Holiday Event Guide 2025

Holiday Event Guide 2025
By Tim Spitzack | Editor | December 2025

The holiday season is upon us, and with it come many festive events and activities to help you celebrate. From concerts and plays to stunning light displays, our annual Holiday Event Guide features all that’s happening close to home.

Union Depot

Annual Hub for the Holidays event series is held Nov. 28-Dec. 21. For more information on the following events, visit uniondepot.org/holiday.

European Christmas Market, each Friday, 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., through Dec. 21. More than 70 vendors will offer Scandinavian-inspired handcrafted goods, traditional German ornaments, Eastern European souvenirs and more. Also find food, live music, carolers, dancers, choir ensembles and the Minnesota Krampus Austrian folklore creatures.

North Pole Express, Dec. 5-7 and 11-14. Vintage rail cars will take riders to a North Pole village to meet Santa and his elves. Along the way, entertaining characters will interact with riders and sing holiday carols. Tickets are $68 for adults and $43 for ages 3-12.

Tree Lighting and Movie Night, Saturday, Dec. 6. Events include Winter Carnival Button unveiling, 5 p.m.; Mistletones concert, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; tree lighting ceremony with fireworks on the North Plaza, 7 p.m.; “Elf” movie inside the Depot, 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Bake Sale, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13. Tasty treats for sale from 45 local bakeries and food vendors; free samples of cookies, candy and holiday confections; and live entertainment. The first 300 people will receive a free Holiday Bake Sale tote bag and baking-themed giveaway item.

CPKC Holiday Train, 7-7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13. The brightly lit locomotive will feature a concert from a stage on the side of the train. Bring cash or non-perishable food donations for a local food shelf. Concessions will be available inside Union Depot.

GLOW Festival

GLOW will transform CHS Field, 360 N. Broadway St., St. Paul, into a glimmering winter wonderland through Jan. 4, 2026. The festival features more than a million lights on creative displays, the Enchanted Forest, Vixen’s Zip Line, Giant Slide, Santa’s Shack, food vendors and more. Tickets are $21.75 for adults, $12.75 for children ages 3-12, and must be purchased in advance online. Some activities have an additional cost. Entry times are reserved every hour starting at 5 p.m. Ticket holders can enter at any time within the allotted hour and stay as long as they like. The last reserved entry time is 8 p.m. GLOW closes at 9 p.m. Visit glowholiday.com.

Ballet Co. Lab

West Side-based Ballet Co. Laboratory presents “The Snow Queen,” Dec. 19-21 at Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 S. 4th St., Minneapolis. Journey with young Gerda as she ventures through magical realms to rescue her brother from the Snow Queen’s enchantment. $50; discounts for children and seniors. Visit balletcolaboratory.org.

Circus Juventas

“Solstice!” is presented Dec. 5-14 at the Big Top, located at 1270 Montreal Ave., St. Paul. As forest creatures prepare for the great winter solstice celebration, a ripple runs through the frosted wood. Jack Frost has gone missing, swept away to the lair of the Summer Sorcerer, who is determined to usher in an age of eternal heat. Only the caretakers of the seasons can free Jack in time to stop the sorcerer and ring in winter. Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for children aged 12 and younger and seniors aged 65 and older. Visit circusjuventas.org.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

Holiday Flower Show, Dec. 5-Jan. 4, 2026, in the Sunken Garden at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul. This year’s show will feature a variety of poinsettias, including prestige maroon, jubilee red and green envy. Free.

GAI

“Christmas in Germany,” 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 6-7, at the Germanic American Institute, 301 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Celebrate holiday traditions of a German Christmas in an enchanting atmosphere. Sip on a traditional German beer or warm Glühwein (hot mulled wine) and indulge in hearty favorites like Bratwurst, pretzels, homemade soups and sweet German cakes. The Haus will be decorated from the Rathskeller to the ballroom, creating a winter wonderland filled with seasonal goods for sale. Outside you’ll find a large, heated tent with food, drinks and cheerful music. Family-friendly activities include German model trains & toy exhibit, Christmas crafts for adults and children, Christmas storytime with German holiday stories, and the chance to meet Sankt Nikolaus. Timed entry: 10 a.m.-noon; noon-2 p.m.; 2-4 p.m. $10 adults; $5 ages 4-17. Visit gaimn.org/calendar/christmas-2025.

Open Window Theatre

“A Christmas Carol” is presented Nov. 29-Jan. 4, 2026, at Open Window Theatre, 5300 S. Robert Tr., Inver Grove Heights. Ebenezer Scrooge has no time for Christmas or the Christ in this new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, featuring such beloved carols as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night” and more. Admission includes access to an immersive Christmas display, which includes an extensive Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus collection, an ever-growing Christmas Village collection, a vintage Snowman collection, several Nativity displays, multiple lit Christmas trees, and more. Tickets start at $28. Visit openwindowtheatre.org.

