History of Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Back in 2001, Esko resident Nathan Bentley decided to decorate his home with some Christmas lights he picked up. Over the next few years, his light display grew and became more elaborate. In 2004 they starting calling the display “Bentleyville”. People from all over the Northland would drive out to his new home in Cloquet to experience Bentleyville firsthand. Nathan decided to create a true Christmas experience with Bentleyville. He added firepits for visitors to gather around roasting marshmallows, and a Cookie House with free cookies, hot apple cider, and coffee.
A Growing Light Display
As Bentleyville Tour of Lights grew, so did the traffic in Nathan’s rural neighborhood. Parking lots were constructed on neighboring properties and visitors were bused to the display. By year 5, Bentleyville was receiving over 72,000 visitors! That’s when Duluth Mayor Don Ness stepped in to come up with a solution to the ongoing traffic problems created by the light display: Move the whole thing to Duluth’s Bayfront Park.
So, in 2009, Bentleyville did just that. The Bentleyville Tour of Lights has called Bayfront Park “home” ever since. Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each winter. The display has grown exponentially since moving to its home in Duluth with the addition of over $150,000 worth of new lights, light tunnels, and attractions.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights Today
Bentleyville Tour of Lights TodayWhen Nathan moved Bentleyville to Duluth he wanted the spirit of the display to remain the same. So Bentleyville continues to be a free attraction to visitors, during normal years. Of course, you can still find free cookies, cocoa, and popcorn. Firepits and marshmallows are still readily available. Donation boxes give visitors the opportunity to support the ever-growing light display. However, for those who need a little Christmas cheer on a budget, this is a wonderful opportunity. In addition, parking is widely available. There is a small cost for parking in the designated Bentleyville parking lots, but this contribution helps keep the lights going year after year.
Make the Most of Your Bentleyville Experience
If you want to make the most out of your Bentleyville Tour of Lights experience, we have some tips and tricks based on years of experience.
- If lines are too long to get into the Bentleyville parking area, park at the DECC parking garage. If traffic is backed up to the I-35 offramps, go into downtown and park there. Use the Sky Walks to get to Bentleyville. It’ll add some more steps to your walk but you will stay warm!
- Take an Uber! Bentleyville now has a dedicated Uber drop off and pick up point for easy rides to the experience.
- Even better, if you can book the Train or Jingle Bus they are both a great, festive way to start your Bentleyville experience.
- Even better(er), stay in Duluth’s Canal Park for your visit to Bentleyville! Captain’s Canal Park is a short walk to the Tour of Lights in the heart of Duluth’s Canal Park district.
- Visit during a weekday. Weekends, especially Saturdays, are the busiest. If the weather is warm, it’s especially chaotic and lines are very long. We went during a balmy Saturday evening once in 2018 and ended up leaving before even getting to the main light display because the entrances were gridlocked. In a completely opposite experience, a Tuesday evening visit yielded small crowds and no lines for cocoa, cookies, popcorn, and marshmallows. The Santa line was maybe 10 minutes.
- Arrive before 5 pm. Not only do you arrive when there are the fewest people around, but you also get to participate in the countdown to turn on the lights.
- If you can’t arrive before 5 pm, then plan to arrive later in the evening. After 8 pm the crowds are much smaller and is mostly adults, so the Santa line gets a little shorter.
- Be sure to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, especially if you have a child under the age of 10. Kids under 10 receive a free Bentleyville hat after their visit with Santa. Many local kids collect Bentleyville hats and wear them with pride for the rest of the winter. They’re nice hats and the design changes every year.
More Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Trip to Bentleyville Tour of Lights
- Add your kids’ names to the Naughty or Nice List before you go (you can start submitting names in October). Head on over to the popcorn area to see the lists displayed.
- Cut through the first part of the light displays and go see Santa first. This way, your kids get to see Santa, you get the longest line over with first, and then you can really enjoy the rest of the Bentleyville experience.
- Bring a stroller, even if your child prefers to walk. It’s a great way to store extra layers. Remember, the temperature by Lake Superior can be dramatically different than elsewhere in Duluth. I have started my kids in snow pants and quickly shed layers thanks to the unseasonably high temperatures on some trips. On others we’ve had to add layers as we’ve gone through the tour.
- Bentleyville actually has strollers and wheelchairs available to visitors (first come, first served) right by the gift shop as you first enter from the main parking lot. However, I wouldn’t rely on them to be available as they are taken at a first come, first served basis.
- Bring some money to donate, if you can. Bentleyville continues to run year after year thanks to the generous donations it receives. You can also bring non-perishable food for their food drive or a new, unwrapped toy for their toy drive.
A Christmas Dream Come True
What started as an at-home light display has turned into Duluth’s premiere Christmas-time attraction. It really is fun for the whole family (usually), so if you’re in Duluth anytime from mid-November until December 26th, plan to make a visit to Bentleyville to experience the magic yourself.
The Christmas spirit continued during the COVID-19 Pandemic when in 2020 and 2021 the display was a bit different. Due to Covid, Bentleyville became a drive-through display. A fee of $10 per vehicle was added to make this change possible. However, it was decided in 2022 to return to the walk-through experience, something many Duluthians and visitors were happy to see return!