Now that your belly is full of turkey, it’s time to dive into the magic of the Christmas season! The holidays are full of festive cheer, cozy traditions, and family memories waiting to be made. One of our favorite traditions? Finding Santa for a photo! There’s nothing quite like the excitement of spotting Santa, lining up for a picture, and seeing those little faces light up with joy. We love counting how many Santa selfies we can snap each year — how many will you capture?
But the fun doesn’t stop there — there are so many wonderful local holiday activities happening nearby. Here are a few festive events and ideas around our part of Minnesota.
🎁 Local Holiday Highlights
Hometown for the Holidays — Stillwater, MN
This annual celebration runs four weekends in 2025 with a unique theme each:
- Shop Small Weekend – Nov 28–30: Small Business Saturday, roaming Santa, elves with goodie bags, and Victorian carolers.
- Twinkle Weekend – Dec 4–7: Main Street lights up with luminaries, a “Twinkle Party,” tree lighting, fireworks, and Santa arriving for photos.
- Candy Town Weekend – Dec 11–14: Gingerbread fun, cookie decorating, gingerbread-man hunt, and holiday lights for a sweet family experience.
- Furry Friends Weekend – Dec 18–21: Pet parade, costume contest, holiday photo booths, face-painting, and vendor tables.
Hometown Holiday — Cottage Grove, MN
Thursday, Dec 4, 2025, 5 - 7 PM — Cottage Grove transforms into a festive holiday wonderland for families to enjoy. Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus, take photos, and drop letters in Santa’s mailbox. The event features a path lined with over 30 holiday inflatables, wagon rides to City Hall from nearby parking lots, holiday music by the Park High School Choir, live reindeer, face-painting, games, and free treats. Families can also warm up at the bonfires and grab a bite from food trucks.
Oakdale Tree Lighting — Oakdale, MN
Thursday, Dec 4, 2025, 6 - 8 PM — Celebrate at City Hall with the annual Tree Lighting. Kids can meet Santa, take a photo, enjoy a bonfire with s’mores, refreshments, and holiday music.
Winter Wonderland Event — Oakdale, MN
Saturday, Dec 20, 2025 9 AM - 1 PM— Oakdale Discovery Center hosts horse-drawn hayrides, a petting zoo, holiday crafts, games, face-painting, and a visit with Santa. Breakfast and lunch options are available. Admission is free.
Woodbury Tree Lighting Celebration – Central Park
Thursday, Dec 4, 2025, 4 - 6 PM — Celebrate the season in Woodbury at the city’s inaugural Tree Lighting, with the Woodbury Tree glowing around 6:30 p.m. at Central Park. Families can enjoy live music, hot cocoa, and festive fun on the South Patio. This free, family-friendly event also encourages attendees to bring food donations for Open Cupboard to support local families.
🏙️ Metro‑Wide Festive Events
GLOW Holiday Festival — St. Paul, MN
Nov 20, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 — Walk-through wonderland at CHS Field with more than a million lights, holiday displays, zip-line, giant slide, carousel, and seasonal treats.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis
Nov 4, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 — A magical, family-friendly stage adaptation of the classic holiday story — perfect for kids (and adults) who love whimsy, music, and festive theater.
Magic of Lights — Eagan, MN
Nov 21, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026 — Drive-through holiday lights experience at Viking Lakes. Animated displays, light tunnels, and festive scenes — perfect for a cozy family outing.
Luminiscence — Minneapolis, MN
Nov 22, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026 — A spectacular holiday lights experience in Minneapolis featuring vibrant light displays, immersive installations, and festive photo opportunities. Perfect for families to enjoy a magical evening stroll.
So bundle up, grab the whole family, and get ready for a season full of laughter, memories, and holiday magic. Whether it’s spotting Santa, sipping hot cocoa by a city tree light, or enjoying a holiday stroll with twinkling lights — there’s no shortage of magical moments waiting.
Check back often — our list gets updated as more holiday events get announced. Happy holidays, and have fun exploring all the Christmas cheer your community has to offer!
