Our Holiday Festival Guide is full of hometown festivals at their holiday best. Whether it’s a holiday tree lighting, a skating event or a full-on festival with fireworks and movies, we think this is quite simply the perfect way to kick off the holiday season in 2022:
We’ve organized our holiday festival calendar into regions of the Twin Cities Metro to make it easier to find one close to home (or explore a new destination!) All holiday events are FREE unless noted.
Note: If you are looking for a list of Christmas decorated houses, with addresses categorized by the City’s in which they are located, see this article:
Light It Up: Twin Cities’ Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays
MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL METRO HOLIDAY FESTIVALS & CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS
Union Depot Tree Lighting
214 4th Street East, St. Paul, MN 55101
Catch the giant tree light up at 6:30pm followed by a screening of Elf at 7pm. Dec 3, 2022, event runs 5-9pm.
Rice Park Tree Lighting Ceremony
109 W 4th St, St Paul, MN 55102
One again to signal the start of the holiday season in St Paul, Rice Park will dazzle with thousands of twinkling lights throughout the winter. The holiday lights are traditionally up late November through February. November 12, 2022, 5:30pm.
Grand Meander
Grand Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105
20 blocks of samples, specials, Vulcan fire truck rides, carolers and multiple venues to visit with Santa. Events run starting 8:30am through the afternoon. Dec. 3, 2022.
Holidazzle
1382 Willow St., Minneapolis, MN 55403
Holidazzle offerings tend to change from year to year. Weekends Nov 25-Dec 18, 2022.
TWIN CITIES NORTHWEST METRO HOLIDAY FESTIVALS & CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS
Covering the best holiday festivals and tree lighting events in the communities of Albertville, Anoka, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Hanover, Osseo, Plymouth, Robbinsdale, Rogers & St Michael, Minnesota.
ALBERTVILLE
Albertville Christmas in the Park
Central Park, 5801 Lander Ave. NE, Albertville MN
So much fun in the park to kick off the holiday season: a Christmas tree lighting with Santa & Mrs Claus, horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, smores over the fire and warm beverages. December 4, 2022, 2-4pm.
ANOKA
Anoka Hometown Holiday
The tree will be lit, the carols will be sung, and Santa will be taking visitors. Plus horse-drawn trolley rides and bonfires to keep warm. December 3, 2022, 3-7pm.
CHAMPLIN
Christmas at the Crossing
Mississippi Crossings, 307 East River Parkway, Champlin, MN 55316
The city will be lighting an animated 30-foot LED panel tree, a walk-through ornament, walk-through gift box, and snowflake light pole fixtures. December 1, 2023, 5-8pm.
COON RAPIDS
Coon Rapids Community Tree Lighting Festival
Boulevard Plaza, 11000 Crooked Lake Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Bundle up to celebrate the lighting of Coon Rapids’ community tree. Enjoy signing and bonfires. Both food shelf and toy donations will be accepted. Tree lighting countdown and fireworks at 5:30pm. December 3, 2022, 3:30-6pm.
HANOVER
Victorian Caroling at the Historic Bridge
Millpond Trail, Hanover, MN 55341
Sing-along Christmas carols, llamas in their seasonal best, hot cider and cookies and photo opportunities with St Nick are all part of this Victorian-inspired holiday festival. Located at the historic Hanover Bridge. December 2, 6-8pm. FREE.
OSSEO
Osseo MiniDazzle Celebration
Boerboom Veterans Park, 416 Central Avenue Osseo, MN 55369
Start off with the Light Parade down Main Street. Then, pictures with Santa, take a fire truck ride, warm up at the bonfire and watch the Christmas tree lighting. December 2, 2022, 6-8pm.
PLYMOUTH
Plymouth Holiday at the Hilde
Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, Minnesota 55447
Visit with Santa and live reindeer, enjoy a holiday lights display, music and family activities. December 3, 2022, 4-7pm.
ROBBINSDALE
Robbinsdale Annual Holiday Tree Lighting & Sing-Along
The event will take place at City Hall. December 6, 2022, 6-6:30pm.
ROGERS
Rogers Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Hot cocoa, cookies, caroling and a special activities beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the tree lighting at 7:00 p.m. December 2, 2022; 6pm-8pm.
ST MICHAEL
St Michael Winterfest & Tree Lighting
Town Center Park, 11800 Town Center Drive NE
So good they brought the festival back for a second year! Santa, Mrs Claus & reindeer will be there and the holiday tree will shine. Lots of activities: caroling, bingo, storytime, smores over the fire and hot beverages. December 3, 3-6pm.
