holiday lights trolley tour rochester mn

Jolly Trolley Holiday Tours available in Rochester

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Jolly Trolley is out and about on most weeknights and weekends in December in Rochester.

On the tour you will see some of the best spots for Christmas lights in Rochester, and you will also get to see Santa at his workshop on some of the nights.

Here is a list of the Jolly Trolley Tour dates and how to get tickets.

It was partnering with the Northern Lights Festival at the Mayo Civic Center, but that event has been canceled.

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Downtown's 12 Favorite Things: Jolly Trolley Tours

Written by: Gabriel Yeager

Start a new family tradition this Christmas. The Rochester Trolley & Tour Company offers extra-special magic this holiday season with the Jolly Trolley Holiday Lights Tour.  Enjoy classic holiday music aboard the warmth of a lighted, decorated trolley.   The Jolly Trolley operates through New Year’s Eve, and offers rides 7 nights per week. You have the option to choose between the North lights tour and the South lights tour. The North lights tour features “fun, creative, and family orientated north residential light displays.” The South lights tour features the “classic elegance of Rochester’s South residential light displays.  Both rides feature special surprises including a visit with Santa Claus at his Rochester workshop.

The Rochester Trolley & Tour Company website features raving revues of the trolley tour. Jacqueline says it was "very enjoyable even on a below zero evening." David, who also gives the tour 5 stars, says the "tour was fantastic. It was very entertaining and a great way to see all the lights of Rochester."

All holiday light tours depart from the Peace Plaza in front of the Downtown Marriott.  Reservations are required for guaranteed seating. For tickets and prices, please visit:   Rochester Trolley & Tour Company .

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Check Out Rochester’s Best Christmas Lights on the Jolly Trolley

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If you are looking for the best Christmas lights in Rochester , Minnesota , save the gas and jump on board the trolley that is going to all the best spots in town!  Adults and kids will truly love this holiday light adventure and will remember these memories forever.

Jolly Trolley Holiday Lights Tour in Rochester, Minnesota is Now Taking Reservations

What traditions does your family have during the holidays?  One of ours is wearing our PJ's and hopping in the car with some burgers and driving all over Rochester to check out the amazing Christmas lights that are up everywhere.  A few years ago though, I went on the Jolly Trolley to help celebrate a birthday and loved every minute of it!  Friends - Christmas lights - and someone else was doing all of the driving so I could actually enjoy all of it!

There are just a few dates left of the Jolley Trolley tour to see all of the lights.  Below is the info from the Rochestermntours.com website and provides info on how to reserve a spot in case you'd love to add this to your Christmas Bucket List:

• The tour will last 1 hour and 30 minutes on a lighted vintage trolley
• The trolley tour is available on various days until December 30th
• Classic holiday music will play that is narrated by the tour guide
• "Santa's Workshop",
• "The Caroling House,"
• "The Blue Christmas",
• "The Enchanted Forest",
• "Winter Wonderland",
• "The Christmas Court",
• "Christmas Mountain",
• "The North Pole"
• ...and more!

Are kids welcome on the Jolly Trolley Holiday Lights Tour?

According to the website for the Rochester Trolley & Tour Co, the Jolly Trolley tour is 90 minutes long and is suitable for kids that are 10 and older.  However, parents should use their discretion when reserving time on the trolley.

How much is the Jolly Trolley Holiday Lights Tour?

Here's the pricing for the tour:

• $35 for Adults and Kids Ages 13+
• $20 for Children Ages 2 to 12
• Free for Infants Under 2 years old
• Get tickets here

Big News in Rochester!  Social-ICE is Back in 2023!

One of the best winter events in Southeast Minnesota is Social-ICE.  Ice sculptures, live music, themed ice bars, and more are all brought to downtown Rochester for a few nights of fun.  Check the dates below for Social-ICE and several other events that will be back on the calendar for 2023.

Full List of Downtown Rochester Events for 2023

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The Best Places To See Holiday Lights in Rochester MN and The Surrounding Area for 2023

Justin Schwirtz

Justin was born and raised in South East Minnesota where now he and his wife Sarah reside in Rochester where they have raised their 3 children Dominic...

The Holidays Have Arrived for 2023!

Not only do we love this time of year, but we love seeing all of the lights and decorations all over Rochester and the surrounding area.

1. Map of some of The Best Neighborhoods for Christmas Lights in Rochester 

(homes throughout rochester) foxcroft, pill hill, mayo woodlands, country club manor, pinewood ridge, and many more..

*If you know of more spots Add it to their LIST!

Google Map of the Lights in Rochester

2. Holiday Lights Trolley Ride  

"sit back and relax while the trolley takes you on a tour of the hot spots"   .

