Plan your perfect festive season in Inver Grove Heights with our event guide. For Inver Grove Heights residents and guests, our guide is your key to the holiday highlights.
One of the standout attractions this holiday season is the GLOW Holiday Festival, where stunning light displays and festive activities create a magical atmosphere for the whole family. In addition, the European Christmas Market offers an authentic shopping experience, featuring handcrafted goods and delicious treats from local vendors. And the Night Trains event is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it invites visitors to explore beautifully themed model train displays. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
Join the Inver Grove Heights Discussion!
Top Holiday Events In and Around Inver Grove Heights
- GLOW Holiday Festival (St. Paul)
- European Christmas Market (St. Paul)
- North Pole Express (St. Paul)
- Night Trains (St. Paul)
- The Nutcracker at Fitzgerald Theater (St. Paul)
- A Christmas Carol
- Holiday Tree Lighting & Movie Night (St. Paul)
- Holidays on the Hill Tours (St. Paul)
- Celtic Holiday Hooley (St. Paul)
- Christmas Festival Concert, Christmas Together with Steven C. (St. Paul)
See these and even more events listed below!
Inver Grove Heights Holiday Light Displays
GLOW Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and festive shopping.
Description:
GLOW Holiday Festival is a spectacular event featuring over a million twinkling lights, interactive exhibits, and festive activities at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Enjoy illuminated displays, live music, and holiday shopping in a vibrant winter setting.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: GLOW Holiday Festival
Inver Grove Heights Holiday Markets and Shopping
European Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Authentic traditional holiday market with live entertainment and European delicacies.
Description:
The European Christmas Market in St. Paul offers a unique shopping experience with over 70 vendors selling handmade European crafts and unique gifts. Enjoy European-style food, kids' craft activities, and festive performances.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: European Christmas Market
Bethesda Holiday Craft Boutique
What to Expect:
Unique handmade holiday gifts and local baked goods.
Description:
The Bethesda Holiday Craft Boutique in Inver Grove Heights, MN, features a wide variety of crafters selling great holiday gift items, including a quilt raffle and bake sale. Enjoy freshly baked caramel rolls and turkey wild rice soup.
Where: Inver Grove Heights | More Info: Bethesda Holiday Craft Boutique
Inver Grove Heights Holiday Shows and Entertainment
North Pole Express
What to Expect:
Historic train ride with Santa and holiday activities.
Description:
Join Friends 261 for the North Pole Express, a holiday tradition featuring historic steam and diesel locomotives. Enjoy a short train ride to the North Pole, where Santa greets passengers and collects letters. The journey includes entertainment, holiday treats, and activities at St. Paul Union Depot.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: North Pole Express
The Nutcracker at Fitzgerald Theater
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with Tchaikovsky's iconic score.
Description:
The Nutcracker at Fitzgerald Theater features Metropolitan Ballet's performance of the world-famous ballet, originally written by E.T.A. Hoffmann and set to Tchaikovsky's beautiful score. The story follows Clara as she enters a world of adventure and fantasy on Christmas Eve.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: The Nutcracker at Fitzgerald Theater
A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Immersive Christmas display with extensive Saint Nicholas and Christmas Village collections.
Description:
A Christmas Carol is a timeless adaptation of Charles Dickens' holiday classic, featuring beloved carols and an immersive Christmas display.
Where: Inver Grove Heights | More Info: A Christmas Carol
Holiday Tree Lighting & Movie Night
What to Expect:
Tree lighting ceremony with fireworks display and classic holiday movie showing.
Description:
Join Union Depot for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration & Movie Night. The event features the unveiling of the St. Paul Winter Carnival 2023 button, a holiday performance by The Mistletones, free cider, and photo ops. Enjoy a tree lighting ceremony followed by a short fireworks display and a showing of the classic holiday movie Elf. Concessions including popcorn will be available, and you are encouraged to bring blankets for extra seating. Visit the European Christmas Market on the East Plaza to shop for unique handmade gifts and decorations, drink Glühwein, and taste European-inspired food and delicacies.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Holiday Tree Lighting & Movie Night
Luminare Christmas
What to Expect:
High-energy holiday concert with re-imagined Christmas classics and original music.
Description:
Luminare Christmas is a high-energy holiday concert featuring re-imaginings of Christmas classics and brand new original music, performed by John Blasucci and LUMINARE CHRISTMAS!, drawing from his years as keyboardist for Dennis DeYoung (STYX) and lead keyboardist for Mannheim Steamroller.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Luminare Christmas
Christmas Festival Concert, Christmas Together with Steven C.