St. Paul Hotel

“It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” is presented Dec. 12-24 at the St. Paul Hotel 350 Market St., St. Paul. The classic 1946 Frank Capra film “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been adapted into a radio drama for the stage. The performances feature actors and sound effects to help guide audience imagination. Tickets start at $120 and include a 3-course meal. Visit saint
paulhotel.com.

Visitation School

Vis the Season: A Christmas Wonderland is 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at Visitation School, 2455 Visitation Dr., Mendota Heights. Shop for holiday gifts from local vendors, meet Santa and join his storytime at 11:30 a.m. and have a photo taken with him noon-2 p.m., and enjoy complimentary face-painting and a holiday-themed cakewalk. The event also features food trucks, beverages and an “Elfie” photo booth.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”

O’Shaughnessy Auditorium

“Kevin Kling and Friends: Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. A holiday tradition since 1995 featuring hilarious, often tender stories, music and more. $8-$36.

St. Paul Ballet presents “The Nutcracker: Reimagined,” Dec. 12-13. The magical journey begins at a Christmas Eve party where the gifted toymaker Uncle Drosselmeyer unveils a one-of-a-kind Nutcracker. Witness the Kingdom of Sweets come alive under the reign of the Sugar Plum Fairy. $7-$52.

Ballet Minnesota presents “The Classic Nutcracker,” Dec. 20-21. This story begins on Christmas Eve, when Clara, her mischievous brother Fritz, and their family are hosting a Christmas party. Clara’s mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer presents her with a marvelous gift, a Nutcracker doll. As Clara goes to sleep that night, she is transported into a dream of the Rat King fighting the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers. The Nutcracker Prince escorts Clara through an enchanted snow-covered forest and on to his Kingdom of the Sweets where Clara accepts the throne from the Sugar Plum Fairy. $23-$50.

The auditorium is located at St. Catherine University, 204 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. For tickets or more information, visit oshag.stkate.edu/events.

Cathedral of St. Paul

The 9th annual Christmas Together with Steven C & Friends concert will be held in the cathedral, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, at 7 p.m., Dec. 18, and 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dec. 19. Tickets are $12. Visit cathedralheritagefoundation.org/events.

Historic Holidays

Holidays on the Hill tours are held Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 29-Jan. 4, 2026, at the James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Explore the 1910 Gilded Age mansion of railroad titan James J. Hill. Admission includes self-guided access to holiday-themed exhibits and a 60-minute guided tour highlighting holiday stories and memories from the Hill family and their staff. Tours start every half-hour, from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $25; $16 for youth and seniors; free for ages 4 and under. Pre-purchasing tickets is strongly recommended. Visit mnhs.org.

Candlelight Christmas Tours at the Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul, Thursday-Friday, Dec. 4-19; Friday-Saturday, Jan. 2-3, 2026. Experience the bluer side of Christmas as guides discuss the melancholy feelings that accompany the season. Admission includes a 45-minute guided candlelight tour through the decorated 1872 mansion exploring holiday artifacts and hearing excerpts from the Ramsey family papers. $20; $16 for youth and seniors; free for ages 4 and under. Pre-purchasing tickets is strongly recommended. Visit mnhs.org.

History of All Things Christmas, 6-8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5 at the Sibley Historic Site, 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Mendota. A presentation on Christmas traditions. $20. Visit dakotahistory.org.

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South St. Paul

Community tree lighting, 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 30 at Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N. Join Mayor Jimmy Francis, the City Council, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Frosty, Santa’s elves and friends for cocoa, cookies and caroling around the tree. The tree lighting is at 6 p.m.

Breakfast with Santa, 8:30-11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, at St. John Vianney Church, 789 17th Ave. N. Includes a pancake breakfast hosted by the South St. Paul Lions Club and a craft station hosted by the Southwest Lioness Lions Club. $8 for adults, $5 for students and free for ages six and under.

Blades N’ Motion holiday show, noon-1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, at Doug Woog Arena, 141 6th St. S. Skaters from the school will perform a choreographed show.

Skate with Santa, 1-2:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, at Doug Woog Arena, 141 6th St. S. Enjoy a festive holiday skate with Santa Claus.

West St. Paul

Santa’s Holiday Hero Express Parade, 5:30-7:50 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4. Santa and his helpers will travel the streets of West St. Paul with an escort by West St. Paul Police, South Metro Fire and other public safety vehicles. To find the parade route, visit wspmn.gov and search “Santa’s holiday hero express parade.” If your home is not on the route, head over to the Harmon Park parking lot (the stalls along Bernard Street have the best view) to see and wave to Santa.

Secret Holiday Shop, 9-11 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 7 at Thompson County Park Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Ln., West St. Paul. Kids of all ages may shop for gifts for loved ones. Personal shoppers will assist with gift planning, budgeting and wrapping. Gifts range from $0.50 to $14.

Mendota Heights

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 700 Wesley Ln., Mendota Heights, is hosting a free holiday concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 30, followed by refreshments, homemade holiday cookies and the opportunity to meet the musicians.

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