Rochester Trolley Company in Rochester, MN

More Information Rochester MN Tours

3. Kiwanis Holiday Lights (Mankato)

The Kiwanis Holiday Lights event is organized by the Kiwanis Club of Mankato. It's a festive celebration of holiday lights that takes place in the Greater Mankato Area and aims to honor past traditions while promoting the communities we serve. Additionally, the event is also dedicated to collecting food donations for those in need.

Where: Sibley Park, Mankato, MN November 24–December 31, 2023! Sibley Park, Mankato, MN Presented by Mankato Area Foundation and CHS Sunday–Thursday 5:00–9:00 PM Friday & Saturday 5:00–10:00 PM

Mankato Kiwanis Holiday Lights

Events | Kiwanis Holiday Lights Calendar | Mankato MN

More Information

4. Rotary Lights (LaCrosse WI)

Cross the river over to Wisconsin: Riverside Park 100 State Street La Crosse, Wisconsin 

-  "This one I've been to and it was impressive!" - Justin 

Rotary Lights is a holiday light show in La Crosse, WI with the mission to feed the hungry. Food contributions are collected to donate to local food pantries.

Open yearly from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve 5-10 pm, except Christmas Day/Eve 5-9 pm, and New Year's Eve 5 pm-1 am.

 5. Downtown Rochester, MN Lights

•    The Plumber House Christmas Tree  "One of my personal favorites" Justin
•     St. Marys Hospital:  The Nativity 
•     Peace Plaza:  on 1st Ave   (between the Galleria and the Gonda Building
•     Downtowns Skyway's

Rochester Trolley & Tour Company

• See all photos

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Rochester Trolley & Tour Company - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Jolly Trolley Christmas light fun - Rochester Trolley & Tour Company

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We rode on the Holly Jolly Trolley Light Tour on December 10th. The description stated that it... read more

The Trolley was great! We recommend it as you see Rochester and learn about the Mayo Clinic... read more

Jolly Trolley Christmas light fun

This was the first time we ever used the company. Found them when searching for a little extra fun to add to our Christmas cheer. They have what is called the jolly trolley. The trolley is decorated in fun Christmas cheer. They brought us all around the Rochester area looking at lights. The driver we had was great and even gave us a little insight to the houses and history in the area. It was a fun time and just what we needed. It is a trolley so they were wood benches. Depending on the person it could be a little hard to sit on for an hr and a half. But overall it was very fun. If you have kids, they would probably love it! They even brought Santa on the trolley at one stop!

Mayo Clinic and Rochester has lots of history. Explore it and learn. Worth the price if you have time and want something to do.

Travelled on a tour of Rochester sights, historical structures, and Mayo family homes. Would recommend it 1000%. Driver was courteous and knowledgeable about the areas we visited. I had previously visited Rochester and the Mayo Clinic over 30 times over the last decade and this was my first city tour. Learned quite a bit about the past, sure, but also about future plans for the City and the Clinic. Great value for the fare. recommend a rider find a set away from the folding doors and/or wear appropriate outer clothing to prepare for temperature excursions. Also, be absolutely ready at the curb a few minutes before the trolley is scheduled. I had awaited the trolley inside of the Marriott asking the concierge to watch for me as I had a breathing condition that disallowed me from standing on the curb. Well, the trolley came, stopped about 30 seconds, then drove off. We had to try and jog about a hundred feet to catch the trolley on this its last trip of the day..., good thing for me the right turn light was red and the vehicle had to stop!

The tour of Rochester was fascinating and fun. Our guide, Dan, was energetic, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. There are many sites worth seeing and a very interesting history lesson about Rochester. This tour was a really nice option for spending spare time between our clinic appointments.

Picked up by the door with a load of friends for a Birthday Tour of some local pub's and tour of the area.....The Trolley is very comfortable with total climate control including a open window ride that took me back to San Francisco! We took a party ride but this company is well known for a variety of tours as well with the area having many historical and beautiful sights to behold. The Trolleys are extremely well kept ,your conductor is sure to be pleasant, informative and fun! Take some friends, family or a scheduled tour but all will bring a smile to your face and a memory forever!

We did the microbrewery tour, stopped at four locations, and had a great time! We had a small crowd so it was fun to mingle also.

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Rochester, MN Tours

A wonderful way to see the sights and experience the history of rochester is to take a local tour. here are four tours to try:.

1. Hop on a guided tour with the  Rochester Trolley & Tour Company . Several tour options are available, including the Rochester City & Mayo Historical Trolley Tour, the Jolly Trolley Holiday Light Tour, the Wine Trail & Microbrewery Tours, and more.

