Christmas Light Runs: Decorate Your Truck, Sled or Side-by-Side

How to Light Up Your Rig for the Holiday Season

There's nothing quite like a line of lifted trucks glowing red and green down Main Street, or a string of snowmobiles lit up like Christmas trees gliding across a frozen lake. Holiday light parades and light runs have become a winter tradition in small towns across the Upper Midwest, and they're some of the most fun you can have with your rig all year.

Whether you're entering a town parade, joining a club's toy-drive light run, or just want to spread some cheer, here's how to deck out your truck, sled or side-by-side safely.

Plan First: Rules and Legal Lighting

Before you start stringing lights, check the rules. What's fine in a closed-off parade can get you pulled over on the drive home.

• Read the parade rules. Most organized parades have entry forms, lineup times and rules about speed, candy tossing and passengers riding in truck beds.
• Know your state's lighting laws. Many states restrict flashing lights and certain colors, especially red and blue, on vehicles driving on public roads, since they can be mistaken for emergency vehicles. Decorations that are fine during a parade may need to be switched off while you drive to and from it.
• Never cover required lights. Keep headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals and license plates clear and visible.
• Keep your view clear. Nothing should block your windshield, side mirrors or side windows.
• Snowmobile and side-by-side runs have their own rules. Club light runs usually stick to designated trails or routes. Follow the organizer's route, speed and spacing guidance.

When in doubt, ask the parade organizer or local police department what's allowed.

Powering Your Lights Safely

Power is where most light-run setups go wrong. Plan it before you buy a single strand.

Choose the right lights

• Go LED. LED strings draw a fraction of the power of old incandescent bulbs and handle cold much better.
• Use outdoor-rated lights. They're built for moisture, snow and vibration.
• Consider 12V or battery-powered lights. 12V LED strips and battery-powered string lights skip the inverter entirely, which is simpler and safer, especially on sleds and side-by-sides with limited electrical capacity.

Power options

Safety basics

• Don't overload plugs, outlets or inverters. Add up the wattage of your lights and stay well under the rating.
• Keep connections out of the snow and tape them with electrical tape or use waterproof connectors.
• Route cords away from exhaust, hot engine parts, moving suspension and the track or tires.
• Keep an eye on your battery if the engine isn't running. A long parade can drain it.

Decorating Ideas

Trucks and SUVs

• Outline the rig. Run lights along the roof rack, bed rails, bumpers and rock sliders to trace the truck's shape.
• Put a tree in the bed. A real or artificial tree strapped securely in the bed, wrapped in lights, is a classic.
• Light up the grille. Wrap lights around a grille insert or brush guard, keeping the headlights clear.
• Build a theme. Think Santa's sleigh, a candy cane, or a "4x4 Workshop" with the family dressed as elves.

Snowmobiles

• Keep it light and low-profile. Wrap battery-powered LED strings around the windshield frame, rear rack and bumpers.
• Light up the rider. LED light strips on helmets and jackets look great in a line of sleds, as long as they don't block your view.
• Mind the track and exhaust. Keep everything well clear of the track, suspension and hot exhaust.

Side-by-Sides

• Use the roll cage. It's the perfect frame for wrapping lights, garland and even a small tree in the cargo bed.
• Add a lit arch or sign. A "Merry Christmas" sign mounted to the cage or a light-up snowflake on the hood is a crowd-pleaser.
• Decorate the crew. Santa hats, ugly sweaters and matching hoodies make the whole group part of the display.

Mounting and Cold-Weather Tips

Attach it right

• Zip ties are your best friend. Use UV and cold-rated ties, since cheap ones get brittle and snap in the cold.
• Protect your paint. Clip-on light holders or wrapping points in painter's tape before tying keeps zip ties from scratching.
• Avoid adhesive hooks and suction cups on cold surfaces. They rarely hold in freezing temps.
• Secure everything. Anything that can shake loose at 5 mph over bumps will. Double-tie trees, signs and inflatables.

Beat the cold

• Test the full setup at home the night before, in the cold, with everything powered on.
• Pack spares: extra batteries, zip ties, a strand or two of lights, electrical tape and a small toolkit.
• Dress warm. You'll be sitting still in the cold for longer than you think. Layer up with a warm hoodie and bring hand warmers.

After the parade

Pull the decorations off before your next real trail ride or road trip. Stray zip ties and wires can snag branches, and on a snowmobile, anything near the track is a hazard. And give the rig a good wash, since the parade route was probably salted.

Find a Light Run Near You

• Check with local 4x4 and snowmobile clubs. Many host holiday light runs, and plenty double as toy drives or food drives for local charities.
• Watch your town's chamber of commerce and parks department. Small-town holiday parades are often posted there first, with entry forms due in November.
• Follow local groups on Facebook. Truck, Jeep and side-by-side groups are usually the first to share light run dates and meetup spots.

Can't find one? Start your own. Invite your club, pick a route that follows traffic laws, and collect toys or canned goods along the way.

Show Up in Style

Matching gear makes your crew stand out in the lineup. Grab cozy Toyota, Polaris and Arctic Cat hoodies for the whole family. Running with a club? We also make custom club apparel for 4x4 and snowmobile clubs across the Midwest.

When the parade's over, get the salt off your rig with our guide to winter detailing. Free shipping on orders over $69.