Two holiday lights rides leave from the same mansion, and they are not the same night out. One is a one-hour, family-friendly ride with traditional Christmas vibes. The other is a two-hour, adults-only party ride. If you are trying to decide between them, here is how the Minneapolis Trolley Tours holiday light ride page describes each, and how to pick the right one for your group.

What is Santa’s Nice Ride?

Santa’s Nice Ride is the family-friendly option, billed as a one-hour ride with traditional Christmas vibes. Guests vote for their favorite decorated home during the trip, which gives kids a job to do besides pressing their faces to the windows. The ride page also describes a holiday market with handmade gifts from over 50 Minnesota artists, and says guests can shop before or after the ride.

It is the better pick for grandparents and grandkids (we wrote a guide to riding together), for younger children, and for anyone who wants to be home at a reasonable hour.

What is the Naughty Holiday Party Ride?

The NAUGHTY Holiday Party Ride is the adults-only version: 21+ only, described as a Christmas party bus, and two hours long. The page puts it plainly: leave the kids at home. It also says the Naughty ride includes holiday cocktails inside the Pillsbury Club before boarding, which makes the Club part of the evening rather than just a place to catch the trolley.

That makes it the natural choice for date nights, friend groups and office outings, and the setting is the Charles S. Pillsbury Mansion, a National Register house. If the group is large, see our guide to booking a company holiday party.

How do the two rides compare?

• Length: Nice is one hour; Naughty is two hours.
• Who rides: Nice is family friendly; Naughty is 21+ only.
• Before boarding: Nice offers a holiday market to browse; Naughty includes holiday cocktails inside the Club.
• Vibe: Nice is traditional Christmas; Naughty is a Christmas party bus.
• On the trolley: both ride a heated vintage trolley past holiday displays in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

The ride page does not list prices, dates or drink rules, so check the booking page and call (612) 900-3220 with questions before you plan around them.

How do you plan the night around the Club?

Every holiday light ride begins inside the Pillsbury Club, and the ride page says free parking is available just across the street. The Club’s Plan Your Visit page recommends arriving 30 to 45 minutes before a scheduled experience whenever possible, and our timeline for the night walks through parking to boarding. The page also says this tour is popular and likely to sell out, which we explored in how far ahead to book. Check the National Weather Service forecast before you go, and dress for a Minnesota December.

Where should out-of-town guests stay?

Our sister property 300 Clifton, a historic mansion bed and breakfast in Loring Park, offers a $20 Pillsbury Club dining voucher and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher with each direct-booked stay, per its vouchers page. For longer visits, Oakland’s on 9th offers furnished month-to-month studios downtown.

Ready to choose? See Experiences and Tours for the full list, then book your ride and meet us at the mansion.

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