The Nutcracker and Beyond: The Best Christmas Shows Ever!

The Twin Cities offers more than the Nutcracker ballet and The Christmas Carol at the Guthrie for holiday shows. Though these are classics, we have plenty of options for families with every age of child.

While we couldn’t possibly cover every Holiday show in the Twin Cities, we’ve rounded up what we believe to be the best family friendly Christmas shows this season.

Insider Tip: Many of these shows have discounted tickets available through our affiliate partner, Goldstar.*

---

11/6/18-1/6/19: How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Children’s Theatre Company | Read about last year’s trip to see the Grinch here  | Tickets $15+

11/13/18-12/29/18: A Christmas Carol | The Guthrie | This Twin Cities favorite may be best suited for families with older children. Tickets $15+.

11/15/18-12/27/18: Mary Poppins | Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins • Enjoy a Holly Jolly Holiday with Mary Poppins. • All Ages •  Tickets $14-$16.

11/27/18-12/28/18: Little Red Reding Hood | Sidekick Theatre | Join Little Red on her adventure as she tries to outwit the sly wolf and discovers that it’s not just the enchanted forest that has magical powers. | $9.50-$18.50/pp. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets

11/30/18-12/17/18: A Year With Frog & Toad | Youth Performance Company | The musical adaptation of the children’s book | Tickets $12-$15. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets

11/30/18-12/22/18: A Charlie Brown Christmas | Steppingstone Theatre, St. Paul • Everyone’s favorite classic Christmas special on stage • All Ages • Tickets $12.00-$16.00.

11/29/18-12/23/18: Black Nativity | Penumbra Theatre | This musical was created by Poet Langston Hughes | Tickets $15-$40.

12/5/18-12/30/18: Elf, The Musical | Ordway • Musical based on the movie, but there is still a book to go with it! • 6+ • Tickets $56+. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets.

12/7/18-12/23/18: Santaland Diaries | Merrill Community Theatre, Woodbury • Based on the book by David Sedaris. You may want to read (or better listen to the book read by the author) before deciding whether to share with the kids. Sedaris is hilarious,  but not a children’s writer. • Teens/Adults? • Tickets $8.00-$22.00 (Military FREE).

12/10/18-12/21/18: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Old Gem Theater, New Richmond, WI • The epic tale of the Herdman clan as they take on small-town gossips and takeover the local Christmas Pageant based on the book by Barbara Robinson • All Ages • Tickets $10-$12.

12/13/18-12/16/18: An “Eventually” Christmas Holiday at the Mill | Mill City Museum, Minneapolis • A Christmas Play based on 1920 Washburn Crosby holiday party. • Recommended for ages 8+ • Tickets $16-$20/pp. 

12/14/18-12/20/18: Home for the Holidays | Minnesota Orchestra @ Orchestra Hall • Combines music performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and storytelling by Kevin Kling with a Minnesotan slant on Christmas and family traditions. • Ages 6+.

12/7/18-12/9/18: Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer The Musical | Ames Center, Burnsville | See the classic Christmas special live on stage  | Tickets $38-$73.

---

And Then There Are The Nutcracker Ballets:

11/30/18-12/1/18: The Great Russian Nutcracker | Orpheum, Minneapolis • Moscow Ballet presents the Nutcracker Ballet with hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls. • All Ages • Tickets $32+.

12/1/18-12/9/18: Continental Ballet Company The Nutcracker | Bloomington Center for the Arts • Tchaikovsky’s timeless tale of Clara’s voyage to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy with her magical godfather Drosselmeyer. • All Ages • Tickets $13-$25. Call 952-563-8562 for tickets.

12/1/18-12/2/18: A Nutcracker Story  by St. Paul Ballet | The O’Shaugnessy, St. Paul | Tickets: $12-$37.

12/7/18-12/9/18: A Minnesota Nutcracker | Ames Center, Burnsville | A holiday tradition with Minnesota settings and custom designed Minnesota-centric backdrops. | Tickets start at $24-39.

12/14/18-12/23/18: Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy | State Theatre • More than 150 dancers, artists and production professionals collaborate to create this annual Holiday show. • Tickets $30-$75. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets.

12/15/18-12/16/18: Classic Nutcracker with Live Symphony Orchestra | Metropolitan Ballet and Kenwood Symphony Orchestra @ Lindbergh Center Auditorium, 2400 Lindbergh Dr. Minnetonka • Minnesota’s only Nutcracker with a Full Symphony Orchestra. • All Ages • Tickets $39-$59. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets.

12/22/18: Disney The Nutcracker and the Four Realms in Concert Live to Film | Minnesota Orchestra @ Minneapolis Convention Center • Disney film with a full symphony orchestra. • Ages 6+ •  Tickets.

---

*Family .Fun Twin Cities receives compensation for referrals to Goldstar, however, we believe this program is an important part of an affordable family fun arsenal.