Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Minneapolis
53 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Minneapolis, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 21 are free.
Don’t miss
- Nov15SunSanta visits
Through Dec 15
Find Santa Passport Hunt (Hudson, WI)
Participating downtown Hudson businesses
FreeAll ages
- Nov27FriLight displays
Through Jan 1
Buena Vista: A Stroll in the Park (Hudson holiday lights)
Lakefront Park
FreeAll ages
- Nov19ThuLight displays
Through Jan 1
GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field
CHS Field
From $12.75All ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov15SunChristmas
Sun, Nov 15 · 7:00 PM
A Christmas Story (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $20
- Nov20FriMarkets and festivals
Fri, Nov 20 · 3:00 PM
European Christmas Market at Union Depot (Kid Zone)
Union Depot East Plaza
Free
- Nov21SatChristmas
Sat, Nov 21 · 9:30 AM
Sheep Shearing and Holiday Gifts
Gale Woods Farm
From $6Ages 5+
- Nov21SatChristmas
Sat, Nov 21 · 10:00 AM
Christmas at the Historic Courthouse (Stillwater)
Washington County Historic Courthouse
FreeAll ages
- Nov22SunChristmas
Sun, Nov 22 · 12:30 PM
Holiday Felted Stocking at Gale Woods Farm
Gale Woods Farm
From $55Ages 12+
- Nov22SunTree lightings
Sun, Nov 22 · 6:00 PM
Chaska Tree Lighting at Firemen's Park
Firemen's Park
- Nov24TueNutcracker and shows
Tue, Nov 24 · 12:00 PM
Ballet Tuesdays: Nutcracker in Wonderland (Landmark Center)
Landmark Center (Musser Cortile)
Free
- Nov24TueTree lightings
Tue, Nov 24 · 6:15 PM
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (Apple Valley)
Apple Valley Municipal Center
- Nov25WedTree lightings
Wed, Nov 25 · 6:00 PM
Winter Lighting Ceremony (Burnsville)
Nicollet Commons Park
Free
- Nov27FriParades
Fri, Nov 27 · 1:00 PM
River Dazzle Holiday Celebration and Parade (River Falls, WI)
Downtown River Falls
FreeAll ages
- Nov28SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 28 · 9:00 AM
Julglädje: A Family Holiday Concert (American Swedish Institute)
American Swedish Institute (Larson Hall, Nelson Cultural Center)
From $12
- Nov28SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM
Ceramic Snowflake Plates family workshop
Minnetonka Center for the Arts
From $69Ages 8+
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec2WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 2 · 10:30 AM
Puppet Show: "The Gingerbread Man, a.k.a. Super-Cookie!" (Stillwater)
Stillwater Public Library
- Dec3ThuTree lightings
Thu, Dec 3 · 4:00 PM
Hometown Holidays Parade and Tree Lighting (New Richmond, WI)
Downtown New Richmond (Knowles Avenue)
FreeAll ages
- Dec3ThuChristmas
Thu, Dec 3
Tour de Rec: Holiday Gift Making (Mendota Heights)
Thompson Park Activity Center
Free
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4 · 10:00 AM
Landmark Center Holiday Bazaar 2026 (Saint Paul)
Landmark Center
From $5
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4 · 4:00 PM
Christmas at the Crossings (Champlin)
Mississippi Crossings
Free
- Dec4FriSanta visits
Fri, Dec 4 · 4:30 PM
Santa Visits the CCC (Chaska Community Center)
Chaska Community Center
From $15
- Dec4FriLight displays
Fri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
Candlelight Stroll (Hudson, WI)
Historic Downtown Hudson
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 8:30 AM
Breakfast and Lunch with Santa (Maple Grove)
Maple Grove Arboretum
All ages
- Dec5SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Roseville Holiday Craft Fair at City Hall
Roseville City Hall
Free
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM
Santa & His Critters (Hudson, WI)
Lakefront Park
Free
- Dec5SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 5 · 1:00 PM
Gorgeous Glass: Holiday Ornaments (fused glass workshop)
Minnetonka Center for the Arts
From $91Ages 10+
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 3:30 PM
Coon Rapids Community Tree Lighting Festival
Coon Rapids Civic Center
Free
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM
Holiday Tree Lighting & Movie Night at Union Depot
Union Depot
Free
- Dec6SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 6 · 12:00 PM
An Eidem Farm Christmas (Brooklyn Park)
