Get ready for the most magical Christmas yet! Santa Claus is coming to town. Mark your calendars. We are gathering his itinerary, packed with magical holiday events and cozy spots to celebrate Christmas 2026.
Did we miss a stop on the big guy’s schedule? Leave us a comment to share with the community.
 2026 TWIN CITIES SANTA CLAUS EVENTS
Santa Claus will be making more live appearances in the Twin Cities this year. Before Santa’s sleigh lands on your roof, you can bring your wish lists to these locations:Â
MINNEAPOLIS & SAINT PAUL SANTA EVENTS
Santa Claus is all over Minneapolis and Saint Paul! Santa events include an annual holiday play at Bachman’s, a couple special holiday trolley rides, festival appearances and even a magical Christmastime sleigh experience in the city. Unique St. Paul experiences include the chance to meet Santa on the rails this holiday season: on the North Pole Express at Union Depot, at Santa’s Train Shop at Jackson Street Roundhouse and at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. All aboard!
Sunday at the Landmark: Santa’s Workshop (FREE)
Date(s): 12/13/2026 1:00 pm - 3:00 pmLocation: Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55102
Snap a free pic with Santa at his workshop in beautiful Landmark Center, then enjoy games, festive animals and gift-making. This is a free event for all ages.
Christmas Family Fun Day
Date(s): 12/19/2026 12:00 pm - 3:00 pmLocation: Midtown Global Market, 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN , 55407
Celebrate Christmas with a day of Family Fun at Midtown Global Market.
TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO SANTA EVENTS
Featuring events in Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Buffalo, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Crystal, Dayton, Delano, Elk River, Golden Valley, Hanover, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, New Hope, Osseo, Otsego, Plymouth, Ramsey, Robbinsdale & St Michael.
Crystal
Crystal Winterfest & Light Up Crystal
Date(s): 12/05/2026 3:00 pm - 5:00 pmLocation: Crystal Community Center & Crystal Cove Aquatic Center, 4800 Douglas Drive N, Crystal, MN , 55429
Crystal Winterfest offers indoor activities followed by the Light Up Crystal ceremony outside at 5pm. Activities include music, refreshments, llama photo booth, crafting, hot dogs, treats and visits with Santa. If you are looking for an opportunity to give back as a family, stop at the card-making station to create cards for local seniors and military members. Stick around for the LIGHT UP CRYSTAL ceremony at 5pm. This is a free event for all ages.
Delano
Delano Light the Night
Date(s): 01/31/2026 5:00 pm - 8:00 pmLocation: Delano Central Park, 650 River Street North, Delano, MN, 55328
From November 28th through January, Central Park in Delano glows with thousands of twinkling holiday lights, interactive displays, more than 100 trees decorated by the community and scenes to explore for the public to enjoy – free! There are firepits to help keep you warm, live music on select nights and free treats on Saturdays. See our complete schedule of events. Admission is free.
Santa makes an appearance on December 13. Come get your picture taken with him!
Plymouth
Santa Visits the Sensory Room (FREE)
Date(s): 12/06/2026 12:00 pm - 4:00 pmLocation: Plymouth Community Center, 14800 34th Avenue N, Plymouth, MN , 55447
Visit Santa at the Plymouth Community Center with minimized noises, smells, lights, and crowds during a 10-minute 1-on-1 session. Bring a camera to take your own photos and participate in other sensory-friendly holiday activities. 10-minute time slots available, 12-4pm. Siblings can share a timeslot. Free, but registration required.
Twin Cities Northeast Metro Santa Events
Featuring events in Blaine, Centerville, Columbia Heights, Columbus, Forest Lake, Fridley, Ham Lake, Hudson, Hugo, Lake Elmo, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North St Paul, Oakdale, Roseville, Scandia, Shoreview, Spring Lake Park, St Anthony, St Croix Falls, Stillwater, Taylors Falls, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake & Wyoming.
TWIN CITIES SOUTHWEST METRO SANTA EVENTS
Featured events in Belle Plaine, Bloomington, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Jordan, Minnetonka, Mound, New Prague, Prior Lake, Richfield, Savage, Shakopee, St Louis Park, Victoria, Waconia & Wayzata.