TWIN CITIES NORTHEAST METRO HOLIDAY FESTIVALS & CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS
Featuring all the fun of holiday festivals and tree lightings in the communities of North St Paul, Shoreview, Stillwater, Taylors Falls & White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
NORTH ST PAUL
North St. Paul Holiday Hop
City-wide holiday activities. 9am-3pm, most activities are FREE. December 10, 2022.
SHOREVIEW
Shoreview Holiday Lighting Event
Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N., Shoreview, Minnesota 55126
The grounds of Shoreview Commons will be lit for the holidays. Music and cookies follow at the community center. November 14, 2022, 6-7pm.
STILLWATER
Stillwater Hometown for the Holidays
Downtown Stillwater, 100 Main Street, Stillwater, MN 55082
Main Street lights up with Christmas decorations and traditional events for a month-long celebration from First 3 weekends in December; Twinkle Weekend December 2-3, 2022.
Stillwater Twinkle Party & Tree Lighting
Lowell Park, 201 Water St N, Stillwater, MN 55082
Free twinkle lights to pass out for kids 12 & under, music by the Teddy Bear Band, free cookies and warm drinks, trolley rides & the city’s tree lighting ceremony. December 3, 2022; 4-6pm.
TAYLORS FALLS
Taylor Falls Lighting Festival
Taylor Falls, MN 55084
Family highlights include the Grand Lighting & Santa Parade on Friday), Craft Fair & Medallion Hunt on Saturday and Festival Theatre: “Gift of the Magi” on Sunday. FREE. November 25-27, 2022. Fri 3pm-9pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 1:30pm-4pm.
WHITE BEAR LAKE
White Bear Lake Winter Fest
Complete with horse-drawn trolley rides, carolers and ice sculptures in downtown White Bear Lake. December 3, 10 & 17, 2022.
TWIN CITIES SOUTHEAST METRO HOLIDAY FESTIVALS & CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS
Rounding up all the holiday happenings and tree lighting events in the communities of Afton, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount & South St Paul, Minnesota.
AFTON
Afton Village Holiday
Afton, MN 55001
The village Christmas tree is lit Friday eve during Candlelight Night; Saturday is Family Day; both days bring horse and wagon rides, carolers, ice skating and festive activities throughout local shops. December 2-3, 2022; Fri 5-9pm, Sat 9am-4pm.
APPLE VALLEY
Apple Valley Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Complete with caroling, cookies and cider. November 22, 2022, 6:15-7pm.
BURNSVILLE
Burnsville Winter Lighting Ceremony
Nicollet Commons Park, 12550 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville, MN 55337
Making an appearance are local choirs, refreshments, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, 200,000+ lights, and a 30-foot-tall tree. November 23, 2022, 6pm.
COTTAGE GROVE
Cottage Grove Hometown Holiday Celebration
Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Pkwy S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Inaugural event! There will be a festive holiday tree for photos along with Santa and reindeer, bonfires, kids activities, live music and food trucks. November 30, 2022, 5-7pm.
EAGAN
Old Fashioned Holiday at Holz Farm
Holz Farm, 4669 Manor Drive, Eagan, Minnesota 55123
Come visit Santa’s reindeer at this 1940s-era event. Also enjoy hayrides, a bonfire, carols, and treats. December 4, 2022; 12-3:30pm.
Eagan Annual Community Tree Lighting
Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy Eagan, MN 55121
Tree lighting complete with music, kids crafts, Free play at the Blast Indoor Playground, fitness scavenger hunt & hot cocoa. December 6, 2022. 4:30-7pm.
HASTINGS
Hastings Tree Lighting & Snowflake Street Lighting
Enjoy a day of shopping and family fun then watch the street snowflakes light up at 5:15pm and the City Hall Tree lighting at 5:30pm. November 26, 2022.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS
Holidays in the Heights
Veterans Memorial Community Center, 8055 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Friday evening tree lighting outside the community center 6pm-7pm followed by skating with Santa 7pm-8:30pm (registration required). Saturday brings Cookies & Canvas with Santa ($15/pp) (registration required). December 2 & 3, 2022.
LAKEVILLE
Lakeville Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Downtown Lakeville, MN 55044
Lighting at 6pm, musical performance by Lakeville South High School’s Encore Singers and warm beverages and cookies. November 29, 2022, 5pm.
