Sure, temperatures are dropping and sunsets are creeping earlier — but when has that ever stopped Minnesotans from having wintertime fun?
This is the city of the Winter Carnival, after all. The chilly celebration, which runs this winter from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1, is marking a milestone 140th anniversary.
During the holiday season in particular, from light festivals to North Pole villages, there’s plenty of all-ages family fun to be found all around St. Paul and the east metro. Here are some ideas:
Now through Dec. 31: Illuminate Festival of Lights
Along with hundreds of indoor lanterns at this colorful festival, you can also catch performances by the AmeriKing Yan Dong Chinese Acrobats. Festival runs 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 to 7 p.m. Sundays through the rest of the year; acrobat performances are 6 and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 and 6 p.m. Sundays. (Note holiday hours — Nov. 26, Nov. 27, Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 — festival is open 5 to 9 p.m. and acrobats perform at 7:30.) Tickets required: $27.23 for adults; $16.73 for kids ages 4–11; $24.60 for seniors and military.
Pan Asian Center South: 3001 White Bear Ave., Maplewood; 651-421-1507; more info and tickets at illuminate-us.com
Now through Jan. 4, 2026: GLOW Holiday Festival
A globe display at the GLOW Holiday Festival.
The holiday lights festival returns to CHS Field this year with more than a million lights, a carousel ride, a zipline and other family activities. Timed-entry tickets — with entry between 5 and 8 p.m.; the festival is open till 9 p.m. — are required and must be purchased in advance; $21.75 for general admission and $12.75 for kids 12 and younger. (2 and under are free.) The festival is cashless.
GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field: 360 N Broadway St; glowholiday.com
Now through Feb. 28: Night Trains
At the Twin City Model Railroad Museum, the main lights go down and street lamps glow in the miniature villages, decorated with snow and holiday decor, as vintage model trains run through the carefully crafted cities. You can’t ride the trains — unless you’re the size of a model-train passenger, I suppose — but you can admire them from 3 to 7 p.m. every Saturday, plus special dates of Dec. 19, 22, 26, 29 and Jan. 2. Tickets are $15 per person, free for members and those under 4
Twin City Model Railroad Museum: 668 Transfer Road; tcmrm.org
Nov. 29, Dec. 5 to 6; Dec. 13: Afton Holiday Village
Afton is turning into a winter wonderland—horse-drawn wagons, carolers, tree lighting, crafts, bonfires, treats and more. What more could you ask for? Weekends have special themes: Candy Cane Trail (Nov. 29), Celebrate Merry & Bright (Dec. 5-6) and Wrap It Up Festive Giving (Dec. 13).
Centered around Afton Town Square Park: 3418 S. St. Croix Trail, Afton; aftonholiday.weebly.com
Dec. 4–7, 11–14, 16, 18–21: Stillwater’s Hometown for the Holidays
Stillwater’s Main Street is lighting up for the holidays. During Twinkle Weekend (Dec. 4–7), kids can get free twinkle necklaces and meet-and-greet “Frozen” characters and Santa, with glowing luminaries along Main Street. During Candy Town Weekend (Dec 11–14), events include cocoa with Santa, a gingerbread man hunt and gingerbread house contest and cookie-decorating. During Furry Friends Weekend (Dec. 18–21), there’ll be a pet parade and costume contest, plus treats from the Grinch for both pets and humans. Additional events include the Outdoor Christmas Celebration on Dec. 16 featuring An Andy and Bing Christmas and the St. Croix Valley Opera and SCVO’s Home for the Holidays concert on Dec. 20 featuring Laura Osnes.
Hometown for the Holidays: Along Main Street in Stillwater; full schedule and location details at communitythreadmn.org/Hometown-Holidays
Dec. 5–7, 11–14: North Pole Express
Departing from Union Depot, the North Pole Express consists of real vintage trains that’ll take you to the North Pole — aka the far east end of the Union Depot property; don’t tell the kids — to meet Santa and enjoy treats. Tickets tend to go very fast and are likely already sold out, but consider this a heads-up for next winter.
North Pole Express: More info at 261.com/npe
Dec. 5–14: “Solstice” at Circus Juventas
Youth performers ride unicycles during a performance of “Solstice” at Circus Juventas on Dec. 10, 2022. The circus school is remounting the show for a limited run during the 2025 holiday season. (Dan Norman / Circus Juventas)
This year’s holiday show at the Highland Park circus school is “Solstice,” which focuses on forest creatures’ quest to rescue Jack Frost and save winter; it’s a remount of the 2022 holiday show. Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for kids/students/seniors/military.
