holidaylightsatthelake.com

Holiday Lights at the Lake is an annual community holiday event in Iowa City, established in 2021 to bring festive displays and seasonal experiences to local residents and visitors. Set at West Overlook Campground, the event features more than a mile of illuminated holiday scenes and is organized by dedicated volunteers who work throughout the year to plan, design, and fundraise for the display.

The event typically runs nightly from Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve. Most evenings are drive-through, with select dates offering walk-through visits and special activities, including the Peppermint Stick Express, a tractor-pulled hayrack ride through the lights. Admission options are available for cars and family vans, larger vans and small buses, and school or charter buses; walk-through tickets are priced per person, with free entry for children age two and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate, where cash, credit cards, and Venmo are accepted.