101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Twin Cities - 2024
The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
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Santa Sightings
| Nov 21 - Jan 5, 2024 | GLOW Holiday Festival - CHS Feild |
| Nov 21 - Dec 24, 2024 | Visits with Santa - Northtown Mall Burlinton Court |
| Nov 23 - Dec 22, 2024(weekends) | Santa & Albert's Holiday Play:Albert's Big Suprise - Bachman's |
| Nov 16 - Dec 24, 2024 | The Santa Experience - The Mall of America |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Holiday Walk in the Woods - The Woods Gifts |
| Nov 27, 2024 | Winter Lighting Ceremony with Santa & Mrs. Claus - Nicollet Commons Park |
| Nov 21 - Dec 24, 2024 | It's Santa Photo Time - Southdale Center |
| Nov 24 -26, 2024 | Wonka Holiday Lounge - North Garden |
| Nov 23 - Dec 1, 2024 (select dates) | Santa Visits - Pinestead Tree Farm |
| Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2024 (select dates) | Cookies with Santa - Big Rock Creek |
| Dec 6 - 8, 12 - 15, 2024 | North Pole Express - Friends of the 261 |
| Dec 7 - 22, 2024 (select dates) | Santa's Train Shop - Minnesota Transportation Museum |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Christmas at Folsom House: Afternoon with Santa - Taylors falls |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Santa Breakfast - Summit on the Park |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Skate with Santa - Doug Woog Arena |
| Dec 8, 24, 2024 | Christmas Family Adventure - Oak Hill Church |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Caring Santa - Southdale Center |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Scuba Claus - Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium |
Old-Time Christmas
| Nov 9, 2024 | A WWI Christmas - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum |
| Nov 29-30, Dec 6-8, 2024 | A Holiday Flight - Charles Lindbergh House and Museum |
| Nov 29 - Dec 1, 7, 8, 2024 | Christmas at Folsome House - Taylors Falls |
| Nov 29 - Dec 22, 2024 | European Christmas Market - Union Depot |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Julglädje (Christmas Joy) Concert - American Swedish Institute |
| Dec 6-7, 2024 | Ham Lake Hometown Holiday - Crosstown Mall |
| Dec 7,8,14,15, 2024 | Christmas in the Village - Dakota City |
Light Displays
| Nov 21 - Jan 5, 2025 | Winter Lights - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum |
| Nov 21, 2024 | Glow Holiday Festival - CHS Field |
| Nov 22, 20224 - Jan 5, 2025 | Magic of Lights - Viking Lakes |
| Nov 23 - 28, 2024 | Bentleyville Tour of Lights Bayfront Park |
| Nov - Dec 2024 | Sever's Holiday Lights - Shakopee |
| Nov 29, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025 | Miracle at Big Rock - Big Rock Creek |
| Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2024 | Lighting Festival - Taylors Falls |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Holiday Tree Lighting - 50th & France |
| Nov 29, 2023-Jan 4, 2025 | Miracle at Big Rock - Big Rock Creek |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Tree Lighting & Movie Night - Union Depot |
| Dec 4, 2024 | Anoka Tree Lighting Celebration - Historic Downtown Anoka |
| Dec 6 - 29, 2024 (select dates) | Holiday Lights Tour- Gray Line Minnesota |
| Dec 2024 (select dates) | Merry & Bright Holiday Light Ride - Minneapolis Trolley |
Holiday Theatre
| Oct 4, 2024 - Jan 24, 2025 | Irving Berlin's White Christmas The Musical - Chanhassesn Dinner Theatres |
| Nov 7, 2023 - Jan 7, 2025 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Children’s Theatre Company |
| Nov 7, 2024 - Jan 31, 2025 | Brave New Workshop's Big Christmas Energy - Dudley Riggs Theatre |
| Nov 9 - Dec 29, 2024 | A Christmas Carol - Guthrie Theater |
| Nov 21, 2024 | A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage - State Theatre |
| Dec 6,7, 2024 | Nutcracker! Magic Christmas Ballet - Orpheum Theatre |
| Dec 7,8,14,25, 2024 | Continental Ballet Company: The Nutcracker - BloomingtonCenter for Arts |
| Dec 11, 2024 | The Jinx & DeLa Holiday Show - Pantages Theatre |
| Dec 14 - 22, 2024 | Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy - State Theatre |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Frontier Christmas Celebration - The Pond House |
| Dec 14 - 15, 2024 | Betty Jo’s Dance Center: The Nutcracker - Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center |
| Dec 17 - 20, 2024 | Celtic Holiday Hooley - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres |
| Dec 21 - 23, 2024 | Christmas on The Prairie - Fireside Theatre |
| Dec 20 - 22, 2024 | Cirque Dreams Holidaze - Opheum Theatre |
| Dec 26 - 30, 2024 | An Andy & Bing Christmas - Fireside Theatre |
Holiday Concerts
| Nov 22 - Dec 22, 2024 | Winter Music Series - Oswald Visiitor Center |
