Whitmire Wonderlights at Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit

Location: 307 Pinetum Loop Rd., Gray Summit, MO 63039 

Website: https://secure.missouribotanicalgarden.org/2066/2082?queueittoken=e_mbgsnet~q_c9392d30-ad3d-49da-8002-0f2bf13d2169~ts_1668007712~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_1aab496e4f3e059e20dee0ed5b9e629700987833912608b480ff1e5f6d97f405

Here is the description of the event from the website, "Usher in the holiday season with a luminary-lit stroll through the Nature Reserve’s Whitmire Wildflower Garden. Enjoy this rare opportunity for a self-guided walk (less than 1-mile) at the Nature Reserve on a wintery evening. Learn how to create a botanical-inspired luminary and enjoy winter delights under the starlight all while surrounded by the glow from hundreds of luminaries."

After you park you will start your walk at the Bascum House. This house was built in 1879 and inside you can do crafts and buy hot drinks. It's decorated beautifully for the holidays. 

You will walk out the back door and start your walk by following the luminaries. 

It's very dark out there and the luminaries are not very bright. There weren't many people there and when I was walking I was alone and never saw an employee or another person. It was a little freaky out there in the dark by myself! 

Every once in a while you'll come upon a little light display like this, but most of the time you're just seeing the luminaries. 

These woodland animals in lights were cute, they could have used more of them. 

This was a cute photo op, they could have used some more of these too. Admission is $12 per person if you're not a member, and honestly, I would just pay more and go to the Garden Glow or Wild Lights at the zoo. 

Wonderlights at World Wide Technology Raceway, Fairmont City, IL

Location: 1905 Collinsville Rd., Fairmont City, IL 62201

Website: https://www.wonderlightschristmas.com/st-louis

This is one of the best drive-through light displays in the St. Louis metro area. Tune in to 89.5 FM because the lights are all synchronized to the music. The display weaves around the racetrack and it's long. We went on a Thursday night and it was not very busy. We went slow and it took 30 mins to get through. There's a huge variety of lights to see and several tunnels as well. It's $30 per car and I feel that's a fair price for the money. Dasher's Light Show was $30 to $50 per car and was horrible compared to this. It was so short and the lights were sparse- it just doesn't even compare. I would follow the signs they have on the road to find the entrance because my GPS wanted to take me to the normal entrance, but for this event, they have traffic following a different route. 

The best part is the videos!