Twin Cities Guide to Family Activities This Weekend: December 3-4, 2022

Twin Cities Holiday Festivals & Christmas Tree Lighting Events This Weekend

Trees will be twinkling this weekend at hometown holiday festivals. This is the BIGGEST & BRIGHTEST weekend for community celebrations in the Minneapolis-St Paul metro. Here’s our quick list; find our complete list of TWIN CITIES HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING EVENTS. Lighting up this weekend are the following Minneapolis-St Paul Metro communities:

AFTON: VILLAGE HOLIDAY 

Downtown Afton
The village hosts a tree lighting ceremony in Town Square Park (Fri, 6pm), horse and wagon rides, a family photo booth and roving carolers throughout the weekend downtown Afton. December 3, 2022.

ANOKA: CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

Enjoy horse-drawn trolley rides, holiday music, bonfires, strolling carolers, shopping discounts and Santa in addition to the big Christmas tree lighting. December 3, 2022.

Buffalo: Deck the Halls

Sturges Park, 505 2nd Ave S Buffalo, MN 55313
Family fun and festivities from 3pm-5pm, when they City of Buffalo lights of the tree. Dec. 3, 2022. 

CHANHASSEN: TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

City Center Park Plaza, 7700 Market Blvd, Chanhassen MN
The tree lights up at 5pm – plus Santa, refreshments and all the rest. Then, take the driving tour through the Chanhassen Tour of Lights. December 3, 2022.

CHASKA: CITY SQUARE PARK TREE LIGHTING

Featuring crafts, outdoor games, hot cocoa and cookies & pictures with Santa Claus. December 4, 2022, 6pm.

Delano: Old-Fashioned Christmas

Breakfast with Santa, Girl Scout Santa Shop, Teddy Bear Tea, Holiday Character Hunt, music, sleighrides and Santa parade. December 3, 2022; 10am-8pm, FREE admission, some activities have fees. Light the Night 5pm-8pm.

Eagan: Old Fashioned Holiday at Holz Farm

Holz Farm, 4669 Manor Drive, Eagan, Minnesota 55123
Come visit Santa’s reindeer at this 1940s-era event. Also enjoy hayrides, a bonfire, carols, and treats. Dec. 4, 2022; 12-3:30pm.

Farmington: Christmas in the Village

Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 220th Street W., Farmington, MN 55024
Buildings will be illuminated inside and out throughout the village. The public is welcome to drive through the Village any evening in December (3pm-8pm) to enjoy this holiday tradition, but there will be extra activities on the weekend – carols in the church, treats in the drugstore, model trains, horse-drawn wagon rides and more. December 3-4, 2022. $5/pp.

Plymouth: Holiday at the Hilde

Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Visit with Santa and live reindeer, enjoy a holiday lights display, music and family activities. Dec 3, 2022, 4-7pm.

SHAKOPEE: HOLIDAY FEST TREE LIGHTING

Downtown Shakopee, MN 55379
Carolers, Santa, a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. December 3, 2022.

STILLWATER: TWINKLE PARTY AND CITY TREE LIGHTING

Lowell Park, 201 Water St N, Stillwater, MN 55082
The city tree is lit at 5:30, part of the annual Hometown for the Holidays celebration. Festivities start at 4pm and special guest Santa Claus arrives around 4:30. December 3, 2022.

St Paul: Grand Meander

Grand Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105
20 blocks of samples, specials, Vulcan fire truck rides, carolers and multiple venues to visit with Santa. Events run starting 8:30am through the afternoon. Dec. 3, 2022.

St Paul: Union Depot Tree Lighting

214 4th Street East, St. Paul, MN 55101
Catch the giant tree light up at 6:30pm followed by a screening of Elf at 7pm. Dec 3, 2022, event runs 5-9pm.

White Bear Lake: Winter Fest

Complete with horse-drawn trolley rides, carolers and ice sculptures in downtown White Bear Lake. Dec 3, 2022.

Trot on over to our Twin Cities Holiday Festivals page for more details – many Twin Cities-area communities are hosting their own downtown galas, complete with roving Santas, carolers and sleigh bells.

Twin Cities Holiday Lights Displays

Winter Lights at the Arboretum

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318
Winter will be in bloom with lighted greenery and displays throughout the pathways of the arb’s gardens! Online ticket reservation required. All weekend, Dec 3-4, 2022. $25/adults 16+; Children 15 and under FREE.

Christmas In Color at Valleyfair

Valleyfair, 1 Valley Fair Dr, Shakopee, MN 55379
This holiday season you can drive right into the amusement park to be entertained by 1.5 million lights synchronized to holiday music. You’ll need an FM radio to year the Christmas music and carols as you drive. All weekend, Dec 3-4, 2022. 5:30-9:30pm. Tickets: $35-$65/vehicle.

Family Fun Twin Cities Discount: FFTC Readers Save 15% with Discount Code TWINCITIES15.

For the whole sparkling scoop on the best holiday light displays in the Twin Cities, visit our 2022 Twin Cities Drive Thru Christmas Events and Walking Tours page. OR – create your own drive-thru holiday lights event! We have an enormous list of homes around the Twin Cities that deck their halls up for the holiday: Jump over to Light It Up: Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays for our map!

Find Santa Claus in the Twin Cities This weekend

Where will Jolly Old St Nick be visiting this weekend? Somehow he manages to be all over the Twin Cities! Take your pick from shopping malls, community festivals and even a streetcar decked out for Christmas. For further planning, check our Twin Cities Santa-finder page or check out the details below on our holiday festival calendar.

WEEKEND SANTA HIGHLIGHT! Santa and Live Reindeer Visits at Twin Cities Premium Outlets

Visit and take pictures with Santa and pet the reindeer at the ALBERTVILLE and EAGAN locations. December 3-4, 2022, 10am-12pm. Located outside in Center Court, near Market Hall

Santa’s Train Shop at minnesota transportation museum 

The museum transforms into Santa’s Train Shop with live music, activities, train rides, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. December 3-4, 2022, 10am-4pm. $9-$18/pp or $50/family package.

More Twin Cities Weekend Holiday  Events

European Christmas Market at Union Depot

214 4th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
A free event to attend with the opportunity to shop for unique, handmade gifts and decorations as well as nosh on holiday treats. Located at St Paul’s historic Union Depot. Open weekends, Fri 4-9pm, Sat 10am-8pm & Sun 11am-6pm.

Germanic-American Institute Christmas in Germany

301 Summit Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Get the feel of a European market with vendors selling German Christmas gift items, model trains, and festive food and drink. Craft ornaments on Saturday and meet St. Nikolaus on Sunday. FREE admission.

Gingerbread Wonderland at Norway House

913 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
A signature holiday tradition, Gingerbread Wonderland features a miniature village made of (you guessed it) gingerbread. $10/pp kids FREE.

Holidays on the Hill at James J Hill House

240 Summit Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Take both a guided and a self-guided Christmas tour of the historic mansion and hear about the family’s holiday traditions. Dec 3-4, 2022, $18/pp.

Eidem Farm Christmas

4345 101st Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
Old-fashioned festivities include a walking tour, traditional winter activities and take-home crafts. December 3, 2022, 11am-2pm. FREE. 

Holiday Night Trains At Twin City Model Railroad Museum

A special holiday tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum, the Night Trains season magically transforms the museum layouts. Buildings and street lights glow, and throughout the museum the layouts are adorned with Christmas lights. December 3, 2022, 3-7pm. $15/pp.