Dates & times
All times are local to the venue · America/Chicago
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday · weekly5:00 PM – 9:00 PMNov 27, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
- Friday, Saturday · weekly5:00 PM – 10:00 PMNov 27, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Drive-through dates are November 27, 2026–January 2, 2027. Sunday–Thursday: 5–9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 5–10 p.m. Other formats have separate dates and terms: illuminated walking nights November 13–15, 20–22 and 25; Bikes and Lights November 23–24; wagon rides November 29–December 3, December 6–10 and December 13–17. Wagon rides have scheduled departure times; check availability and arrive 15 minutes early.
Country Christmas 2026: A lights trail with a walk-around finish
Country Christmas is more than a drive through holiday lights: the standard car admission also includes Village Park and entry to Christmas Village and The Streets of Bethlehem at the end of the trail. The season’s other formats change how visitors move through the grounds, and they do not share the drive-through ticket terms.
The route ends with places to get out and look around
The organizer describes Country Christmas as a trail of more than a mile across the Ingleside grounds, part of a 40-wooded-acre setting. Drive-through admission covers the trail, Village Park and entry to two buildings at its end: Christmas Village and The Streets of Bethlehem. That makes the car visit a route with an indoor and outdoor finish, rather than a lights display viewed only from the vehicle.
Bearville is one of the trail’s named landmarks: a 200-foot tunnel fitted with 30,000 computerized lights. Santa’s house, a reindeer barn and other themed scenes are also listed along the way.
Further reading: Waukesha & Milwaukee Christmas Lights Display | Country Christmas ↗ · Christmas Lights Display - Near Milwaukee, WI | Country Christmas ↗ · Country Christmas | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗
A model railway, a letter to Santa and a small train ride
Village Park offers a 42-foot Christmas tree and a walk-through light tunnel. The Country Christmas Train costs an additional $1 per ride, so it is a separate purchase rather than part of the admission.
Inside Christmas Village, visitors can see a working model train display and the Department 56 village collection, and watch the Rockin’ Raccoon Band perform to Christmas music. Children can write a letter to Santa at the Country Christmas Post Office or make a stuffed animal at the Bearville Furry Friend Factory. Hot chocolate and other concessions are available in the village.
Further reading: Waukesha & Milwaukee Christmas Lights Display | Country Christmas ↗
A nativity display alongside the holiday scenes
The Streets of Bethlehem is a separate walk-through display of nearly life-sized Fontanini nativity figurines. Its religious subject gives the visit a different focus from the Santa scenes and family activities elsewhere on the grounds. The organizer describes the display as a replica of the Pope’s personal collection and says it is the only display of comparable magnitude in the area.
Further reading: Waukesha & Milwaukee Christmas Lights Display | Country Christmas ↗
Walking and biking change the route; wagons run on a schedule
The illuminated walking nights and Bikes and Lights take place before the drive-through season opens. Bikes and Lights closes the trail to drive-through traffic; its two evenings also include separate bike-decorating contests for children and adults in Christmas Village. These are distinct visits with per-person admission, not alternate ways to use a carload ticket.
Wagon rides begin after the drive-through season has started and run on selected dates. They use scheduled departures, subject to availability, so visitors choosing that format should plan around a specific ride time and arrive early.
Further reading: Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗ · Christmas Lights Display - Near Milwaukee, WI | Country Christmas ↗ · Country Christmas Wagon Rides | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗
The dates determine how you experience the grounds
Walking and biking come first in November; the drive-through follows, with wagon rides on selected nights overlapping that season. The contests are tied to Bikes and Lights, while the wagon option is organized around scheduled departures.
November 29–December 3, December 6–10, and December 13–17, 2026 · Wagon rides
- Scheduled wagon rides along the Country Christmas display; arrive 15 minutes before the selected ride.
November 23–24, 2026 · Country Christmas trail
- Bikes and Lights: guests may bike through the trail, which is closed to drive-through traffic on these dates. The official page lists a children’s bike-decorating contest at 7:00 p.m. and an adults’ contest at 8:00 p.m. in Christmas Village.
November 13–15, 20–22 and 25, 2026 · Illuminated walking trail
- Separate walking nights on the illuminated trail; the official pricing page says dogs are allowed on the trail but not in Christmas Village or Streets of Bethlehem, and strollers and pull-behind wagons are allowed.
