trail, Bozeman, Red Lodge, and Fairmont. Have you been to any of these incredible winter attractions in Montana?
The OIYS Visitor Center
best Christmas light displays in Montana
November 12, 2021
Beth C.
What’s the snowiest town in Montana? Come wintertime, Montana is nothing short of a winter wonderland. Thanks to its geography and altitude, the Treasure State receives more than its fair share of snow each season – and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Have you ever wondered, “what’s the snowiest town in Montana?” While the answer can change from year to year, one of the regions that consistently sees a lot of snow is known as Cooke City. Compared to the national average of 39 inches, Cooke City receives an astounding 194 inches of snowfall per year. Snowfall tends to start in the fall season, and it doesn’t melt quickly. When conditions are at their worst, snowmobiling is a popular form of getting around. If you visit Cooke City, you’ll definitely need to embrace a love of all things winter. In fact, snowmelt doesn’t typically happen until mid-June! Learn more about what life is like inside the snowiest town in Montana. What are the best winter attractions in Montana? There’s something positively magical about visiting Montana during the winter. The abundance of snow, festive towns, and beautiful mountain vistas all help visitors and residents alike embrace the season. To make the most out of winter in Montana, we’d recommend checking out the following winter attractions: Silver Crest Winter Recreation Area, Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center, Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, Lava Lake, Milwaukee Railroad Trail, Bozeman, Red Lodge, and Fairmont. Have you been to any of these incredible winter attractions in Montana?
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Come wintertime, Montana is nothing short of a winter wonderland. Thanks to its geography and altitude, the Treasure State receives more than its fair share of snow each season – and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Have you ever wondered, “what’s the snowiest town in Montana?” While the answer can change from year to year, one of the regions that consistently sees a lot of snow is known as Cooke City. Compared to the national average of 39 inches, Cooke City receives an astounding 194 inches of snowfall per year. Snowfall tends to start in the fall season, and it doesn’t melt quickly. When conditions are at their worst, snowmobiling is a popular form of getting around. If you visit Cooke City, you’ll definitely need to embrace a love of all things winter. In fact, snowmelt doesn’t typically happen until mid-June! Learn more about what life is like inside the snowiest town in Montana.
What are the best winter attractions in Montana?
There’s something positively magical about visiting Montana during the winter. The abundance of snow, festive towns, and beautiful mountain vistas all help visitors and residents alike embrace the season. To make the most out of winter in Montana, we’d recommend checking out the following winter attractions: Silver Crest Winter Recreation Area, Bohart Ranch Cross Country Ski Center, Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Seeley Lake, Philipsburg, Lava Lake, Milwaukee Railroad Trail, Bozeman, Red Lodge, and Fairmont. Have you been to any of these incredible winter attractions in Montana?