What to Expect:
Concert by Steven C & Friends in a gorgeously lit cathedral.
Description:
Join the Cathedral Christmas Festival for a European-style outdoor celebration featuring arts and crafts vendors, Glühwein, cocoa, beer, food trucks, costumed carolers, and a concert by Steven C & Friends inside the beautifully lit Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Christmas Festival Concert, Christmas Together with Steven C.
Celtic Holiday Hooley
What to Expect:
World-class Irish step dancing and surprise holiday guests.
Description:
Celtic Holiday Hooley is a lively variety show featuring Irish music, stories, sketches, step dance, and caroling. Hosted by Joshua Will and Natalie O'Shea, the event includes performances by the O'Shea Irish Dancers and a stellar band led by Cormac O'Sé. Expect toe-tapping music, world-class step dancing, and surprise guests like Santa and the Grinch.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Celtic Holiday Hooley
Sister Celeste's Sing-a-Long Event
What to Expect:
Sing-along event with a chance to win at Christmas Bingo.
Description:
Join Sister Celeste for a sing-along event featuring classic carols, a holiday beverage, and the chance to win at Christmas Bingo. Learn about the history of your favorite carols and enjoy a festive round of Christmas Bingo.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Sister Celeste's Sing-a-Long Event
Hansel & Gretel’s Magical Adventure
What to Expect:
Original musical adaptation of Hansel and Gretel for all ages.
Description:
Join Hansel and Gretel on a grand, fun-filled adventure filled with lots of laughs and audience participation. This original musical adaptation of the age-old tale features lovable characters and is perfect for youngsters of all ages. Running time is 65 minutes.
Where: Bloomington | More Info: Hansel & Gretel’s Magical Adventure
Inver Grove Heights Holiday Giving Opportunities
Santa’s Workshop
What to Expect:
Annual stocking and gift distribution for the less fortunate.
Description:
Santa’s Workshop at St. Maria Goretti provides stockings and gifts to those less fortunate through various outreach activities, including an order filling workshop. Over 5,000 people are served annually.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Santa’s Workshop
Inver Grove Heights Other Holiday Activities
Night Trains
What to Expect:
Specially lighted model trains in a winter wonderland setting.
Description:
The Twin City Model Railroad Museum presents Night Trains, a seasonal event featuring model trains of all scales and toy trains from yesteryear. The museum's collection comes alive with specially lighted models of operating vintage passenger trains, set against a backdrop of snow-covered towns and holiday decorations.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Night Trains
Holidays on the Hill Tours
What to Expect:
Holiday-themed tours of a Gilded Age mansion.
Description:
Explore the James J. Hill House during the holiday season, featuring holiday-themed exhibits and guided tours that highlight the Hill family's stories and memories.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Holidays on the Hill Tours
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- South Saint Paul (3 miles)
- Cottage Grove (5 miles)
- Woodbury (7 miles)
- Eagan (7 miles)
- Saint Paul (7 miles)
- Maplewood (8 miles)
- Rosemount (9 miles)
- Oakdale (9 miles)
- Apple Valley (12 miles)
- Hastings (12 miles)
- Richfield (12 miles)
- Roseville (12 miles)
- Bloomington (13 miles)
- Burnsville (13 miles)
- Minneapolis (14 miles)
- Savage (15 miles)
- Farmington (15 miles)
- Edina (15 miles)
- White Bear Lake (16 miles)
- Saint Louis Park (16 miles)
- Shoreview (17 miles)
- Lakeville (17 miles)
- New Brighton (17 miles)
- Golden Valley (19 miles)
- Fridley (20 miles)
- Crystal (20 miles)
- Minnetonka Mills (21 miles)
- Prior Lake (21 miles)
- Eden Prairie (21 miles)
- Brooklyn Center (21 miles)
- New Hope (21 miles)
- Lino Lakes (22 miles)
- Coon Rapids (22 miles)
- Minnetonka (23 miles)
- Plymouth (23 miles)
- Blaine (24 miles)
- Chanhassen (24 miles)
- Shakopee (24 miles)
- Maple Grove (25 miles)
- West Coon Rapids (26 miles)
- Northfield (28 miles)
- Chaska (28 miles)
- Champlin (29 miles)
- Andover (29 miles)
- Ramsey (35 miles)
- Faribault (40 miles)
- Elk River (41 miles)