ST CROIX FALLS, Wis. — Just across the border in St. Croix Falls is a holiday wonderland that's as close to a Hallmark movie experience as you can get. It's called Miracle at Big Rock.
More than 15 million Christmas lights are glowing across a mile-long trail you can walk through or drive through.
You can also spend hours exploring the grounds, over 37 acres, while listening to carolers and live entertainment.
No matter where you roam, you'll likely find fire dancers, stilt walkers, and even Santa. "I try to tell people it's like a feeling when you get here. It's like magic, right? It's just this feeling when you walk; it puts you in the Christmas spirit," said Becky Lindblom, the executive director.
Her family started the holiday event with the idea to make Miracle at Big Rock a cross between Disney World and a Hallmark movie.
"I would say that what I definitely love most about what I do is just the joy and the happiness that you bring to people and families," said Lindblom. "And you know, maybe they're having not so good of a year. And then they come here, and it's just like all their worries have gone away."
This year, the family is giving guests the moon. "The moon is a 14-foot-around hand-painted canvas that actually came from the Guthrie Theater. It was a prop for a play there that we stumbled upon," Lindblom said. "It's backlighted, and people are taking pictures of it, and it looks like a silhouette with your picture."
Your best "moon selfie" could even win you a prize on Sunday, Dec. 4.
The experiences only get more Norman Rockwell-esque with sledding, wagon rides, cookie decorating and crafts for the kids. You won't go hungry since there are food trucks, cocktails, and hot drinks throughout the trail. And each Friday, fireworks cap the night.
Need to get your holiday shopping done? There's a special gift shop inside a heated barn.
Another highlight is the accommodations for seniors, people with handicaps, or accessibility issues. For example, recognizing that many people can't walk through the show, Miracle at Big Rock offers drive-thru nights on Mondays and Tuesdays.
There's a lot more to the merriment than meets the eye. The folks at Big Rock Creek are giving back to families in need. On Monday, Dec. 5, guests who bring a new and unwrapped toy will get free entry. Those toys will go to Safe Haven Foster Shoppe in Lindstrom.
"I think that that is probably one of the greatest gifts of all that my dad and mom have both passed on to all of us as their children," Lindblom said. "That sometimes it's about giving back. And it's also about hard work."
Miracle at Big Rock is open through Jan. 1. Drive-thru hours are available on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Walk Thru hours take place the rest of the week.
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