Alton's Christmas Wonderland Opens This Weekend at Rock Springs Park

Our Daily Show Interview! Grandpa Gang: Ready for Christmas Wonderland!

ALTON - The Grandpa Gang’s Christmas Wonderland display will once again welcome the community to celebrate the holidays.

From Friday, Nov. 28, to Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, you can stop by Rock Springs Park for a drive-through Christmas Wonderland lights display. They will also host a walk-through event on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, with parking at Alton Middle School. The goal is to bring the community together and raise money for local nonprofits.

“You’re going to see some more displays, more lights. I think you’re going to see a whole new Christmas Wonderland this year,” said Dick.

The display is open from 6–9 p.m. on weeknights and 5–9 p.m. on weekends. The Grandpa Gang, made up of area grandfathers who put up the display, ask for a $10 donation per car or an additional $1 per person for large vehicles like buses. For the walk-through event on Dec. 1, they request $1 per person.

Proceeds go toward operating costs, and whatever is left over is distributed among local nonprofits. Last year, the Grandpa Gang donated $75,000 to area organizations.

Dick and Dave, who have both volunteered with the Grandpa Gang for several years, explained that the Grandpa Gang begins putting up lights during the second week of September every year. They spend four hours every morning, Monday through Friday, working, until the display opens.

Dave noted that they are finishing up with a few “last-minute” touches before Friday, Nov. 28, and they are excited to welcome the community to Rock Springs Park to see everything they’ve been doing.

“This year, we have made a lot of improvements,” he said. “We bought displays, new displays. We built old displays. We’ve painted a lot of older displays to bring the color back out in them and stuff like that. We’ve done a lot of things that people will really enjoy this year. We put out more lights this year than we’ve ever had before. We may regret it when we go to take them down, but hopefully it’ll bring a big crowd.”

Halfway through the park, cars are invited to pull over and visit with Santa. Kids can take pictures with Santa and write letters to him. Santa will not be there on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, Dick warned, as he is busy.

Toward the end of the display, you can vote on your favorite of 15 Christmas trees decorated by local organizations. The top three vote-earners will win a prize.

The Christmas Wonderland tradition has been a local favorite for over 25 years. Dave and Dick added that they are always looking for volunteers. You can stop by Rock Springs Park from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday to inquire about helping.

As the Christmas Wonderland display approaches opening day, Dave and Dick hope many people come out to enjoy the lights and decorations. They emphasized that all donations go back into the community, and they shared their love for the Christmas Wonderland experience and the Grandpa Gang.

“Last year, we were thankful enough to be able to donate approximately $75,000 back to the community, to various organizations, various groups,” Dick added. “A lot of people benefit by that and it just makes you feel good to be able to do that.”

For more information about the Christmas Wonderland display, click here.

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