Festive Things To Do In The Twin Cities This Holiday Season

The holidays are upon us and unlike last year, we can take full advantage of what the season has to offer again! From pop-up markets to beautiful light displays and bars who’ve taken ‘deck the halls’ to another level (and put even Clark Griswold to shame,) there is no shortage of ways to get in the festive spirit in the Twin Cities!

Disclaimer: Please continue to observe CDC and WHO guidelines and follow safety protocols to not put yourself or others at risk during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Shop at the European Christmas Market

If you can’t make it to Europe for this holidays, the European Christmas Market at Union Depot is the next best thing! This authentic, open-air shopping experience hosts artisans, gifts and food from all over the world.

Weekends until 12/19/21
Fridays 4pm - 9pm
Saturdays: 10am - 8pm
Sundays: 11am - 6pm

*Pro-Tip! Dress warm! There are warming tents and firepits throughout the rooftop to warm up by, but it’s best to dress for success and bundle up for this outdoor shopping experience.

Pop-Up Holiday Markets

The Twin Cities is home to some extremely talented artists, and nearly every weekend there are holiday markets popping up all over the metro! Here are just a handful that you can attend in the upcoming weeks:

Minneapolis Holiday Boutique at the MN Convention Center
Dec. 10 - 12th: 10a - 8pm

Northern Coffee Works
Saturday 12/11/21: 8am - 2pm

A Handmade Holiday Market at Lakes & Legends Brewery
Saturday 12/11/21: 12p - 5p

Holiday Market at Malcom Yards
Saturday 12/11/21: 11am - 8pm
Sunday: 12/12/21: 11am - 5pm

Holiday Craft Market at Number 12 Cider
Saturday 12/11/21: 12pm - 5pm

Holiday Makers Market at Forgotten Star Brewing
Saturday 12/11/21: 3pm - 9pm

Retro Holiday Market at Urban Growler Brewing Company
Saturday 12/18/21: 12pm - 8pm
Sunday 12/19/21: 12pm - 6pm

Holiday Market + Pictures with Krampus
1903 Grand St. NE Minneapolis
Saturday: 12/18/21: 1pm - 6pm

Keg & Case Holiday Market
Weekends until Dec. 19th
12pm - 8pm

The Northern Express Christmas Village + Holiday Market
3300 Tanadoona Dr, Excelsior, MN
Weekends until Dec. 19th: 11am - 7pm

Holidazzle in Loring Park
Dec 17 - 19, 2021
Includes fireworks display on Friday Dec 17th at 7pm in the park.

Dazzling Light Displays

I don’t know about you, but nothing quite gives me Christmas cheer like seeing a bunch of magical holiday lights! Luckily in Minnesota, we seem to have a TON of options, both open air and drive-through experiences to choose from. I personally prefer being able to walk through all of the lights, but those with little ones may do better enjoying them from the warmth of your car.

Nature Illuminated at the MN Zoo
Now - Jan. 16, 2022

“Back by popular demand, Nature Illuminated is a magical narrated journey through brilliant, oversized lit displays of your favorite animals.”

Walk or drive through experiences available. Get your tickets Here

Glow Holiday Festival at the MN State Fair
Now - Jan. 2, 2022

Walk through over a million lights at the State Fair! Food court, sky glider rides, 3-story ice palace, holiday maze and more! Just be sure to dress warm! Get your tickets Here

Winter Lights at the Arboretum
“Get outside and enjoy the crisp, fresh air of a winter evening, as you experience 16 outdoor light displays, featuring flowers, nature and winter fun, on an accessible, stroller-friendly walk that’s just over a half-mile. Warm up midway through the walking tour at a bonfire and roast marshmallows over the fire -- s’mores packages will be for sale. Artist Jennifer Hedberg’s luminescent ice sculptures will also be part of the display. Embrace all that a Minnesota winter has to offer -- dress for the weather! “ Get your tickets Here

Cathedral Festival of Lights
Dec. 15 - 19, 2021

Both indoor and outdoor Christmas light show at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, along with an outdoor Christmas market.

Starry Night, produced by the award-winning Luxmuralis from the United Kingdom, will transform the Cathedral’s interior into a fully immersive 360-degree light and sound experience. Guests will be allowed to find their own seats and perspective, as the show surrounds them in a calming sea of stars accompanied by a custom musical score. Guests are welcome to view the full projection multiple times before exiting the Cathedral. Cost, $15/person

Outside, the cinematic projection of The Beginning uses the Cathedral’s 150-foot-tall eastern façade as the backdrop to tell the Christmas Story of wonderment and joy. The 12-minute show will be run on a continual loop during each night’s operating hours, and is free to enjoy! Learn more Here:

Holiday Lights in Rice Park, Downtown St. Paul
If you want to enjoy the lights of the season without another hit to your wallet, make your way over to Rice Park in downtown St. Paul for a beautiful (and free!) display.

