Light Up Princeton

Thursdays- Sundays, Nov. 29-Dec. 21
6-9 pm
AND Christmas Eve: 5:30-8:00 pm
Mille Lacs County Fairgrounds, Princeton

There is no cost to drive through Light Up Princeton; however, each night there will be a group of volunteers there to greet you and to collect free will donations to split between their group, Light Up Princeton 2026 and the Princeton Pantry. They will also be collecting non-perishable items for the Princeton Pantry. Don't have a donation? No problem! Come on through!

Please remember: Light Up Princeton is a DRIVE - THROUGH event only.

Please NO WALKING through Light Up Princeton.

There is an opportunity for photo opps/parking at the end of the American Legion Light Up Princeton loop. Watch for signs and volunteers.

SPECIAL NIGHTS

November 29:

All Day: Small Business Saturday
5:30 pm: Light Up Princeton Parade, From City Hall down 3rd Street N to the Mille Lacs County Fairgrounds
Approximately 6 pm: Santa flips the switch to Light Up Princeton!
6:00-7:00 pm: Photos with Santa

December 4: Princeton Early Childhood Night

December 20: Horse-drawn Sleigh/Carriage rides through Light Up Princeton! Cost is $20/per ride. Parking outside Fairgrounds gate in east parking lot. Rides provided by Premier Machine Farm & Carriage, Princeton, MN. Proceeds benefit Light Up Princeton 2026.

The Minnco Hot Chocolate Hut

Stay cozy warm in your car while volunteers bring steamy, delicious hot chocolate right to you! Fifty percent of the profits will go to a non-profit group in our area. The other 50 percent will go to Light Up Princeton 2026.

NOTE: The Minnco Hot Chocolate Hut will be open on Fridays and Saturdays ONLY.

Children's Design Contest

Attention Princeton Public School District Students grades Pre-K through 2nd grade! Enter the Light Up Princeton Design Contest and see your design in lights!

RULES:

Open to Princeton Public School District students Pre-K (age 4 and above) through 2nd grade
Create a winter themed design in color
Keep it simple!
Once winner will be chosen from each grade: Pre-K, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade
The winners will be chosen by the Light Up Princeton committeee
Winners' designs will be re-created in lights on a 4x4 grid and put on display at Light Up Princeton!

Designs must be submitted no later than Oct. 14th by email, mail or dropped off at the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism.

Be sure to include First and Last Name and grade when submitting. If mailing or dropping off, include email and phone number.

Email: pacc@princetonmnchamber.org

PACCT: PO Box 563, Princeton, MN 55371

Drop off: 507 1st Street, Princeton (Leave in drop box outside office if the office is closed)

Residential Light Contest

Help to Light Up Princeton by signing up for the Light Up Princeton Residential Light Contest. The winning house will receive $100 worth of local restaurant gift cards!

RULES:

All houses must be located within FIVE MILES of the City of Princeton.
You must register no later than November 14th at 5:00 pm to be included in the voting.
Each participating house will be provided a sign for their front yard (signs MUST be returned to the chamber or there will be a $20 fee) with your contest number on it, and houses must be decorated by November 29th.
Voting will take place via the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page beginning December 5th and ending on December 20th. Each contestant address will be shown on a digital map and shared on social media.

CLICK HERE to get registered!

Voting begins Dec. 5 and ends at 5 pm on Dec. 20th.

Are you an electric customer of Princeton Public Utilities? Get a rebate when you purchase LED Lights and Decorations!

Christmas Tree Lane

Show off your business/organization and show your community support by sponsoring a tree for Christmas Tree Lane! We estimate that more than 10,000 people pass through the light display each year, and it is a great way for people to take notice of you!

Deadline to register is no later than September 29th.

Cost and Guidelines

Cost and guidelines:
Cost is $75 per tree for chamber businesses, $75 for non-chamber members or $50 for Nonprofits (non profits must be chamber members to receive discount).
You may decorate your tree at the fairgrounds on the specified dates and times below.
Trees will be 5-6 feet tall.
All of the decorations to advertise your business must be on the tree. No signs or other forms of advertising will be allowed on the ground.
All decorations must be well secured and weather resistant. We experience rain, sleet snow and a lot of wind at Light Up Princeton.
The tree must include working lights with the power source at the base of the tree.
There is no need to decorate the back of the tree as all trees will be secured to a fence post but you are encouraged to put the lights all around the tree.

Trees must be decorated during the following Saturdays between 10 am-1 pm:

Nov. 1
Nov. 8
Nov. 15

Trees lights and decorations must be removed before trees are removed.

Dates for take-down TBD.

CLICK HERE to register!

Volunteer at Light Up Princeton!

Volunteer to help set up/take down Light Up Princeton

Five nonprofit organizations will be chosen to receive a $500 grant to help set up or take down Light Up Princeton. Groups must apply for this opportunity and must be able to guarantee a minimum of 10 people. Three groups will be chosen to help set up the display and two groups will be chosen to help take it down. Set up dates/times are 10 am - 2 pm on Nov. 1st, Nov. 8th and Nov. 15th. The take-down date will be determined later. Applications due by Oct. 3rd.

CLICK HERE to sign up to apply for a Light Up Princeton Grant to help set up/take down.

Work at Light Up Princeton

Volunteers will designate a non-profit to benefit from 50% of the free will donations collected at the event. The other 50% is split 25% each between the Princeton Pantry and Light Up Princeton 2026. Groups will need a minimum of six workers, two of whom must be responsible adults. For safety reasons, please do not bring a lot of young children to volunteer.

These spots fill quickly, so be sure to sign up early!

CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer to work at Light Up Princeton.

Work the Hot Chocolate Hut at Light Up Princeton

Volunteers will designate a non-profit to benefit from 50% of the sales of hot chocolate sales at Light Up Princeton. The other 50% will go toward Light Up Princeton 2026. Groups will need to consist of a minimum of four workers, two of whom must be responsible adults and others ages 14 and above. Due to the size of the Hot Chocolate Hut, we ask that you bring no more than 5 volunteers. The Hot Chocolate Hut will only be open on Friday and Saturday nights, so sign up early!

CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer to work the Hot Chocolate Hut at Light Up Princeton.

Light Up Princeton Committee: Bopha Sar (Bopha Sar), Kimberly Walizer (Minnco Credit Union), Kaylee Fetters (Pizza Barn), Brian Julson (Princeton Community Education), Dylan Donner (Princeton Wine & Spirits), Todd Frederick (Princeton Police Department), Bob Gerold (City of Princeton), Deb Ulm (Princeton Pantry), Laurel Merten (Kinship Youth Mentoring of Princeton), Renae Braun (Braun's Market), Randy Hatch (Princeton Pantry/Kinship Youth Mentoring/Civic Betterment Club/Princeton VFW/Princeton American Legion), Chad Young (Community Volunteer), Kim Young (PACCT)