Choose a format, then check its terms
Dates and hours
The drive-through runs November 27, 2026–January 2, 2027. Hours are 5–9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Christmas Lights Display - Near Milwaukee, WI | Country Christmas ↗ · Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗
Vehicle prices and limits
Admission is $30 per carload or minivan Sunday through Thursday and $35 Friday and Saturday. The organizer also lists $50 for a large passenger van or limo, $60 for a minibus and $40 for a senior home minibus.
Full-size school buses and coach buses are not permitted. Vehicles must have a wheelbase of 22 feet or less and a maximum height of 12 feet.
Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗ · Christmas Lights Display - Near Milwaukee, WI | Country Christmas ↗
November dates, admission and trail rules
The illuminated trail is open November 13–15, November 20–22 and November 25, 2026, from 5–9 p.m. Last admission is sold at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person, with $2 from each admission going to the Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County.
Dogs are allowed on the trail, but not in Christmas Village or The Streets of Bethlehem. Strollers and pull-behind wagons are allowed. Dress for the weather; hot chocolate and other concessions are available in Christmas Village.
Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗ · The Ingleside Hotel | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗
November 23–24, with contests in Christmas Village
The trail is open to biking November 23 and 24, 2026, from 5–9 p.m.; the last admission ticket is sold at 8 p.m. Drive-through traffic is closed on these dates. Admission is $10 per person; children 23 months and younger are free.
The best-bike contest for children 12 and under is at 7 p.m.; the adults’ contest is at 8 p.m. Both are in Christmas Village. The organizer encourages decorated bikes and festive clothing and advises visitors to dress for the weather.
Selected dates and five scheduled departures
Rides are offered November 29–December 3, December 6–10 and December 13–17, 2026. Departure times are 5:15, 6, 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m., based on availability. Rides begin at the listed time; arrive 15 minutes early.
Admission is $20 per person and includes hot chocolate and a cookie. This is a separately priced experience, not part of drive-through admission.
Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗ · Country Christmas Wagon Rides | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗
Check the organizer’s ticket store
The organizer’s pricing page links to its ticket store. Wagon rides are subject to availability; check the store for current ticket information.
Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗ · Christmas Lights Display - Near Milwaukee, WI | Country Christmas ↗
Getting to The Ingleside Hotel
Address and driving directions
Country Christmas is at The Ingleside Hotel, 2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072. From downtown Milwaukee, the hotel’s directions take I-94 west toward Madison about 20 miles to Highway T; turn right, continue a quarter mile to Golf Road, then go west about one mile.
From Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, take the airport freeway spur west about one mile to I-94, then go north about 1½ miles to the I-894 west bypass. Follow I-894 west about 12 miles to I-94, then continue west toward Madison about 12 miles to Highway T, Exit 293. Turn right at the end of the exit, go a quarter mile to Golf Road and continue west about one mile.
From Madison, take I-94 east to Highway G, Exit 291; go north on Highway G to Golf Road, then east about half a mile. From Rockford, take I-90 north to I-43, then Highway 83 at Mukwonago; go north on Highway 83 to I-94, east to Highway G, Exit 291, north to Golf Road and east about half a mile.
Country Christmas | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗ · Contact/Directions | Ingleside Hotel ↗
Transit, parking and access details
The published directions are for driving. They do not specify event transit service, parking arrangements or step-free access. Use the map link to calculate directions from your own starting point.
Country Christmas | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗ · Contact/Directions | Ingleside Hotel ↗
Before you make a plan
Does drive-through admission include the buildings at the end?
Yes. The organizer says it includes Village Park and entry to Christmas Village and The Streets of Bethlehem, in addition to the trail.
Waukesha & Milwaukee Christmas Lights Display | Country Christmas ↗
Can I bring a dog on a walking night?
Dogs are allowed on the trail, but not in Christmas Village or The Streets of Bethlehem.
Are wagon rides included with drive-through admission?
No. Wagon rides are a separate $20-per-person experience, including hot chocolate and a cookie; departures are subject to availability.
Pricing & Admission - Country Christmas ↗ · Country Christmas Wagon Rides | Visit Waukesha Pewaukee ↗
Is the trail open to cars during Bikes and Lights?
No. The trail is closed to drive-through traffic on November 23 and 24, when guests can bike through it.
Location & Google Maps
The Ingleside Hotel
2810 Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI 53072
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.