Historic Eidem Farm
- Dec6SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 6 · 12:00 PM
Old Fashioned Holiday at Holz Farm (Eagan)
Holz Farm Park
- Dec7MonCrafts and cookies
Mon, Dec 7 · 1:00 PM
Gingerbread House Workshop at Big Lake Public Library
Big Lake Public Library
All ages
- Dec10ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 10 · 3:30 PM
Gingerbread Houses at Lake Elmo Library
Lake Elmo Library
Ages 5+
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa (Blaine)
Blaine City Hall
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM
Breakfast With Santa (South St. Paul Lions Club)
St. John Vianney Catholic Church
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 4:00 PM
Santa at the Loop (Maple Grove Central Park)
Central Park
FreeAll ages
- Dec12SatNew Year’s Eve
Sat, Dec 12 · 5:00 PM
Brooklyns' Hmong New Year
Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 7:00 PM
A Christmas Carol Radio Play (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $15
- Dec13SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 12:00 PM
Visit with Santa at Thorcraft Custom Kitchens (Hudson, WI)
Thorcraft Custom Kitchens LLC
Free
- Dec13SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM
Sensory Santa (Maple Grove Town Green)
Town Green Meeting Room
FreeAll ages
- Dec13SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM
Skate with Santa at Doug Woog Arena
Doug Woog Arena
- Dec13SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM
Sundays at Landmark: Santa's Workshop
Landmark Center (Musser Cortile)
Free
- Dec13SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 13 · 6:00 PM
Holiday Skate with Rocky at Coon Rapids Ice Center
Coon Rapids Ice Center
Paid
- Dec14MonTrain rides
Mon, Dec 14 · 4:00 PM
CPKC Holiday Train stop in Golden Valley
Railway crossing at Golden Hills Dr
- Dec17ThuCrafts and cookies
Thu, Dec 17 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Cookie Decorating at Blaine City Hall
Blaine City Hall
- Dec18FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18 · 7:00 PM
Nutcracker in Wonderland (Ballet Co.Laboratory)
Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota
From $40
- Dec18FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18 · 7:00 PM
The Nutcracker Suite (Minnesota Dance Theatre)
The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts
From $25All ages
- Dec18FriNutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 18
A Christmas Carol & Hall of Trees (Lakeville Area Arts Center)
Lakeville Area Arts Center
From $20
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatMarkets and festivals
Sat, Dec 19 · 12:00 PM
Christmas Family Fun Day at Midtown Global Market
Midtown Global Market
- Dec21MonChristmas
Mon, Dec 21 · 5:00 PM
Winter Solstice Bonfire at Dodge Nature Center
Dodge Nature Center, Main Property (Farm Entrance)
From $10All ages
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM
Noon Year's Eve Party (Prior Lake)
Club Prior
FreeAll ages
- Dec31ThuNew Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 1:00 PM
Skate Through The Decades (New Year's Eve afternoon skate)
Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center (Rink 2)
Free
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunNutcracker and shows
Through Jan 1
Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Children's Theatre Company)
Children's Theatre Company
Paid
- Nov15SunSanta visits
Through Dec 15
Find Santa Passport Hunt (Hudson, WI)
Participating downtown Hudson businesses
FreeAll ages
- Nov19ThuLight displays
Through Jan 1
GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field
CHS Field
From $12.75All ages
- Nov20FriSanta visits
Through Dec 27
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Stages Theatre Company)
Stages Theatre Company (Hopkins Center for the Arts)
From $26All ages
- Nov27FriLight displays
Through Jan 1
Buena Vista: A Stroll in the Park (Hudson holiday lights)
Lakefront Park
FreeAll ages
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Minneapolis?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Minneapolis listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 53 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Central Time.