Christmas is just around the corner! Are you dreading the crowded holiday season malls? Never fear, we have collected some unique holiday shopping events for you to make this year’s retail experience more enjoyable for the whole family.
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Many of these family events will offer kids activities, local gifts, and other fun. Events start as early in early November and run through mid-December. Mark your calendar with your favorites, and mix shopping with family fun this year.
Find More Holiday Events: Family Fun Twin Cities Christmas & Holiday Guide
MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL 2023 HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS
Nov & Dec, 2023: Textile Center Holiday Gallery Shop
Textile Center, 3000 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Shop for handmade fiber art, including wearables, home decor, gift items, as well as books, art supplies, and craft kits. Your purchase supports local and national artists. Open house: November 1, 2023; 1-4pm.
Nov 11 & Dec 9, 2023: The Black Market’s Holiday Bazaar
The Case Building, 767 N Eustis St, St Paul, MN 55114
November’s Market features food, with over a half dozen different foods, including African, Jamaican, and Food from The Soul! December includes the Black Market Elves and a family centered Holiday Celebration!  2-7pm. Find free adult tickets here. Children 15 and under do not need tickets.
Nov 18, 2023: Waldorf Holiday Fair & Artisan Market
Minnesota Waldorf School, 70 County Road B E Saint Paul, MN 55117
Shopping with a side of Family Fun, including children’s activities, puppet shows, food trucks, live music and more. Buy Waldorf-style toys at this sale. Children’s activities require ticket purchase. 10am-4pm.
Nov 18, 2023: Fall Craft Fair at Edgecumbe
Edgecumbe Rec Center, 320 Griggs Street South, Saint Paul, MN 55105
Over 35 vendors selling crafts that would make great gifts, home décor and more. Afterwards go out and play on the playground.
Weekends Nov 24 – Dec 17, 2023: St Paul’s European Christmas Market
Union Depot, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55101
Based on the European open air Christkindlmarkts like those in Germany and Austria, this is a free event to attend with the opportunity to shop for unique, handmade gifts and decorations as well as nosh on holiday treats. Open weekends, Fri 4-9pm, Sat 10am-8pm & Sun 11am-6pm.
Nov 30-Dec 2, 2023: Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
Landmark Center, 75 5th St. W. Saint Paul, MN 55102
Shop marketplace booths for handcrafted items including, jewelry, wreaths, paintings, woven and wearable art, handmade lotions, soaps and more. There will also be live entertainment, treats and chances to win prizes. Thurs & Fri, 10am-7pm & Sat, 10am-5pm. $5/pp ages 13+
Dec 1-2, 2023: No Coast Craft-o-Rama Holiday Sale
Midtown Global Market, 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
No Coast Craft-o-Rama events feature designers, artists, crafters, and other talented creators of unique handmade goods. Friday 4-8pm; Saturday 10-4pm.
Dec 2, 2023: Grand Meander
Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105
Shoppers can explore wonderful Grand Avenue neighborhood and all its unique shops during this special day. End the day with the Grand Avenue Tree Lighting at 5pm. 10am-5pm.
Dec 2, 2023: Good Shepherd Christmas Market
Good Shepherd School. 145 Jersey Ave S. Golden Valley, MN 55426
Good Shepherd’s indoor artist and vendor market is a festive family event with FREE Santa photos, refreshments and a Christmas Tree lot. 11am-3pm.
Dec 2, 2023: 56 Mas – Punk Rock Christmas
56 Brewing, 3055 NE Columbia Ave Suite 102, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Shop over 20 local makers, plus visit Santa, enjoy live music, make s’mores by the bonfires & celebrate with festive family fun all day! Food and beverages available for purchase. End the evening with a Punk Rock Christmas Concert starting at 7pm. Shopping 1-5pm.
Dec 7-9, 2023: Cathedral Christmas Market
Cathedral of Saint Paul, 239 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
Families shopping this European-style outdoor Christmas market will find family-friendly strolling musicians, hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn for sale and games for kids. 5pm-9:30pm.
Dec 16-17, 2023: Minnesota Merry Market
MN State Fairgrounds – North End Event Center, Falcon Heights, MN 55108
Shop over 70 local artists and vendors, visit with Santa Claus, participate in fun family activities and crafts and maybe ride the trackless train through the fairgrounds. Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 11am-4pm.
Dec 19, 2023: Santa’s Workshop
Battle Creek Rec Center, 75 Winthrop St S, St Paul, MN 55119
Kids can shop while adults wait in the waiting area. All items are $1 or less and kids may spend up to $10 total. Gifts will be wrapped prior to kids joining their parents again. Register here.
