Who is excited for the annual return of BENTLEYVILLE? We are! We’ve got your 2018 Guide to Bentleyville, which includes a fun I Spy Printable, the best days to visit, and SO much more!
We’d love for you to SHARE this awesome resource so everyone is in the know!
{Photo provided by Bentleyville}
- Did you know Bentleyville is completely FREE?! It is America’s largest free walk through lighting display! Bentleyville is a non-profit organization and all donations go directly to the operations and purchases of new light displays. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item for the Salvation Army and to contribute a donation.
Bentleyville is open to the public every night – including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Night:
November 17th – December 26th, 2018
Sunday – Thursday: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Attire- How you dress is extremely important at Bentleyville. Bentleyville is completely outdoors and can be very cold. Dress for both strong winds and warmth. If weather is inclement, sometime the park even has to close.
- Candy Sale- Get your Bentleyville candy bar for $1 at your nearest Holiday store for a chance to win one of several prizes including 10 Golden Ticket packages, Bentleyville Sweatshirts, $10 Holiday Gift Cards, Grandma’s Restaurants Discounts, and Plush Toys from Bentleyville’s Gift Shop. Find out more about the candy sale here.
- Handicap Access- The entire Bayfront Festival Park is handicapped accessible with paved walkways. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come-first-served basis. The chairs can be picked up at the Food & Toy donation drop off near the entrance to Bentleyville.
{Photo provided by Bentleyville}
By Car- There are several parking lots including the Bentleyville lot, the DECC, or the Great Lakes Aquarium. All cost $5. Free parking is available at many downtown parking ramps after and at parking meters after 5:30 pm.
By Train- For a truly magical experience, ride the train to Bentleyville! Board at Fitger’s and take a trip unlike any other under the Aerial Lift Bridge directly to Bentleyville and back again. You can ride the train from November 23rd to December 22nd on Fridays & Saturdays at 4:45pm and 6:45pm departure times. Cost is $7, ages 2 and under are free. Register in advance HERE.
By Bus- The Jingle Bus is a free shuttle service that takes you directly to Bentleyville on Friday and Saturday evenings. There are two routes: red & green. Red is the Canal Park route that picks up every 20 minutes from 4:30 pm – 9:50 pm on Buchanan Street near Canal Park Drive. Green is the Downtown route that picks up every 30 minutes from 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm at Greysolon Plaza, Holiday Center, and Radisson Hotel.
On foot- Park at the Holiday Inn & Suites, Maurices Parking Ramp or the DTC and walk through the skywalk to avoid traffic.
Click here for all the maps and directions you need to get to Bentleyville!
{Photo provided by Bentleyville}
- Bonfires & S’mores- Roast complimentary marshmallows at one of the many fire pits. S’more kits are available for purchase.
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Free hats- Children 10 years old and younger that visit Santa receive a knit Bentleyville hat from Santa along with a bag of cookies. Children receiving the hat must be present, no exceptions.
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Free cookies- The Cookie House offers complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies. Cozy up by the fire and enjoy!
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Free popcorn- Get a bag to munch on as you stroll through the lights from the Polar Popcorn House.
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Naughty or Nice list- For a $5 donation, put your child’s name on the ultimate Naughty or Nice list – which you can visit near the Santa line at Bentleyville! Lists are updated weekly and posted each Friday.
- Photo opportunities- Get a picture with various characters walking around the grounds, and of course with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Find your favorite characters displayed within the lights and snap a photo! Displays range from storybook characters to your favorite movie scenes, from patriotic tributes to holiday classics.
- Santa- Santa visits with guests nightly from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm from November 17th – December 23rd, 2018. The Santa line will close in time for Santa to head home to the North Pole by 9 pm! Be sure to go visit Santa as soon as you enter the park if possible so that you don’t miss him!
Bentlyville is an extremely popular event, and they have created a fantastic resource to let you know what the most popular and quieter nights are. It helps you plan ahead for parking, suiting up for the weather, and how long the Santa line might be. Take a look for the day or days you plan on going!
Please remember: Bentlyville is a weather dependent event. The park will get more crowded the nicer the weather is!
{Photo provided by Bentleyville}
Visit these fine sponsors of Bentlyville for a yummy meal after you check out the lights!
Grandma’s Restaurant & Sports Garden
{Photo provided by Bentleyville}
Bentleyville draws visitors not only from Minnesota, but from all over the world! Add your location to the visitor’s map! Here are a few lodging recommendations we have as well as a few great holiday spots to visit while you’re in town:
Lodging:
- Edgewater Hotel and Waterpark
- Pier B Resort
- Holiday Inn & Suites – Downtown Duluth
- The Inn on Lake Superior
- Sheraton Duluth Hotel
- The Suites Hotel
- South Pier Inn
- Voyageur Lakewalk Inn
- Fitger’s Inn
- Best Western Bridgeview
- Days Inn Duluth Lakewalk
- Downtown Duluth Inn
- For a complete listing of local hotels check them out here.
While You’re In Town…
- Santa and Reindeer at Fitger’s: Offered Saturday 11 am – 4 pm and Sunday Noon – 3 pm from November 25 to December 18, 2017. The live reindeer will be stationed in the Courtyard; Santa will be inside to visit with kids of all ages. Don’t forget your camera! Also check out the shops nearby for some unique holiday shopping.
- See the Nutcracker Ballet: Offered Dec. 8th-10th at the DECC arena, ticket prices vary.
- Glensheen Self-Guided Christmas Tour: Explore this 39-room mansion decked out for the holidays with beautiful Christmas trees. See website for more information including hours and prices.
Want more?
- For more fun attractions and places to go while you visit Duluth, check out this link here, to see all the fun places to go!
If spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear is your thing, consider volunteering! There are multiple spots for helping out and making Bentlyville the best holiday event out there!
Look here for all the opportunities!
If you get invited with friends and family to Bentleyville, it can at first seem overwhelming, but with our fun free printable, here’s a way to focus in on the fun, and have an exciting time! Click here or on the image.
Lighting Challenge 2018 is happening! Register your home or business to participate in the festivities!
Click here to find all the info.
Voting begins November 30th and winners will be announced December 21st!
