A great way to get excited about Christmas, is to visit ‘Reflections in the Park’. It’s like Christmas being thrown up on you and I thought it was AWESOME.  ‘Reflections in the Park’ is a drive thru Christmas Light display held in Louis Murphy Park in Dubuque, Iowa to raise money for Hillcrest Family Services.

Dubuque Iowa Christmas Lights Display

Reflections In The Park

Open: Thursday November 26th 2020

The driveway to the park is COVERED with Christmas lights.  You stop at a little entrance booth to pay the $10 fee per vehicle ($8 if booked in advance from DB&T locations).  The volunteers hand you a ‘program’ booklet, candy canes for each passenger and tell you to turn your radio station onto a certain channel that plays Christmas music and then you turn your headlights off while you drive through the park.  An all round sensory experience!

There are over 80 light shapes on display which are donated by various local companies.  For example there are lawn mowing Santas, concrete mixer trucks, chevy pick ups and the Dubuque Town Clock, along with all the usual festive shapes!  My favourite was a 200ft drive thru tunnel of lights, it was hypnotising!

I visited on a drizzly November week day evening and we had the park to ourselves.  I made my other half drive, while I sat in the back seat of my car, with both windows down, so I could ping pong between each window to take photos and videos!  Having it to ourselves meant we were free to go along at our own speed.  We could stop as often as we liked…and I even made him reverse at one point because I wanted to go back to one of the displays for a photo!  It took us around 15 minutes to drive round the park, this included my photo stops.  Without these, we would have been done a lot faster.

If the money wasn’t going to charity, it would be expensive for how quick the experience is.  My other half said it’s even better if you visit during the snow as the lights reflect on the white ground, so there may be a return visit on the cards! 2019 was the 25th year of Reflections in the park!

Information about 2020 Reflections In The Park Dubuque

Location: Louis Murphy Park, Dubuque, Iowa

Cost: $10 ($8 in advance)

Open: November 26th 2020 – January 3rd 2020

Times: 5pm – 10pm

*Edit: Walk through cancelled for 2020* If you don’t fancy driving through the Christmas lights, the very first night of Reflections in the Park (Wednesday 25th November) is a walk through experience.  This would probably be your best bet for taking photos as it’s a little awkward in the car (plus you are expected to keep moving…).  I think the tunnel of lights would offer a great photo opportunity if walking!

I remember when I was a kid my parents would drive us around town to go and look at Christmas lights on houses.  ‘Reflections in the Park’ is definitely something we would have gone to if there was something similar in my hometown in the UK!  If I loved it as an adult, I think children would find this magical!

For other Dubuque Christmas events check out my post packed full of things going on during November and December! Dubuque Christmas Events To Get You In The Christmas Spirit: Iowa

If you feel like driving a little further out, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is coming back to Iowa!  Marquette, Clinton and Davenport are the closest stops to Dubuque.

Have you visited this Dubuque Christmas lights display?

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