TWIN CITIES NORTHEAST METRO HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS
Nov 16, 2023: White Bear Lake Holiday Open House
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Visitors can explore downtown’s shops, restaurants and businesses and enjoy specials and promotions. 5pm-8pm. (Also Small Business Saturday, November 25, 2023 and Winterfest on December 9.)
Dec 7, 2023: Make & Mingle Winter Artist Market
Silverwood Park, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, MN 55421
A winter shopping market featuring local makers. Plus hot cocoa. Free and all ages. 5-8 p.m.
Dec 16, 2023: Shoreview Kids Secret Holiday Shopping Spree
Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126
Staff and volunteers help the kids shop for family gifts. Send the kids in with a list and a designated dollar amount to spend. Gifts range from $2-$20. Kids will have help with everything from selecting to wrapping gifts. 9am-Noon. Pre-registration is required; a free event for children ages 3-12.
TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS
Nov 17-Dec 17, 2023: Holiday Gift mART
North Suburban Center for the Arts, 110 77th Way NE, Fridley, MN 55432
The firehouse will be filled with hundreds of handmade items from local artists for unique gifts for everyone to enjoy at this annual holiday market.
Nov 18, 2023:Â Holiday Artisan & Gift Market
Mississippi Crossings, 307 East River Parkway, Champlin, MNÂ 55316
Champlin’s newest gathering space will be hosting its first Holiday gift market in 2023.
Saturdays, Nov 18-Dec 16, 2023: Holiday Show & Shop
Rumriver Art Center, 2665 4th Avenue, Anoka MN 55303
Find unique gifts made by local artists. Saturdays, November 18 – December 16, 2023, 10am-3pm.
Best Days To Visit: $5 Make & Take Art Projects
- November 18, 10am – 12pm – lid ornament
- November 25, 10am – 12pm – yarn shape ornament
- December 9, 12pm – 2pm – popsicle stick tree
- December 16, 12pm – 2pm – decorate a matboard frame. Also, Selfie with Santa 12pm-2pm.
Nov 26, 2023: Kids’ Holiday Shopping Spree
Blaine City Hall, 10801 Town Square Dr NE, Blaine, MN 55449
Kids can find gifts for family members ranging in price from $1 to $15 with the help of a personal shopper. This event is FREE to attend but registration is required. 15-minute timeslots from 4pm-6:15pm available. Register for the Holiday Shopping Spree through Blaine’s RecConnect Online.
TWIN CITIES SOUTHEAST METRO HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS
Dec 1-2, 2023: Afton Village Holiday
The village Christmas tree is lit Friday eve during Candlelight Night and both days include festive activities for families throughout local shops.
TWIN CITIES SOUTHWEST METRO HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS
Nov 4-Dec 20, 2023: Arboretum Holiday Boutique
AppleHouse, 7485 Rolling Acres Rd, Victoria, MN 55386
Holiday gifts include local favorites like wild rice, maple syrup. Parking and admission are both FREE at the AppleHouse and a reservation is not necessary to shop. (You will need to pay and reserve tickets if you choose to visit the Arboretum during your trip.)
November 18, 2023: Holiday Craft & Book Bazaar
Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square, Edina, MN 55436
Shop for crafts, ornaments and Christmas decorations, jewelry, art and more and check out the Friends of Edina Library book sale. FREE admission. 10am-3pm.
Look For Again in 2024
On Hiatus in 2023: Minneapolis Holidazzle
Loring Park | 1382 Willow St., Minneapolis, MN 55403
Holidazzle is on Hiatus for 2023, but check out all the above Holiday shopping events. We have ideas for where to find other Holidazzle family favorites here.
Holiday Bazaar at Stillwater’s Historic Courthouse
Washington County Historic Courthouse | 101 W. Pine St, Stillwater, MN 55082
The Historic Courthouse is closed until January 2024. Find more like this here: Ye Olde Holidays 2023 at Twin Cities Museums & Historic Sites.
More Holiday Shopping Fun:
- Find Santa Claus Photo Op times, Pets Days & Other Family Fun at Malls
- Find more community Christmas Tree Lighting festivals and early holiday events.
- Support Your Local Shops on Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday
- Shopping Local: FFTC’s Guide to “Made in Minnesota” Gifts
- FFTC’s Local Holiday Bookshop
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Any updates for 2018? Seems the dates are a little off when looking at the calendar for this year.
Hi Nikki.
Check back in October. Many of the shopping events do not get planned and/or shared until then. However, if you see something