Bloomington
SideKick Theatre's Puss in Boots
Date(s): 11/23/2026 - 12/30/2026 SEE TIMESLocation: Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, 11411 Masonic Home Drive, Bloomington, MN, 55437
Sidekick Theatre’s Holiday musical is a re-telling of the classic fairytale about a penniless orphan and his remarkable cat. Look for special Breakfast with Santa performances. Appropriate for all ages. Tickets: $9-$19/pp.Â
Discounts: Groups of 10 or more $14/each. Field trip groups $9/each.
Read the book: Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault.
Chanhassen
Chanhassen Tree Lighting Ceremony
Date(s): 12/05/2026 5:00 pm - 6:00 pmLocation: Chanhassen Recreation Center, 2310 Coulter Blvd, Chanhassen, MN, 55317
Chanhassen’s annual holiday event includes a tree lighting ceremony followed by refreshments, bonfires, live reindeer, gingerbread house displays*, and Santa Claus. Visit all throughout the season, to enjoy the holiday lights and drop a letter in the Santa mailbox.
TWIN CITIES SOUTHEAST METRO SANTA EVENTS
Featuring events in Afton, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Northfield, Rosemount, South St Paul, West St Paul & Woodbury.
Burnsville
Burnsville Winter Lighting Ceremony
Date(s): 11/25/2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pmLocation: Nicollet Commons Park, 12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN, 55337
Nicollet Commons will be lit up with over 100,00 lights, snowflakes and a fully lit tree. Making an appearance at Burnsville’s illuminating Winter Lighting Ceremony are local choirs, refreshments, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, 200,000+ lights, and a 30-foot-tall tree. After the lighting ceremony at 6pm, the square will be lit evenings for the remainder of the season. Free event for all ages.
Eagan
Holz Farm Old Fashioned Holiday (FREE)
Date(s): 12/06/2026 12:00 pm - 3:00 pmLocation: Holz Farm Park, 4665 Manor Drive, Eagan, MN, 55123
Come visit Santa at this 1940s-era event at historic Holz Farm. Also enjoy hayrides, a bonfire, carols, and treats. Event is free and appropriate for all ages.
Pictures With Santa at Malls and Shopping Centers
Santa will simultaneously be at several malls and shopping areas during the pre-Christmas season selling photo packages. Most malls now allow (and often prefer) guests to book a time to reduce time standing in line and they even offer a night to bring in pets for pet photos.
- BURNSVILLE CENTERÂ
- EDEN PRAIRIE CENTERÂ
- MALL OF AMERICAÂ
- MAPLEWOOD MALL
- NORTHTOWN MALL
- RIDGEDALE CENTERÂ
- ROSEDALE CENTERÂ
- SOUTHDALE CENTERÂ
Want to track Santa’s flight path across the United States?
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) starts tracking Mr. Claus on December 1st through Christmas Eve.
Are you looking for a Santa for any of these events or is just a list of existing events?
Hi Santa Steve. We just list existing events for parents to find a place to take their kids to visit Santa. Thank goodness! Because that would be a LOT of events to manage. If you are looking for events that may be looking for a Santa, I would recommend clicking the links to the 2024 events to find contact information for the specific venues.
Photos with Santa!
Wed. Dec 11th 4:30 pm – 7 pm
Drop off a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and snap a festive photo with Santa Claus!
Hosted appetizers, cookies, hot cocoa and a festive cocktail
A’BriTin Catering
22280 Chippendale Ave W.
Farmington, MN 55024
Thanks for sharing, Mallory! Appetizers and Santa photos — It’s a win for everyone.
Hey, you missed one!
Santa’s North Pole Experience
13600 Pioneer Trail, in Eden Prairie
(The Cummins-Phipps-Grill House)
Open Fridays 2-7 PM / Saturdays and Sundays 10AM to 6PM
Visit Santa for photos, face painting, coloring, etc. Make your appointments online.
call 952-373-1710 for more information
Thanks, John. We’ll get this on the list.
how to get this offer
I think you just go to bed on Christmas Eve and he just shows up. You might have to live in a first world and/or Christian country, though. I haven’t tested that theory.
River oaks golf course in Cottage Grove has a Santa breakfast!
Thank you, Jess. We will look into this and get it added.
FYI, I think the Caring Santa and the Bedtime Santa descriptions and links are mixed up.
Thanks for catching that, Kristen! I had to laugh thinking Caring Santa would have been fine with pajamas, too! 🙂