Wintertime in Stillwater Lights Display
Experience a winter wonderland of lights synchronized to music nightly from 5-10pm along main street to the historic light bridge. Free for all to enjoy now through March, 2022.

Sever’s Holiday Lights in Shakopee
Drive-through a ½ mile and enjoy over a million lights all from the warmth and comfort of your car! Get tickets Here!

Christmas in Color at Valleyfair
Drive through millions of lights perfectly synchronized to holiday music. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Drink in Some Christmas Cheer at a Festive Bar

If Clark Griswold could own and decorate a bar, it would hands down be Betty Dangers, or her sister, Pyscho Suzi’s.

Both bars deck the halls, and the walls, and the ceilings, and even the bathrooms to the nines. We’re talking tinsel, EVERYWHERE.

You will want a reservation if you’re planning to get a table at either location during this extremely busy season, but you could get lucky and grab a spot at the bar on a first come, first serve basis.

Lake Elmo Inn Restaurant has been collecting ornaments from patrons for over 30 years! Bring in your own to add to the collection and get a free drink! Get rid of an ugly ornament that your in laws gave you and get a free drink out of the deal?! I’d call that a win/win.

Jingle Bar, a holiday pop-up at Cast & Cru in Excelsior, MN has over-the-top decorations and festive cocktails now through the end of December.

Cocktail line up from Lawless — Image from Lawless Distillery

Miracle Pop-Up at Lawless Distillery is a Christmas-themed cocktail experience serving holiday cocktails or an N/A tasting in a festive setting. Tickets are required in advance for both the NA beverage tasting that lets you try 4 different twists on classic holiday mocktails ($30) and the Cocktail Tasting that buys you 7 of the most popular holiday cocktails ($50)

Stilheart Distillery is offering the same experience downtown, however they are not taking any reservations. They are however also offering all of their featured cocktails as take-home kits so you can recreate the magic in the comfort of your own place.

Experience the Annual Holiday Exhibit at the American Swedish Museum

Visiting the Turnblad Mansion at the American Swedish Museum is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Every year they transform this historic home to highlight holiday traditions from all over Scandinavia.

This year’s exhibit is “From our House to Yours” now on display through Jan. 9th

Be sure to stop by the gift shop on your way out!

Related Article: Julmarknad at the American Swedish Institute

Pick Up Traditional Holiday Ingredients at Ingebretsen's!

I married into a Swedish Family who every year on Christmas make traditional dishes that were all new to me like Swedish meatballs, Lefse, cream eggs on toast and yes of course, Lutefisk. (And no, even after all these years, I have not learned to love lutefisk)

Not many places in the Twin Cities have what’s needed to make Lutefisk (aged whitefish that has been dried and pickled in lye) but Ingebretsen’s Scandinavian Gifts and Foods has everything you need and more!

Pickled fish not your thing? That’s ok, they have plenty of other delicious food options at their traditional butcher counter. However, make sure to bring cash for the butcher! These guys are old school.

While you wait for your number to be called, you can peruse a plethora of Scandinavian gifts to go along with your Holiday meal.

Catch a Live Performance of Your Favorite Holiday Tales

The Guthrie is one of the most beautiful theaters in the Twin Cities, nestled right on the river with views of the Stone Arch Bridge. They put on stunning performances night after night, and the holidays are no exception. Catch a performance of a Christmas Carol now through Dec. 27th

Traditional theatre a little too boring for you? Well, spice things up baby and catch a holiday drag show instead!

There are drag performances of holiday classic characters all over town from Lynlake Brewery, Crave, Muse Event Center and Union Rooftop to name a few.

Holiday Flower Show at Como Conservatory

The holiday flower show at the Conservatory goes back for nearly 100 years! Stroll through beautiful varieties of poinsettias all while staying nice and warm inside the sunken garden.

On now through Jan. 9th, 2022.

There are truly hundreds of events, performances and pop-ups for the holidays in the Metro, you really can’t go wrong! If I missed your favorite event or holiday tradition, let me know in the comments!

Happy Adventuring and Happy Holidays!

Xoxo,
Karen