Every December, the Twin Cities fills with people typing the same thing into their phones: holiday lights tour Minneapolis. And a surprising number of them add three more words: bring your own booze. If that is you, here is how a BYOB Christmas lights trolley ride really works, and why we think the best version starts inside a Gilded Age mansion instead of at the back of a bar.

What does BYOB mean on a Minneapolis Christmas lights trolley ride?

BYOB, or bring your own beverage, is the grown-up twist on the holiday-lights ride. Instead of paying bar prices on a moving vehicle, adults (21 and over) bring the drinks they like and keep the party going on board. Our adults-only ride, Naughty, is built around exactly that idea: part Christmas lights tour, part rolling holiday party, with festive music, laughter and the best displays we can find that night.

The family-friendly sibling, Nice, is an all-ages, roughly one-hour ride with holiday music, narration and a vote for your favorite decorated home. Not sure which one fits your group? Our guide to Santa’s Nice Ride versus the Naughty Holiday Party Ride walks through it.

Why not just check in at a downtown bar?

Some multi-city BYOB light tours gather guests at a downtown bar or a parking lot, which means hauling a cooler through a lobby, waiting on a check-in line and finding your trolley on a cold curb. It works, but it is not much of a beginning to the evening.

Our version is different. Every Holiday Light Ride boards at the Pillsbury Club, the 1912–14 English Gothic Revival mansion at 100 East 22nd Street that Charles S. Pillsbury built. Guests walk in out of the cold, past carved oak and a roaring fire, and the drinks go straight from your hands onto a heated vintage trolley. Free parking is available just across the street. No cooler drag, no parking-lot shuffle.

What can you do at the mansion before you board?

Arrive early. The Club’s speakeasy-style bar pours handcrafted seasonal cocktails, the kitchen can send out dinner or appetizers, and the holiday market features handmade gifts from more than 50 Minnesota artists. If you are curious about the building itself, our first-timer’s guide to the Holiday Light Ride answers the eight questions we hear most. For the story of the house, the City of Minneapolis keeps its landmark records, and the Minnesota Historical Society is a good place to read about the Pillsbury family.

Where do the lights actually happen?

Routes shift through the season so we can chase the best displays, but expect decorated residential streets, historic neighborhoods, downtown Minneapolis holiday lighting and a few of the city’s most photographed landmarks. If you want to plan a bigger night, Meet Minneapolis lists current seasonal events, and Minneapolis Parks is worth a look for winter outings. Our sister company has a full rundown of things to do in Minneapolis, and you can explore the Gilded Age mansion tour in daylight.

Planning tips for a BYOB holiday ride

Book early; December Fridays and Saturdays go first. Bring ID, because Naughty is strictly 21 and over. Dress for the trolley, which is heated but still a trolley. Eat before you ride, whether at the Club or nearby, and plan a ride home so everyone enjoys the night responsibly. And if you want to make a full weekend of it, you can stay overnight at 300 Clifton, the historic Carpenter Mansion bed and breakfast in Loring Park.

Ready to ride?

Reserve your heated, BYOB-friendly Holiday Light Ride and meet us at the mansion. Come early, sip something festive, and let the trolley do the driving.

Keep reading: What Is the Murder Mystery Experience at the Pillsbury Club? A Roaring Twenties Whodunit That Starts at the Mansion