Eagan Magic of Lights

I didn't read the other reviews but I guess some people had a bad experience. Here's what we liked about it: -Cheaper to buy ahead of time for weekday visit. -We went on a Monday, light traffic throughout. -Driving slowly (as advised) allowed ample time to see everything and take pics. -There was space between the displays. It didn't feel like a visual assault -The dinosaurs gave us a chance to test our memories on dinosaur names. We remembered more than we expected! Overall we enjoyed it though I would not have wanted to pay more than we did online for a weekday ticket.

Dec 10, 2024

Price is not that bad. Very reasonable. Ticket is per car not per person. We liked the drive-thru experience concept. We were wearing pajamas in a warm car. Our 2 year old daughter loved it. She even cried when it was over 😭

Dec 04, 2024

I think people’s negative reviews are honest and also a little brutal. I respect they didn’t have a good time. Here’s mine. I decided to look for something like a drive through of lights over Thanksgiving weekend while my kids are sick we can’t really interact with others. I wanted some time together and something fun. I purchased these quickly without checking reviews and then the reviews definitely had me worried. This place was not a 2/5 for me but not a 5/5 either. PROS: A lot of things were animated which was fun for the family and another reason to slow down and enjoy. A waving elf, Santa sliding down a dinosaur tail, penguins ice fishing, and more Be careful to look closely or you’ll miss the 12 days of Christmas nicely lit I got a good Black Friday deal making it $40 WITHOUT a souvenir They have an ice skating rink afterword you can rent skates (seemed fun but didn’t get to enjoy this time) plus a warming house Favorite parts were either the tunnel, literally so immersive extra pro if you have a sun roof OR The family photo spot at the end where you all are inside a present I tried to take as many photos as possible of things people didn’t put which was a bummer of everyone being so negative about this simple place. If your family can make fun out of a lot of things I'm sure you’ll enjoy this. We drove almost an hour there and enjoyed our time. For my experience, there was nobody in line, I purchased ahead, played my own music, probably lasted, 10? Minutes maybe … with us going over 5mph frequently Cons: The path was a little short had to remember go SLOW. 5mph is surprisingly really slow. Just take your time as I asked to go through again immediately for more photos and was denied. The radio station didn’t work- WHO CARES we played our own Christmas music. Easy fix in 2024! I’m unsure if it’s worth $40 …..(without souvenirs) the original price not what I paid. The was our first time doing a drive through of lights. We are used to the show at the stadium downtown (walking) or the state fair (walking) but this is a great second best in my opinion on days that are 7degrees with newborns to keep warm and illnesses spreading. What could be better- I think it’d be nice to see a different theme each year. Something I asked about and they didn’t say they really follow. Lots of prehistoric dinosaur themed lights. 12 days of Christmas. Barbie. Toyland. All thrown together (something for everyone though) With nobody being there that day and no time slot or length of time limit I truly feel they should have let people go through again. It’s not like I’m getting something extra. I paid, and like if I were walking around I can stay and look at the lights enjoy my time. Why not here. A benefit in my opinion would be if the lights were more spread out so they don’t clash and at the same time this is in Eagan like in my opinion even if the Vikings training facility, it’s limited space. And at the same time looking at lots of lights is still nice just like maybe space out by theme. ? Also maybe have more to do afterwards in case people want to stay and enjoy….. ice rink is a great touch but also not for everyone. OVERALL 4/5 WE WERE HAPPY

Dec 02, 2024

2024. We found the entrance well marked and easy to find, (Ames Crossing to Nordic Way), the drive took about 10-15 min and was not confusing at all, and the lights were great. Our 2.5 year old loved it! We went on military Monday for a super reasonable $25. (Pre purchased online). Glad we went despite the neg reviews. Would recommend!

Dec 24, 2024

I found the experience quite disappointing overall, especially for adults who may be expecting something more immersive and memorable. While younger kids might enjoy the bright lights and festive atmosphere, the event fails to deliver on creativity and variety. The displays are repetitive, and there’s a noticeable lack of effort to make them stand out or tell a cohesive story. For the ticket price, I was expecting much more – something that felt exciting and worth the cost – but the event came off as minimalistic and underwhelming. The biggest issue, however, was the driving path. The road conditions were terrible, with numerous potholes that made the entire experience bumpy and uncomfortable. It’s clear that this part of the event was neglected, which is surprising given how essential the driving element is to the whole setup. To make matters worse, the path wasn’t well-lit, likely due to the reliance on the Christmas lights for ambiance. This made navigating the course unnecessarily difficult and, at times, unsafe, especially for families with small children in the car. There’s a lot of room for improvement. First and foremost, the organizers need to fix the road conditions and ensure it’s safe and smooth for vehicles. Adding subtle ground lighting or reflective markers along the path would also make it easier to navigate without taking away from the festive atmosphere. The light displays themselves need more thought and creativity – incorporating diverse themes, larger-scale designs, or synchronized music and lights would make the experience far more enjoyable and memorable. It would also be nice if there were additional elements to enhance the value, such as opportunities to stop and take photos, small stands selling holiday treats, or even a music playlist provided to visitors to complement the lights. Ultimately, this event has potential but currently feels overpriced and poorly executed. If the organizers can focus on improving the road conditions, expanding and diversifying the displays, and adding some thoughtful touches to enhance the overall experience (over vehicle displays), it could become a holiday tradition worth revisiting. In its current state, however, I wouldn’t recommend it for adults or families looking for a premium holiday experience.

Dec 31, 2024