Family Holiday Fun in Minneapolis
With the first (couple) snowfalls already under our belts, holiday season is upon us. When busy schedules get in the way and hibernation is at the back of your mind, it’s time to get out and have some fun! Minneapolis has got all you and your family need to get into the holiday spirit.
Last Updated: 11/14/25
Looking to get out of the house but want to keep your little (or bigger!) ones with you? We've compiled a list of family-friendly holiday activities to get you moving. From theatrical shows to outdoor events, there is an endless amount of family fun to be had in Minneapolis during the holidays. Still looking for the perfect gift? Take the whole family to one of many Minneapolis holiday markets this season! Or want to take the gang to the theater? Minneapolis is home to plenty of holiday shows too!
Now through February 28, 2026
3pm to 7pm (Saturdays)
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
The Twin City Model Railroad museum’s collection of model trains of all scales and toy trains of yesteryear come alive throughout the Museum (Sorry, no real trains to board and ride on!). Night Trains Season magic begins as the lights are turned down and the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of operating vintage passenger trains. The make believe town of Matlin is buried in a blizzard, and throughout the Museum the layouts are adorned with miniature Christmas lights and decorations.
November 20, 2025 - January 4, 2026
CHS Field
Featuring over a million lights, the Enchanted Forest, Vixen’s Zip Line, and Giant Slide, GLOW is a must-see experience. The elves have been busy gussying up the place with new exhibits to make sure your holidays are shiny and bright.
November 28, 2025
5pm - 7pm
IDS Center
When the days get dark, America’s Winter City lights up. Join us the evening after Thanksgiving for the Winterapolis Light Up & Winter Kickoff, a celebration marking the start of the winter season in downtown Minneapolis. Gather with friends, family, and neighbors as we flip the switch to light up the city and officially welcome winter. Enjoy live entertainment, mingle with beloved Minnesota mascots, and take in the festive atmosphere filling the Crystal Court and Nicollet Mall.
November 28 - December 31, 2025
Uptown Minneapolis
Uptown is back and brighter than ever! From Black Friday to New Years, grab your Holiday Passport and explore dazzling light displays, sip seasonal drinks, shop for unique gifts, and savor special deals.
Each stop offers something new, from quirky surprises to cozy winter vibes, all while supporting the incredible local businesses that make Hennepin Avenue shine.
November 29, 2025
9am - 10am
11am - Noon
American Swedish Institute
Celebrate the Jul season at ASI with Julglädje, Christmas Joy, a festive family performance filled with music, stories and holiday cheer.
November 30, 2025
11:30am - 4pm
Ukrainian Event Center
The International Holiday Festival is a great holiday tradition to ease into the season with family, friends and community! Enjoy performances from ethnic dance groups from around Minneapolis, shop a bake sale and folk arts, and eat traditional Ukrainian foods for lunch.
December 2, 2025 – January 22, 2026
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings, 5:00-9:00pm
U.S. Bank Stadium
Winter Warm-Up, a recreational program featuring inline skating and indoor running, returns to U.S. Bank Stadium this December. Thirteen Winter Warm-Up sessions will be offered this season beginning on Tuesday, December 2 and ending on Thursday, January 22. Winter Warm-Up is open to all ages and will take place on the stadium’s main and upper concourses from 5 to 9 pm on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
November 4, 2025 - January 4, 2025
Children's Theatre Company
A miserly and miserable, ever-so-cantankerous Grinch has observed the despicable Christmas joy of the Whos with disdain, from a distance, for decades. Enough! In this favorite holiday story, filled with music and Seussian rhymes, he conceives a dastardly plot to destroy the holiday they love. It’s the smallest of the Whos, tiny Cindy Lou, who extends a hand. Through the combination of kindness and community, we witness not only a change in the course of Who-History, but the size and capacity of the cantankerous Grinch’s heart.
November 8 - December 28, 2025
Guthrie Theater
A miserly and miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge greets each Christmas with “Bah! Humbug!” until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. In Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, the three spirits show Scrooge happy memories
from his past, difficult realities from the present and a grim future should he continue his closed-hearted ways. Throughout his journey, Scrooge is forced to reckon with the man he has become and contemplate the man he could be — but only if his restless night leads to a change of heart by morning. Artistic Director Joseph Haj returns to direct this heartwarming holiday tradition for all ages.
