The Nutcracker and Beyond: 2019’s Best Christmas Shows Ever!

The Twin Cities offers more than the Nutcracker ballet and The Christmas Carol at the Guthrie for Christmas plays and other 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 plays, musicals and ballets this season.

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

2019 Christmas Plays & Musicals

photo by Kaitlin Randolph

11/3/19-1/5/20: Cinderella |  Children’s Theatre Company
Read about last year’s trip to see the Grinch here. Tickets $15+

11/12/19-12/29/19: A Christmas Carol | The Guthrie
This Twin Cities favorite may be best suited for families with older children. Tickets $29+.

11/19/19-12/30/19: Cinderella | Sidekick Theatre
An all ages musical with audience participation. $14-$18/pp. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets.

11/21/19-12/22/19: Black Nativity | Penumbra Theatre
This musical was created by Poet Langston Hughes. Tickets $15-$40.

11/22/19-12/15/19: Miracle on 34th Street | Lakeshore Players Theatre, White Bear Lake
A little girl, an old man who claims to be Santa, a the lawyer who proves it  • Tickets $23.00-$28.00.

11/22/19-12/28/19: Elf The Musical, Jr | Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins
Follow Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. All Ages. Tickets $14-$16.

11/22/19-12/22/19: Annie Jr | Steppingstone Theatre, St Paul
The junior version of an all-time family Broadway favorite. Ages 3+. Tickets $12-$16..

11/26/19-11/27/19: Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer The Musical | Ames Center
See the classic Christmas special live on stage in Burnsville. Tickets $35-$55.

11/30/19: Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Christmas Show | Pantages, Minneapolis The cast of “A Prairie Home Companion” reunites for a Christmas show. Tickets $46-$66.

12/6/19-12/22/19: June B. Jones in Jingle Bells Batman Smells
Youth Performance Company puts on this funny show for all ages. Tickets $12-$15. Check our Goldstar affiliate link for discounted tickets.

12/6/19-12/15/19: Madeline’s Christmas | Merrill Community Theatre, Woodbury
A musical adaptation of the Ludwig Bemelman Classic. Tickets $8-$22 (Military FREE).

12/9/19-12/20/19: The Secret Garden | Old Gem Theater, New Richmond | ​
Audience-participation musical. Two children grow as a result of their love for a secret garden. All ages. Tickets $10-$12.

12/12/19-12/15/19: An “Eventually” Christmas Holiday at the Mill | Mill City Museum, A Christmas play based on 1920 Washburn Crosby holiday party. Recommended for ages 8+. Tickets $16-$20/pp. 

12/14/19-12/19/19: Home for the Holidays | Minnesota Orchestra
Combines music performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and storytelling by Kevin Kling with a Minnesotan slant on Christmas and family traditions. Ages 6+.

2019 Nutcracker Ballets

11/23/19: Nutcracker Ballet by Pas de Deux Dance Studio | St Paul U of M
The classic story with a few special twists, presented at the St Paul Student Union Theater. Shows at 1:30 & 4pm. Ages 4 & up, $15/advance, $20/door.

11/30/19-12/8/19: Continental Ballet’s The Nutcracker | Bloomington Center for Arts Tchaikovsky’s timeless tale of Clara’s voyage to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy with her magical godfather Drosselmeyer. Tickets $13-$25.

12/6/19-12/7/19: 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+.

12/13/19: A Minnesota Nutcracker | Ames Center, Burnsville
A holiday tradition with Minnesota settings and custom designed Minnesota-centric backdrops. Tickets start at $24-39.

12/13/19-12/15/19: Family Classic Nutcracker with LIve Orchestra | Lindbergh Center Minnesota’s only Nutcracker featuring two live orchestras — Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and Linden Hills Chamber Orchestra. Tickets: $39-$59.

12/13/19-12/23/19: 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 for discounted tickets.

12/21/19: A Nutcracker Story  by St Paul Ballet | The O’Shaugnessy, St. Paul
Tickets: $12-$37.

*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.