Five Seasons Lights

Five Seasons Lights, presented by Farmers State Bank, lights up the McGrath Amphitheatre grounds in Cedar Rapids with a free walk-through maze of holiday displays and music. Each evening a local nonprofit collects goodwill donations for its mission, and local businesses add their own DIY light displays. Santa's Cafe sells hot cocoa, coffee, cookies and merchandise later in the week, and local choirs, dance troupes and carolers are invited to perform on the main stage.

Our take: Kids can visit Santa in his workshop only on select Tuesday and Saturday evenings, so plan around those nights.