November 8, 2025 – January 26, 2026
American Swedish Institute
Tis the season to embrace the fantastical. Traverse the castle into a magical realm led by Tomte and all his friends. It’s time to hear his side of the story. The American Swedish Institute’s annual Holiday Experience takes visitors on a journey that explores the Legends of Winter. Explore the Turnblad Mansion with Tomte to discover iconic holiday characters, each with their own spectacular space.
November 20 - December 31, 2025
Select nights, times vary
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Winter Lights 2025 is an immersive indoor and outdoor nighttime experience that celebrates the beauty and wonder of plants in winter. Set across the Arboretum’s walkable pathways and indoor spaces, this year’s botanical-themed light displays highlight the University of Minnesota’s historic plant introductions and innovations.
Mid November - December 24, 2025
Mall of America
Sign up to visit Santa at a time that is convenient with your busy schedule. Enjoy a unique and more private in-person visit with Santa as a family, then shop for your favorite Santa photos, video and merchandise in our store.
November 21, 2025 - January 3, 2026
Tuesday - Sunday
Norway House
Over the years, Gingerbread Wonderland has hosted more than 2,000 charming gingerbread creations — gingerbread houses, castles, campers, Minnesota landmarks, Whoville- and Barbie-inspired constructions, and so much more — produced by both professional and amateur bakers from around town to across the globe.
November 21 - December 21, 2025
North Loop Green
Step into the magic of the holidays at the second annual Minneapolis Christkindl Market — an authentic German-style Christmas market in the heart of Minneapolis! Stroll through a sparkling outdoor wonderland of twinkling lights, alpine-style wooden huts, and the cozy aroma of mulled wine.
Gather with friends and family, slow down, and enjoy the festive season with live music, dance performances, and family fun, including visits from Santa every Sunday. Explore handcrafted treasures from over 35 vendors — including 10 exciting new ones, and savor traditional European treats like German Glühwein, Spätzle, Swiss Raclette, and sweet Spanish honeys.
November 29, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Thursday-Sunday, Times vary
James J. Hill House
Experience Christmas in 1910—both upstairs and downstairs—in the sumptuous Gilded Age mansion of railroad titan James J. Hill. Admission includes self-guided access to holiday-themed exhibits and a 60-minute guided tour highlighting holiday stories and memories from both the Hill family and their staff. Tours are limited in size to accommodate social distancing. Visitors are required to wear a face covering indoors at all times.
December 6-7, 2025
American Swedish Institute
The sights and sounds of the Scandinavian marketplace returns the first weekend in December at one of the region’s largest handcraft markets and festivals.
Shop handmade goods from more than 60 regional artists at booths inside ASI and out in the courtyard. Browse exceptional items from ASI’s own Jul Shop, alongside distinctive artisan glass, clothing, wood, jewelry, ceramics, and textiles. Perfect for all ages, Julmarknad features pop-up musical performances, family crafts, story time, festival foods, and take-home handcraft projects that celebrate the season.
December 5-7 & 11-14, 2025
Times Vary
Union Depot, St. Paul
Join the Friends of the 261 and Santa, as we travel to and from the North Pole to view all the special shops, Santa’s home and the elves working hard preparing for the big day. And, along the way, we’ll enjoy singing holiday carols and the spirit of the Holidays with some of my entertaining characters on board to enhance the experience.
Ho, Ho, Ho! All Aboard the North Pole Express!
December 2-24, 2025
Penumbra Theatre
Be part of a joyous Twin Cities tradition. Penumbra’s homegrown Christmas show makes a triumphant return with familiar faces and a new generation of talent. Let the timeless story, stirring vocals and breath-taking choreography wrap you in the spirit of the season.
December 12-13, 2025
Orpheum Theatre
Gather your loved ones for the warm-glow-nostalgia of America’s favorite Christmas celebration: NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet! Be transported by the magic of jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger than life puppets and stunning hand-crafted sets and costumes.
December 12-13, 2025
Orchestra Hall
The Minnesota Orchestra presents Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert featuring the complete film, with the score performed live-to-picture. The Muppets perform Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine), and many more of your favorite Muppet characters. This special holiday event is fun for the whole family!
November 26 - December 7, 2025
Northrop
‘Twas the Night Before … is Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show, based on the classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays.
December 19, 2025
5pm - 9pm
American Swedish Institute
Mark the shortest day and longest night of the year at ASI with ASI’s popular Winter Solstice Celebration. Since pagan days, solstice has traditionally meant the “year as reborn,” with ancient (and modern) Scandinavians fusing it into the longer “Jul” or Yule season. ASI celebrates this powerful seasonal juncture with fun, festivity and performance.
