Way of Lights @ The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

Very disappointed that they took out the arts & crafts room this year. The lights and petting zoo are still a good time but ever since i was young, we’d come & make paper ornaments or buttons but that is no longer an option :(

If you LOVE Christmas lights… then you have to go see this. They do it every year and (if I’m correct) have been doing so for decades. This year it starts on November 20 and goes through January 1. The hours are as follows:
Monday — Thursday: 5 — 9 p.m.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 5 — 10 p.m.
This was my second time doing it. I went a few years ago (and then somehow neglected to go last year). I will say that I would HIGHLY recommend going during off-​peak hours (e.g., NOT the Friday evening after Thanksgiving). We went tonight and it was smooth sailing… no lines and you could set your own pace. If you end up going during a busy time, be prepared to wait 15+ minutes just to start your lights tour.
I’m not sure what else to say except there are a TON OF LIGHTS, including a light tunnel, a waterfall, and a replica of what must be Bethlehem. It is well worth the 20 – 30 minute drive from STL to see it. Plus, all they ask for is a donation at the end (super cheap and well worth it).
Only other side note… I would recommend taking the ⁶⁴⁄₄₀ and 255 route. Otherwise, you end up going through East St. Louis (which isn’t the best place to be after dark).

My family has been coming here since I was a baby. Some of the special memories that make Christmas feel like Christmas have happened here at the shrine.
I do really wish people would stop photographing the grotto… It’s not a photo backdrop, it’s a shrine. It seems a little disrespectful to me that people are running around with their kids screaming and taking selfies with baby Jesus while others are lighting candles and praying… Control yourselves, folks!

We did the 5k run through the lights at The Shrine. What a way to enjoy the lights. The air was crisp and clear, which made for a perfect night to run and look at the lights. The Shrine is pretty hilly, what a workout. Once again a free place to see the lights…

The Way of Lights is a special, seasonal feature of the Shrine with its own 40-​year history. Between late November and early January the program tells the Christmas story through music (choirs and artists on site), interactions (a family-​friendly petting zoo), a variety of displays (wreaths and other decorations hosted inside) and a driveable way of light (tons of light… over a million lights) for four hours each night. The cost of admission is free, though concessions are available, there are nominal admission fees for some of the other activities and donations of any amount are warmly welcomed to help defray the operation’s costs.
The fifteen minute drive from Downtown St. Louis is an easy one along the highway and well worth the trip for the light display alone. Great for families or for a date.
A few tips:
1) Check out the website before you go in order to find the best times to visit. I do not believe that there are any kind of reservations available (at least for the general public). On a Thursday around 830p, I experienced absolutely no wait and had a very casual drive through, but have seen in times past where the wait’s significantly longer than that. Prices on the activities are lower on Tuesdays and, aside from some of the guest entertainers (who only perform at certain times), any night can be a good night to visit.
2) The route includes light tunnels, light animals, a city scene and illuminated passages from the Gospel about the journey to Bethlehem. The culminating display on the route is to the passenger’s side of the street: an outcropping of rock framing a nativity scene with a large star above it.
3) Assuming no traffic, half an hour is probably sufficient to very casually enjoy the 1.5 mile light route. Planning at least 90 minutes to account for some traffic is probably wise.