Photos: Bentleyville lights up Duluth

Testing the ice on the rink
After a few days of temperatures in the 40s, people glide across the tenuously frozen ice of the skating rink outside the Bentleyville Tour of Lights on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014.
Derek Montgomery / For MPR News

Billed as America's largest free walk-through lighting display, Bentleyville is one big Christmas lights show in the Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth.

What began as Nathan Bentley's home light display in Esko, Minnesota, grew so large that the city of Duluth offered to host it on the waterfront.

Video: The Bentleyville light show, inside the tree and out

On average, over 200,000 people visit, according to Bentleyville officials.

Editor's note (Dec. 19, 2014): The original version of this story incorrectly identified the town where Nathan Bentley began his light show. It was Esko, Minnesota. The story has been updated.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.