2. Discover the Mayo family's fascinating history on a  Historic Mayowood Mansion Tour . Guided tours of the mansion, which was built in 1911 and housed three generations of Mayos, are available from mid-April to mid-October. Then from early November until mid-December, the mansion is decked out for the holidays and offers holiday-themed tours.

3. Join an  Assisi Heights Spirituality Center Tour  to see the home of the Sisters of St. Francis, who were instrumental in establishing Saint Marys Hospital. Situated on 100 acres atop a wooded hill, the center features an ornate lobby with slate floors, Italian marble columns, and hand-blown stained glass windows. While entry into the Assisi Heights building is not permitted at this time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Assisi Heights hosts virtual events year-round and outdoor events at Assisi Heights Canticle Park and surrounding grounds as weather permits. Find the latest information on visitors and events  here .

4. Tour the 49-room, five-story  Plummer House of the Arts , designed in 1917 by early Mayo Clinic physician Dr. Henry S. Plummer and featuring many innovations that were far advanced for the era. The Tudor-style mansion sits on 11 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, consisting of formal gardens and a bird trail. Self-guided tours are available June to August. Group tours may be arranged during the remainder of the year.

Rochester is a  beautiful ,  friendly , and innovative city with many  things to do . Check out ideas for seasonal fun in  Fall ,  Winter , and Summer .  Visit our  Experience Rochester , MN blog  for more information on dining, attractions, and recreation.

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Rochester City & Mayo Historical Trolley Tour

Experience the city’s top sites & attractions , join us on our vintage red trolleys for a narrated city tour featuring rochester’s top sites and attractions, including our mayo historical sites explore the early years of the world-famous mayo clinic, while experience the homes and lives of pioneering doctors on this relaxing, entertaining tour, available seven days per week, year-round, for private groups 33 passenger vintage trolley or by coach .

Relax and enjoy this entertaining and informative tour featuring stories and anecdotes associated with Rochester’s major historic, cultural, and architectural sites and attractions. Rochester and the “Blufflands” region boast a rich and fascinating Indian, pioneer, stagecoach, steamboat, and Civil War history. This tour offers an overview of Rochester’s fascinating medical history along with the Mayo family’s ties to Minnesota history. By the end of this tour, you will know the inside story of Rochester’s amazing growth and transformation from a humble Midwestern farm town to world-famous mecca for the medical arts. We guarantee you will be surprised and delighted by the charm of Rochester’s many hidden scenic and cultural gems, as we focus on Rochester’s extraordinary past, exciting present, and much-anticipated future Destination Medical Center (DMC) growth.

HIGHLIGHTS! 

• Mayo Clinic Campus ~ Largest Clinic of its Kind in the World

Downtown Rochester & Peace Plaza ~ Cosmopolitan Shops, Restaurants, & Plazas

Plummer Building ~ Original Mayo Clinic Building Designed by Dr. Henry S. Plummer

Mayo Civic Center & Rochester Art Center ~ Largest Event Space in Southern MN with Beautiful Glass Atrium & Contemporary Architecture 

Silver Lake Park ~ Charming Lake District Featuring Limestone Arch Bridges

Assisi Heights ~ Home of the Rochester Franciscan Community, Founders of St. Marys Hospital 

St. Marys Hospital Campus & Chapel ~ Among the Largest Private Hospitals in the Country, Rich in History 

History Center of Olmsted County & Historic Stoppel Pioneer Farm  ~ Fascinating Sites that Depict the Area’s Pioneer & Settlement Eras  

Mayowood Historic Corridor ~ Dr. Charlie’s Limestone Carriage Barn & Stables, Greenhouses, Cottages, River Bridge, Dam & Lake 

Historic Mayowood Mansion  ~ Former Home of Mayo Clinic Co-Founder Dr. Charlie Mayo, Completed in 1911

Plummer House ~ Former Home of Dr. Henry S. Plummer, Designer of Original Mayo Clinic Buildings 

“Pill Hill” National Historic Residential District ~ Historic Homes Built by Pioneering Doctors & Prominent Citizens 

Mayo Foundation House ~ Former Home of Mayo Clinic Co-Founder Dr. Will Mayo, Completed in 1918

• Soldier’s Field Veterans Memorial ~ One of the Finest Memorials in the Country
• Calvary Episcopal Church ~ Mayo Family Church & Oldest Church in Rochester

Feith Family Statuary ~ Park Honoring Founders of Mayo Clinic & Saint Marys Hospital

LOGISTICS! 

Your group selects the tour date, start time, and pickup location! 

Recommended duration for this tour is 1 hour, 1.5 hours, or 2 hours! 

This private group tour is available seven days per week! 

Transportation via a 33 passenger vintage trolley or by coach! 

Your group will receive a flat discounted private group tour rate!