ROSEMOUNT
Rosemount Community Tree Lighting
The annual tree lighting plus treats, kids activities, choir performances, and a visit from Santa. Nov 26, 2022, 6-7pm.
SOUTH ST PAUL
South St Paul Tree Lighting Event
Central Square Community Center, 100 – 7th Avenue North, South St Paul MN
Complete with cocoa, caroling and the lighting of the holiday tree. November 27, 2022, 5:30pm.
TWIN CITIES SOUTHWEST METRO HOLIDAY FESTIVALS & CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS
Bringing you the best holiday festivals and tree lighting events in the communities of Bloomington, Buffalo, Chanhassen, Chaska, Delano, Edina, Excelsior, Savage, Shakopee, Waconia & Wayzata, Minnesota.
BLOOMINGTON
Mall of America Festival of Trees
North Atrium, Level 3, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN 55425
Tour this indoor winter wonderland with trees decorated by businesses and organizations. FREE. November 16-January 4, 2023.
CHANHASSEN
Chanhassen Tree Lighting Ceremony
City Center Park, 7700 Market Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317
An annual holiday event with a tree lighting followed by refreshments, live reindeer, gingerbread house displays, and Santa Claus. December 3, 2022. 5pm.
CHASKA
Chaska Firemen’s Park Tree Lighting
Chaska Event Center and Firemen’s Park
Featuring crafts, outdoor games, hot cocoa and cookies & pictures with Santa Claus. December 4, 2022, 6pm.
DELANO
Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas
Breakfast with Santa, Girl Scout Santa Shop, Teddy Bear Tea, Holiday Character Hunt, music, sleighrides and Santa parade. December 3, 2022; 10am-8pm, FREE admission, some activities have fees. Light the Night 5pm-8pm.
EDINA
Edina Tree Lighting Ceremony
Along with the holiday tree lighting with be chorale singers, horse-drawn trolley rides and Santa Claus. Held at the 50th & France shopping district. November 26, 2022, 4:30-6:30pm.
EXCELSIOR
Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt
Excelsior Commons, 135 Lake St, Excelsior, MN 55331
The annual weekend Christkindlsmarkt is packed with a grand parade, children’s activities in KidsWorld, a North Pole Trolley, music, food and other traditional activities. Friday-Sunday; Nov. 25- Nov. 27 2022.
The Northern Express – A Complete Christmas Wonderland
Tanadoona, 3300 Tanadoona Dr, Excelsior, MN 55331
An immersive North Pole experience. Explore Santa’s workshop, kitchen and more, meet reindeer, Christmas llamas, or Clydesdales, take pictures with Santa himself, and get lost in the Christmas Tree forest. Vendors and makers selling their wares. Dec. 3-Dec. 18, 2022; Tickets $15-$20/pp.
SAVAGE
Savage Tree Lighting Ceremony
Savage City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN 55378
Cocoa, live music, a bonfire the participate in Santa Cop Night at the Police Department. December 1, 2022, 5:30pm.
SHAKOPEE
Shakopee Holiday Fest & Tree Lighting
Vendors, Santa, a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. Dec 3, 2022.
WACONIA
Waconia Community Tree Lighting
City Square Park, 100 E Main Street, Waconia
A tree lighting event with hot cocoa and visits with Santa. November 25, 2022, 6pm.
WAYZATA
Wayzata Light Up the Lake Celebration
Depot Park, 402 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391
Tree lighting ceremony Friday night, with Santa and reindeer, a candy cane hunt for the kids and a parade of lights. Come back on Saturday for Small Business Saturday. Friday, November 25, 2022; 4-7pm.
Are these events listed in date order somewhere? I don’t see them on the calendar of events.
Hi Jodi. You are right, not everything we list in our articles meets our calendar qualifications. These events are in date order by section of the Twin Cities.
Greetings & Happy Holiday’s, Can you please post a list of Christmas decorated houses, with addresses categorized by the City’s in which they are located, if possible. This is a Christmas tradition I do with my Grandchildren each year, each year I’ve located such a listing but this year I’m not finding one online. Thank you very much in advance.
Hi Cynthia: You can find that list here: Light It Up: Twin Cities & Greater Minnesota Christmas & Holiday Light Displays. We currently have over 100 addresses, sorted both by area of the Twin Cities and then by individual city.