UPCOMING DULUTH HOLIDAY EVENTS
Plan your perfect holiday in the Twin Ports! We’re dashing through the North Shore in search of all things festive and bright: dancing Christmas lights, merry markets to shop, meet and greets with Santa, candlelit tours and more. Explore our Duluth holiday calendar to get inspired whether you’re a local or dreaming of a little yuletide getaway.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Glensheen Mansion Christmas Tours
Santa & Reindeer at Fitger's
Christmas City of the North Parade
Date(s): 11/21/2025 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmLocation: Fitger's Complex, 600 E Superior St, Duluth, MN, 55802
Duluth’s Christmas City of the North Parade has been a holiday tradition for more than 60 years. Stepping off in front of the historic Fitger’s Complex, the spectacle is made up of dozens of festively illuminated floats, marching bands, live entertainers and special guests like Santa & Mrs Claus. Parade begins at 6:30pm.
PARADE ROUTE From Fitger’s at 6th Ave E & Superior Street, the parade travels southwest to 4th Ave W.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights Duluth
Date(s): 11/22/2025 - 12/27/2025 5:00 pm - 9:00 pmLocation: Bayfront Festival Park, 700 Railroad Street, Duluth, MN, 55802
This dazzling outdoor light display and sky-high Christmas tree draws thousands each holiday season to Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Bundle up and take to the trail around the park, visit with Santa and warm up with cocoa and smores. We rate this attraction the best thing to do in Duluth over the holiday season with your family!
Bentleyville in Duluth is open evenings November 22nd– December 27th, 2025. Sun-Thurs, 5-9pm & Fri-Sat, 5-10pm. Admission and all activities are FREE or what you care to donate. Parking in the lot is $12 per vehicle or $10 with cash.
Lake Superior Zoo Lights
Date(s): 12/20/2025 5:00 pm - 7:30 pmLocation: Lake Superior Zoo, 7210 Fremont Street, Duluth, MN, 55807
Zoo Lights is a special, after-hours event at the Lake Superior Zoo featuring giant inflatable animals, sparkling holiday lights, festive live music and more photo backdrops. Free smores to all who visit and hot cocoa and treats available for purchase in the Safari Cafe. Plus, Santa Claus will visit every night of the event. Offered Friday & Saturday nights, December 5-20, 2025; 5pm-7:30pm. $10/pp.
WHERE TO FIND SANTA IN THE DULUTH AREA
Ho, ho, ho. Santa is popping up all over the place in Duluth this holiday season. A sampling of where you might track him down:
Santa & Live Reindeer at Fitger's
Date(s): 12/14/2025 12:00 pm - 3:00 pmLocation: Fitger's Complex, 600 E Superior St, Duluth, MN, 55802
Santa, flanked by his trusty reindeer, arrive at the historic Fitger’s Complex the day after Thanksgiving. Take a breather from your holiday shopping and pay Santa a visit select dates. He’ll be inside the mall complex; the reindeer in the courtyard. After Thanksgiving, Santa visits weekends, November 29-December 14. Saturdays, 11am-4pm & Sundays, 12-3pm. Visits are free!
Santa Photo Experience at Miller Hill Mall
Date(s): 12/21/2025 - 12/24/2025 10:00 am - 7:00 pmLocation: Miller Hill Mall, 1600 Miller Trunk Hwy, Duluth, MN, 55811
Santa is thrilled to visit Miller Hill Mall this holiday season to take pictures with you and yours. Walk up appointments welcome each day until closing time. Appointments may be available between November 28-December 24, 2025 between 10am-7pm. Packages start at $19.99.
Christmas City Express
Date(s): 12/21/2025 3:15 pm - 6:15 pmLocation: North Shore Scenic Railroad, 506 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN, 55802
Departing from the historic Duluth Depot, a ticket aboard the Christmas City Express treats you to a 30-minute ride to the lake while you make merry with cocoa and Christmas carols. Prior to boarding, your kids will enjoy a reading of The Christmas City Express, a visit with St Nick, and a short chance to clamber all over the trains decked out for the holidays. Trains run November 28-December 21, 2025 – see link for schedule. Coach seats start at $40/adults, $35/children, 2 & under are free.
More spots to find Santa in the Duluth area
- Festival of Trees – Santa stops by the pop-up Christmas market, November 15-16.
- Santa Photo Experience at Miller Hill Mall – photo packages available November 28-December 24.
- Zoo Lights – Santa visits the Lake Superior Zoo every Friday & Saturday night, December 5-20, 5-7:30pm.
HAVE YOURSELF A HISTORICAL LITTLE CHRISTMAS IN DULUTH
Fairlawn Mansion Old Fashioned Christmas
Date(s): 12/16/2025 3:30 pm - 6:30 pmLocation: Fairlawn Mansion, 906 East 2nd Street, Superior, WI, 54880
Families with or without kids will enjoy interacting with the costumed interpreters, exploring the nooks of a mansion decked out for the holiday and, of course, treats. Fairlawn’s Old-Fashioned Christmas tours are self-guided events that span three hours; plan to spend at least 30 minutes soaking in the splendor. Admission: $12/adults, $10/youth 6-17, free/5 & under.
Glensheen Mansion Candlelight Christmas Tour
Date(s): 12/28/2025 5:00 pm - 8:00 pmLocation: Glensheen Mansion, 3300 London Rd, Duluth, MN, 55804
Historic Glensheen is a Duluth mining baron’s dream home with an unbeatable view of Lake Superior. It’s also got a sinister past (for those who like a good ghost story), though the very family-friendly tour shies far away from this. Instead, it focuses on the splendor of the Congdon family Christmases and their customs. To get kids engaged, we recommend taking the self-guided Christmas tour and making the visit into a giant game of I-Spy: how many Christmas trees can they count? How many hidden elves? Don’t miss the traditional shortbread cookies in the kitchen and, if weather permits, take a winter walk down at the edge of the lake. The grounds are usually decorated and ablaze with holiday lights. Daily tours start November 14-December 23 – see our schedule for times. $8-$20 with kids 5 & under FREE.
DULUTH HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENTS
Festival of Trees
Date(s): 11/15/2025 - 11/16/2025 9:00 am - 5:00 pmLocation: DECC, 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN, 55802
The Junior League of Duluth hosts this annual holiday market-and-fundraising event. Come out and support small businesses while whittling down your shopping list! 170 vendors will offer handmade gifts, art, apparel, home decor, health products and more. Bringing kids along while you shop? Santa Claus has been known to stop by the market. November 15-15, 2025. Sat, 9am-5pm & Sun, 10am-5pm. Admission: $5-$7, kids 12 & under free.
Duluth Winter Village
Date(s): 12/07/2025 10:00 am - 4:00 pmLocation: DECC, 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN, 55802
Plan your winter getaway for the first weekend in December when Duluth celebrates local small businesses with a the two-day, free outdoor festival. Little cabins along Harbor Drive behind the DECC set up shop with bright wares to browse. There will also be firepits to stay warm, live animals (like llamas and goats), carolers and delicious food and beverages to purchase including sips from the new Tinsel Tavern. December 6-7, 2025, 10am-4pm. Admission is free.