Circus Juventas: 1270 Montreal Ave.; tickets at (651) 309-8106 or circusjuventas.org/holiday-show-2025
Dec. 6: Grand Meander
Find plenty of holiday entertainment during this wintry open house event along Grand Avenue. Highlights include: Trolley rides, sugar cookie decorating at Cooks of Crocus Hill, free caricatures at Red Balloon Bookshop (1 p.m.), the annual Golden Ladle Soup Tasting Contest at various spots along Grand (1 to 3 p.m.), happy hour with Winter Carnival Royalty at Red Rabbit (3 to 4 p.m.) and more.
Grand Meander: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Grand Avenue; find more info at grandave.com/events/grandmeander
Dec. 6: Union Depot tree lighting and movie night
The Christmas shines bright at Union Depot on Dec. 3, 2022, in St. Paul. (Ellie Roth / Pioneer Press)
It’s almost time for the massive holiday tree to be lit at Union Depot and the 2026 Winter Carnival buttons to be unveiled. Be there at 5 p.m. for the buttons, followed by a concert from the Mistletones at 5:30 p.m. The humongous tree will shine at 7 p.m., followed by a screening of the movie “Elf.”
Union Depot: 214 Fourth St. E., St. Paul; uniondepot.org/holiday
Dec. 6 and 7: Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival
The American Swedish Institute’s annual Scandinavian craft market showcases 60+ local artists, plus music and food, with extra family craft projects and games (plus a ticket deal) on Sunday. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, but you’ll need to buy a timed ticket online: $24 for adults and $12 for kids (or for ASI members, $19 for adults and $9 for kids). On Sunday, buy an adult ticket and get a youth ticket free. Your ticket also gets you into the museum itself, which is specially decorated for the holidays.
American Swedish Institute: 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis; 612-871-4907; asimn.org
Dec. 6–7: Christmas in Germany
The annual celebration of German holiday traditions returns to the Germanic American Institute this year, with seasonal gifts, storytime, crafts for adults and kids and a German model train exhibit. Plus, in the heated tent, find food, drinks and music. This year’s event is ticketed: $10 for adults, $5 for kids aged 4–17 and free for those 3 and under, but they still need their own ticket. The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, but tickets are timed — choose entry between 10–noon, noon–2 or 2–4. Once in, stay as long as you’d like.
Germanic American Institute: 301 Summit Avenue; 651-222-7027; gaimn.org
Dec. 6–7; 13–14, 20–21: Santa’s Train Shop
The Minnesota Transportation Museum is celebrating trains this winter with caboose rides, crafts, a scavenger hunt, storytime and a Lego village. Timed tickets must be purchased online; $25 for adults 16+, $20 for ages 6–15, $10 for kids 3–5.
Minnesota Transportation Museum: 193 E. Pennsylvania Ave.; 651-228-0263; trainride.org/santas-train-shop
Dec. 12–14, 21–22: Celtic Holiday Hooley
It’s a Celtic variety show! Singers and musicians including Norah Rendell, Todd Menton and Dennis Curley; dancers including original Riverdance cast member Cormac O’Sé and the O’Shea Irish Dancers; and comedic sketches, too. Seven performances including matinees; online presale tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors ($5 more apiece at the door, pending availability), and the show is free for youth but tickets are still required.
Celtic Junction Arts Center Performance Hall: 836 Prior Ave., celticjunction.org/event/celtic-holiday-hooley-2025-1
Dec. 14: Santa’s Workshop
Part of the Sundays at Landmark series of cultural programming at the downtown (ahem) landmark, families can stop by for a photo with Santa, “time with festive animals” and gift-making. Free; 1 to 3 p.m.
Landmark Center: 75 W. Fifth St.; 651-292-3225; landmarkcenter.org/sundays-at-landmark
Jan. 16–25: Winter Skolstice Ice Festival
This year’s festival at the Minnesota Vikings’ HQ in Eagan is set to include 8,000 square feet of ice, including custom sculptures, two “striking installations” and an ice bar. Tickets are $13 per person.
Viking Lakes: 2645 Vikings Circle, Eagan; winterskolstice.com/ice-festival
All Season, Weather-Permitting: Ice Castles
Visitors gather around a fire to warm hands at Ice Castles in Minnesota at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Ice Castles, a traveling attraction that also pops up in Colorado, New Hampshire and Utah, has bounced around the metro in recent years but is headed for the second year to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Find ice sculptures, slides, mazes, tunnels and more. More info will be released closer to snowy season.
Ice Castles: Minnesota State Fairgrounds; icecastles.com/minnesota
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