Here’s a heads up on some of the most exciting Twin Cities Christmas & holiday experiences happening this year. Get out your calendar; here are our Top Ten that you won’t want to miss! For more holiday happenings, check our 2025 TWIN CITIES CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY GUIDE. It’s chock full of Santa sightings, festivals, theater and musical performances, Christmas lights displays, and Christmas market finds.
Minnesota Orchestra presents the FFTC Holiday Guide
Minnesota Orchestra concerts aren't just for grown-ups.
We've got performances that spark curiosity, wiggles, and wide-eyed wonder.
Enjoy a family-friendly film with the score played live-to-picture or a classical concert.
Younger children can enjoy family and sensory-friendly concerts with a parent or caregiver.
With discounted kids' tickets and free admission through Hall Pass, it's easy to bring the whole crew.
Get more details by clicking on the image above.
TWIN CITIES CHRISTMAS TRAINS
Night Trains at Twin City Model Railroad Museum
Twin City Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Rd Ste. 8, St Paul, MN 55114
Visit the imaginary town of Matlin. It has been buried in a blizzard, but the Night Trains are still running. The model railroad museum turns the lights down for this Christmas event so you can enjoy the soft warm glow of the buildings and street lights and the specially lighted models of vintage passenger trains. Saturdays, November 8th, 2025 to February 28, 2026 (No Christmas Eve show), 3 pm-7 pm. $15/pp, kids under the age of 4 are free.
North Pole Express
Union Depot, 214 4th Street East, Saint Paul, MN 55101
Take a one-mile train ride to the North Pole and write your letter to Santa on the way. Santa will board the train and ride back to the Union Depot, greeting kids and collecting letters with treats and other activities following. This event historically sells out fast. Tickets are on sale now for Dec 5-7 & Dec 11-14, 2025. This event sells out every year. Tickets go on sale in early October, mark your 2025 calendar now!
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
Always a holiday favorite, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train historically stops at several Twin Cities locations. Select spots, you’ll even be treated to a live musical performance. December 12-15, 2025. See the full Twin Cities schedule and more “Planes, Trains & Sleigh Rides” here.
TWIN CITIES FESTIVE HOLIDAY LIGHTS DISPLAYS
The Minneapolis-St Paul Twin Cities metro area absolutely sparkles during the holiday season with dazzling outdoor light displays. For our master list of Christmas lights and holiday displays, look no further than here. Also includes community Christmas Tree lightings! Some of our favorites include:
ST PAUL GLOW Holiday Festival
CHS Field, 360 N Broadway St, St Paul, MN 55101
CHS Field is converted to a stunning walking tour of holiday decorations and Christmas delights. Dozens of seasonal scenes, a 60-foot illuminated tree and an art-created mosaic flame, a festive Santa Land, zipline, slide & carousel and other attractions all await. Grab a map and follow the trail to find a “sElfie Plaza”, an enchanted forest, a s’mores station, concessions and more. Nov. 20, 2025-January 4, 2026.
ST PAUL Holiday Lights on York
1526 York Ave, St. Paul MN
Comprised of 9 family homes on both sides of the street dancing to holiday favorites you can listen to on your car radio. Synchronized to 91.5. Collecting food shelf donations for the holiday season. Weather permitting, runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving through the end of the year, 5-10pm.
Create your own drive-thru holiday lights event! We have an enormous list of homes around the Twin Cities that deck their halls up for the holiday: Jump over to Light It Up: Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays for our map!
CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY MARKETS – TWIN CITIES CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCES
ST PAUL European Christmas Market
Union Depot, 214 4th Street E, St Paul MN
Shop booths decorated for Christmas and modeled after those found in Munich and other Christkindlmarkts. The market kicks off on November 28, 2025 and hosts the Union Depot Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec 6, 2025 A total of four weekends leading up to Christmas.
SANTA SIGHTING AROUND THE TWIN CITIES METRO
We’re not certain how Santa can maintain such a busy social calendar, but he’s simply everywhere this year! You can search for sighting by region of the Twin Cities metro area by skipping over to our HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS guide.
OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAYS IN MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL
Experience Christmas in the 19th century by celebrating the rich holiday traditions of the earliest settlers of Minnesota. Some of our favorite historical holiday events are make perfect outings for families:
Christmas at Dakota City Heritage Village
Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 220th St, Farmington, MN 55024
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol comes to life in the village. Stroll or drive around the holiday-decorated village, write a letter to St. Nick and post it in the mail, warm up with treats at the drugstore, take a sleigh ride and more. December 6, 7, 13, and 14, 2025; 3-8pm. Admission has traditionally been around $5.50 online and available at the gate. Kids under 5 FREE.
Holz Farm Old Fashioned Holiday
Holz Farm, 4665 Manor Dr, Eagan, MN 55123
Come visit Santa’s reindeer at this 1940s-era event. Also enjoy hayrides and self-guided tours of the farm site. December 7, 2025, 12-3pm. FREE.
See our complete listing of Ye Old Holidays at Twin Cities Museums & Historic Sites.
SHOP JOLLY: TWIN CITIES HOLIDAY MARKETS
It’s much more fun to explore a local shopping district than to click around on Amazon! Check out our Guide to Family Friendly Twin Cities Christmas Markets to shop local. Here’s a sample of a local shopping event we love:
Grand Meander
Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Wander the length of Grand Avenue, explore the shops for holiday gifts, sample soups, visit Santa, listen for the roving carolers and more to get you in the spirit. One day only! December 6, 2025. 11am-3pm.
CATCH SOME HOLIDAY SPIRIT ONSTAGE
Here’s a sampling of where some of the family-friendliest stages if you’re considering bringing kids to the theater, the ballet or to a live musical performance this holiday season in the Twin Cities:
- Elf, Jr. The Musical | Stages Theater | November 21-December 28, 2025.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Children’s Theatre Company | November 4, 2025-January 4, 2026.
Jump over to our complete listing of Nutcracker and other holiday performances: The Nutcracker and Beyond: The Best Christmas Shows Ever!
I love Germany’s and my home country denmarks market. In denmark we have Tivoli Garden, Strøget, Bakken (Klampenborg) and many other places.
Thanks for sharing, Ella. I would LOVE to be able to visit both Germany and Denmark during the Christmas Holiday!
Hello
Whenever Christmas comes every year, the whole world shines. This day is very special to me because we decorate all the house and meet our friends and family members.
Thank you for sharing, Rehman. I know its a long wait, but I too look forward to Christmas — even in March. In the meantime, be sure to check out our Easter events: Easter Egg Hunts & Activities in the Twin Cities – 2021. There is something really special about Spring, in the Twin Cities as well.
Kick-off the holiday season with Christmas at the Courthouse at the Washington County Historic Courthouse. This day is very special to me because we decorate all the house and meet our friends and family members. Thanks for sharing, Anna. Stay tuned for our 2020 list.
Thank you for sharing, Steve! Are you part of the decorating committee and is this an annual tradition for your family. What a great way to celebrate.
Whenever Christmas comes every year, the whole world shines. This day is very special to me because we decorate all the house and meet our friends and family members.
Thanks for sharing, Anna. Stay tuned for our 2020 list. We aren’t sure what it is going to look like, but we are excited to see.
—the nationally traveling exhibition makes a stop at the Mansion this holiday season. Admission is $5–$10.
Will that be Christmas 2020? Which mansion? ASI or Hill House? And what exhibition?