Get ready for a big serving of old-fashioned fun, cultural traditions and special events for the Holidays at Twin Cities museums and historic sites.
Nov 15, 2019 – Jan 5, 2020:Gingerbread Wonderland | Norway House | $5/pp | Norway House’s annual signature Holiday tradition Gingerbread Wonderland returns to the Gallery at Norway House for its 5th Anniversary.
12/8/19: Old Fashioned Holiday | Holz Farm, Eagan | 12–3:30pm | Come visit Santa’s reindeer at this 1940s-era event. Also enjoy hayrides, a bonfire, carols, and treats. All activities are FREE!
Begins 11/23/18: A Victorian Christmas | Alexander Ramsey House | See, hear and taste a Victorian Christmas during this holiday guided tour. There are homemade cookies in the kitchen, holiday music of the era on the piano, and original family decorations.
Begins 11/24/18:Holiday tours at the Purcell-Cutts House | Minneapolis | $5/adults, students & kids free | Special tours are given throughout the holiday season, operated by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and decorated for the holiday. Ends 12/30/18.
11/24/18:Gingerbread House Workshop | American Swedish Museum, Minneapolis | 10am & 1pm | $35/family (limit 5 people per family) | Decorate a gingerbread house as a family using Swedish candy from the Candy Shop Stuga.
12/1/18: Holiday Fest | Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee | 10am-1pm | Free historic holiday fun – hot cocoa in the historic Stans House, decorated for a 1920s Christmas; toasted marshmallows in the Stans Garden; and ornament-making in the museum.
12/1/18:Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest Winners | Mill City Museum, Minneapolis | 12:30-4pm | $6-$12/pp, free ages 4 and under & members| Star Tribune’s annual Taste Holiday Cookie Contest finalists bake their winning recipes in the Mill City Museum Baking Lab. Get tips and inspiration!
Little House On The Prairie Christmas Accessory Play Set, Mittens Amazon Link.
12/1/18-12/2/18: Christmas on the Farm: A Norwegian Christmas | Eidem Homestead, Brooklyn Park | 1-4pm | $4-$6/pp, cash or check only | Old-fashioned festivities include carolers, ornament-making, freshly-baked treats and a visit with St. Nick.
12/1/18-12/2/18: Holiday Open Haus | Germanic-American Institute, St Paul | 11am-4pm | 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.
12/1/18-12/9/18: Christmas in the Village | Dakota City Heritage Village, Farmington | 1-8pm Sat & Sun | $4-$7/pp | Dickens’ A Christmas Carol comes to life in the village with a horse-drawn trolley, caroling, holiday cooking, demonstrations, a visit with St. Nicholas and other turn-of-the-century traditions.
12/1/18-12/23/18: Folkways of the Holidays | The Landing, Shakopee | Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm | $5-$8/pp | Folk art performances, a horse-drawn trolley, and tours dressed in 19th century decorations. Dress for the outdoors.
12/7/18:Lucia’s Legend Preschool Program | American Swedish Museum, Minneapolis | 10am | $15/child | Parent/child program explores the legend of Santa Lucia through stories, crafts and activities. Limit 2 adults per child. Also on Thursday, December 13, 10 am.
12/7/18:A “Little Women” Christmas | Alexander Ramsey House, St Paul | 7pm | $10-$14, $3 member discount | Discover how the “Little Women” of the classic book celebrated Christmas in the 1860s. Play Victorian parlor games, sing carols, enjoy gingerbread cake, and make a Christmas craft in the Carriage House. Ages 6+. (This sold out last year.)
Amazon link.
12/8/18: Holiday Tours | Fillebrown House, White Bear Lake | 10am, 11:30am, & 1pm | $7/pp
12/9/18: Lucia Dagen Celebration | Gammelgarden Museum, Scandia | $5-$15/pp | Following a quick morning Swedish prayer service (6 or 8:30am) in the 1865 church, head to the community center for a full Lucia Fest breakfast and program (7 or 9am).
12/15/18-12/16/18: Christmas on the Farm Tour | Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River | $15/pp, 5 & under free | Learn how the farm families celebrated the holiday season and dealt with cold temps, visit the animals, take a wagon ride and warm up with treats and refreshments.
12/16/18: A Frontier Christmas | Pond-Dakota Mission Park, Bloomington | Suggested Donation $2 | Join costumed re-enactors at the historic Pond House; gather ‘round the 19th century pump organ to the sing carols; Agnes Pond will read the Christmas story, and Rev. Pond will present excerpts from his 1862 Christmas sermon; enjoy refreshments by the fireplace; make angel ornaments.
What is your favorite event to celebrate the Holidays at Twin Cities museums or historic places? Leave us a comment and we’ll add it to our list.
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