| Nov 29 - Dec 2, 2024 | A Three Tenors Christmas - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres |
| Nov 26, 2024 | Micheal W. Smith EVERY CHRISTMAS Live in Concert - State Theatre |
| Dec 3 - 8, 2024 | Rock & Roll Xmas Spectacular - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres |
| Dec 5,6,7,2024 | Festival of Christmas - Bethel University |
| Dec 6, 2024 | A Very 3rd Elephant Christmas - Heart of the City Music Factory |
| Dec 6, 7, 2024 | The New Standards Holiday Show - State Theatre |
| Dec 8, 2024 | A St. Thomas Christmas: Cherishing Peace - Orchestra Hall |
| Dec 9, 2024 | JazzMN Orchestra Swinging in the Season - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres |
| Dec 12 - 29, 2024 | Holiday Music Festival- Mall of America |
| Dec 12-14, 2024 | North Country Christmas featuring Kat Perkins - Fireside Theatre |
| Dec 13, 2024 | John Denver: Rocky Mountain Holiday - Orchestra Hall |
| Dec 13,14, 2024 | Bach's Christmas Oratorio - Minnesota Orchestra |
| Dec 15-16, 2024 | Christmas With a Whole Lotta Soul - Fireside Theatre |
| Dec 12-22, 2024 | Christmas with Cantus - multiple locations |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Kimberly Brown - Home for the Holidays- Heart of the City Music Factory |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Annual Christmas Concert - Grace Church in Eden Prairie |
| Dec 11, 2024 | Canadian Pacific Holiday Train - Union Depot |
| Dec 12-29, 2024 | Holiday Musical Festival - Mall of America |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Bach's Christmas Oratorio - St. Paul's United Church of Christ |
| Dec 13-15, 2024 | The Blenders Holiday Soul Tour - Pantages Theatre |
| Dec 15, 2024 | Merry & Bright with Charles Lazarus - Minnesota Orchestra |
| Dec 20, 2024 | An Evening of Christmas Carols - Heart of the City Music Factory |
| Dec 20-22, 2024 | Elf In Concert- with the Minnesota Orchestra |
| Dec 20-22, 2024 | Elf in Concert - Minnesota Orchestra |
| Dec 21-22, 2024 | A Christmas Celebration with the Steeles - Pantages Theatre |
| Dec 21, 2024 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra:The Lost Christmas Eve Tour - Xcel Energy Center |
| Dec 22, 2024 | Medalist Concert Band: Sounds of the Season - Bloomington Center for the Arts |
| Dec 22, 2024 | Elf in Concert - Orchestra Hall |
| Dec 23, 2024 | Sounds of Blackness The Night Before Christmas - Pantages Theatre |
Christmas Tree Experience
| Open Nov 20, 2024 (Reservations only) | Krueger's Christmas Trees - Lake Elmo |
| Open Nov 22, 2024 | Hansen Tree Farm - Ramsey |
| Opening Nov 23, 2024 | Jan's Christmas Tree Farm - Clear Lake |
| Open Nov 23, 2024 | Cut Your Own Christmas Trees - Rum River Tree Farm |
| Open Nov 23, 2024 | B & J Evergreen - Princeton |
| Open Nov 23, 2024 | Pinestead Tree Farms - Isanti |
Hanukkah
| Dec 12, 2024 | Hanukkah Party - JCRC |
| Dec 25, 2024 - Jan 2, 2025 | Chanukah 2024 - TTSP |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Hanukkah Celebration - Cook/Bellecoure St. Paul |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 14- Dec 22, 2024 | Field and Festival Holiday Market - Wagner's Garden Center |
| Nov 16, 2024 | MN Christmas Market - Union Depot |
| Nov 30 - Dec 22, 2024 | European Christmas Market - Union Depot |
| Nov 30, 2024 | Rosemount Christmas Craft & Gift Show 2024- Hope Fieldhouse |
| Dec 6-8, 2024 | Holiday Bazaar - Landmark Center |
| Dec 6-8, 2024 | Auxillary Holiday Sale - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum |
| Dec 7 - 8, 2024 | Holiday Craft Fair - Roseville City Hall |
| Dec 22, 2024 | Holiday Market - Mall of America |
New Year's Eve
| Dec 30, 2024 | Sparklerama: A New Year Celebration - Minnesota Children's Museum |
| Dec 31, 2024 | New Year's Eve Party at Winter Lights - Minnesota Landscape and Arboretum |
| Dec 31, 2024 | A Big Rock'n NYE & Fireworks - Miracle at Big Rock |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Family New Year's Eve Party - Lebanon Hills Regional Park |
| Dec 31, 2024 | New Year's Eve on Ice - Roseville Skating Center |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Winter Fete 2025: NYE Skate - Bloomington Ice Garden |
| Dec 31, 2024 | Jazzberry Jammin' New Year's Eve - Crayola Experience Mall of America |
Miscellaneous
| Nov 1 - Dec 31, 2024 | Handmade Holidays - Crayola Experience at Mall of America |
| Nov 19, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025 | Gingerbread Wonderland - Norway House |
| Dec 2, 2024 | Winter Fete 2025: Holiday Gift Making - The Arts Creative |
| Dec 14, 2024 | Reindeer Run - Lake Harriet |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Holiday Event - Dayton's Bluff |
Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
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