The very best part of the holiday season is when the lights go up, transforming ho-hum houses, buildings and parks into sparking, magical wonderlands. There's just something festive and merry about the twinkle of hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights lighting up the night. They bring the magic and wonder and cheer and really are the first thing that makes you start feeling like the holidays are near. There are a number of fabulous light displays in cities all over the state, but one city goes overboard, hanging millions of lights all across town, adding in fireworks and generally setting everything aglitter with beautiful, twinkling holiday magic. Up in La Crosse, you cannot escape the lovely holiday cheer that their lights bring. Nowhere else will make you feel quite so merry and bright.

La Crosse would probably win for twinkliest city on the power of their Holiday Rotary Lights display all on its own. This massive setup in Riverside Park boasts more than 3 MILLION lights!

Then there's the bonus of all those charming lights shimmering off the waters of the Mississippi River, doubling their sparkle.

The La Crosse Rotary lights are so great because there are drive-through and walk-through options, so you can really immerse yourself in the magic.

What's more twinkly than getting enveloped in lights and feeling the magic of their twinkling all around you?

There are so many lights you can't even fathom it, and that's what make this the twinkliest display in all of Wisconsin.

The Rotary Lights in Riverside Park set the tone for the whole city. All of La Crosse seems to have embraced the holiday spirit and the lights and twinkles spread across the city.

Admission to the Rotary Lights Display is FREE, which makes it even more appealing. Visitors are encouraged to make voluntary contributions of cash and/or non-perishable food items as they exit the park via street or sidewalk. Eleven area pantries share the 300,000 pieces of food collected annually.

You'll find shop windows and displays that help light the night pretty much everywhere you go in La Crosse.

If heading downtown isn't your thing, don't worry - the lights spread all the way up to the north side of town where you'll find Lights over North La Crosse in Copeland Park.

The sparkly Christmas lights aren't the only things lighting the night in LaCrosse. Each night from December 1st thru December 30th at 6 p.m., 2-4 shells are shot off in countdown to New Year's Eve. Some are shot off from Grandad Bluff, some from Pettibone Park. It's a long-standing tradition and an awesome part of the holidays in La Crosse.

La Crosse is truly magical in winter. There are so many gorgeous, historical buildings that get dressed up in their holiday best. There are lights and displays and trees and light pole designs and everything you could want to add sparkle to your Christmas celebrations!

La Crosse Rotary Lights take place at La Crosse Riverside Park at 100 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601. Lights over North La Crosse take place at Copeland Park at 1130 Copeland Park Dr., La Crosse, WI 54603.

You can learn more about The Rotary Lights display on their webpage. Or check out their Facebook page for more up-to-date information. Learn more about the Skyrockers fireworks leading up to the New Year on their webpage.