Unveil the holiday magic in Saint Paul with our event guide. Whether you're deeply rooted in Saint Paul or just branching out, this guide maximizes your holiday joy.
Experience the charm of the European Christmas Market, where you can wander through quaint stalls filled with unique gifts and delicious treats. With a focus on local artisans, the GLOW Holiday Festival transforms the city into a stunning winter wonderland featuring impressive light displays. And the Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing the spirit of the season with a variety of handmade crafts and seasonal items. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Saint Paul
- European Christmas Market (St. Paul)
- GLOW Holiday Festival (St. Paul)
- Cathedral Christmas Market (St. Paul)
- Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar (St. Paul)
- Santa Claus Lane (Minneapolis)
- Holiday Flower Show (St. Paul)
- Winter Lights - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)
- Christmas in Germany (St. Paul)
- North Pole Express (Minneapolis)
- The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concerts: Handel’s “Messiah” (St. Paul)
See these and even more events listed below!
Saint Paul Holiday Light Displays
GLOW Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and unique shopping experience.
Description:
GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field in St. Paul, MN, features over a million lights, new exhibits, a zip line, and a boutique shopping experience with local vendors.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: GLOW Holiday Festival
Winter Lights - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
What to Expect:
Woodland-themed light display with a 16-foot Weeping Willow and giant apple.
Description:
Stroll through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's gardens decked out in light displays highlighting flowers, trees, and the beauty of nature on a one-mile, self-guided walk. Explore a woodland-themed light display, revisit the 16-foot Weeping Willow, and walk through a giant apple. Roast marshmallows over an open fire at the S’mores Village or visit the Oswald Visitor Center for beverages.
Where: Chaska | More Info: Winter Lights - Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
What to Expect:
Free walk-through Christmas lighting display with over five million lights.
Description:
Bentleyville Tour of Lights is a free walk-through Christmas lighting display featuring over five million lights, festive decorations, and family-friendly activities like roasting marshmallows and enjoying free cookies and popcorn. The event celebrates the holiday season with charitable giving opportunities and encourages visitors to bring non-perishable food items or new toys.
Where: Duluth | More Info: Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Sever's Holiday Lights
What to Expect:
Over 2.5 million lights in a half-mile drive-thru course.
Description:
A massive 2.5 million light display synchronized to holiday music, featuring festive food and drink vendors, and a drive-thru experience suitable for all ages.
Where: Shakopee | More Info: Sever's Holiday Lights
Saint Paul Holiday Markets and Shopping
European Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Authentic traditional holiday market with European crafts and delicacies.
Description:
The European Christmas Market in St. Paul offers a unique shopping experience with over 70 vendors, live entertainment, and European-style food. Visitors can enjoy handmade crafts, festive performances, and activities for kids.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: European Christmas Market
Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
What to Expect:
Unique handcrafted gifts in a historic setting.
Description:
The Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar features handcrafted items from local artisans, including jewelry, woodwork, paintings, and more. The event offers a variety of unique gifts and a classic venue with live holiday music and delicious treats.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Landmark Center Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
Cathedral Christmas Market
What to Expect:
European-styled outdoor Christmas market with live music and unique gifts.
Description:
The Cathedral Christmas Market at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, MN, features a European-styled outdoor market with warm food, Glühwein, and unique gifts. The event includes live acoustical music, a silent auction, and a concert by multi-platinum recording artist Steven C. Vendors sell a variety of items, including works of art, and the event supports the Cathedral Heritage Foundation restoration fund.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Cathedral Christmas Market
Christmas in Germany
What to Expect:
Traditional German holiday food and drinks in a festive setting.
Description:
Celebrate German Christmas traditions with Glühwein, bratwurst, pretzels, homemade soup, and German cake at the GAI Haus. The event features decorated Rathskeller and ballroom with music and seasonal goods for sale.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Christmas in Germany
Saint Paul Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Holiday Flower Show
What to Expect:
Annual showcase of hundreds of poinsettias and other holiday florals.
Description:
The Como Park Conservatory Holiday Flower Show features hundreds of poinsettias and other holiday florals, including yellow poinsettias accented with other plants. This annual event, which began in 1925, is the Conservatory's most well-attended event of the year.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Holiday Flower Show
North Pole Express
What to Expect:
Historic steam train ride with Santa Claus visit.
Description:
Join Friends 261 for a historic North Pole Express train ride featuring steam locomotives, vintage railcars, and a visit from Santa Claus. Enjoy holiday treats and activities at St. Paul Union Depot.
Where: Minneapolis | More Info: North Pole Express
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concerts: Handel’s “Messiah”
What to Expect:
Classical music performance of Handel's "Messiah" with renowned vocal soloists.
Description:
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra presents Handel's "Messiah," a timeless holiday tradition featuring an all-star roster of vocal soloists and renowned vocal ensemble The Singers.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concerts: Handel’s “Messiah”
Saint Paul Holiday Giving Opportunities
Santa’s Workshop
What to Expect:
Annual stocking and gift distribution for the less fortunate.
Description:
Santa’s Workshop at Saint Maria Goretti provides stockings and gifts to those less fortunate, with participation as simple as donating money or filling stockings. Over 5,000 people are served annually through this outreach ministry.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Santa’s Workshop
Saint Paul Other Holiday Activities
Santa Claus Lane
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities with Santa and festive shopping.
Description:
Santa Claus Lane is a holiday event at Camp Fire MN in Excelsior, offering interactive experiences, heartwarming activities, and festive shopping. Visitors can meet Santa, walk a llama, watch a magician, and enjoy a fire show or learn a new skill in Santa’s Workshop.
Where: Minneapolis | More Info: Santa Claus Lane
Twin City Model Railroad Museum Night Trains
What to Expect:
Specially lit model train layouts with holiday decorations.
Description:
The Twin City Model Railroad Museum's Night Trains features model trains of all scales and toy trains from yesteryear, coming alive in specially lit layouts with holiday decorations and operating vintage passenger trains.
Where: St. Paul | More Info: Twin City Model Railroad Museum Night Trains
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 (5 miles)
- Maplewood (5 miles)
- Roseville (5 miles)
- Oakdale (6 miles)
- Woodbury (7 miles)
- Inver Grove Heights (7 miles)
- Minneapolis (9 miles)
- Shoreview (10 miles)
- New Brighton (10 miles)
- Richfield (10 miles)
- Eagan (10 miles)
- White Bear Lake (11 miles)
- Cottage Grove (11 miles)
- Bloomington (12 miles)
- Saint Louis Park (12 miles)
- Fridley (13 miles)
- Edina (13 miles)
- Golden Valley (13 miles)
- Rosemount (14 miles)
- Crystal (14 miles)
- Brooklyn Center (15 miles)
- Lino Lakes (15 miles)
- Burnsville (15 miles)
- Coon Rapids (15 miles)
- New Hope (16 miles)
- Apple Valley (16 miles)
- Blaine (16 miles)
- Savage (16 miles)
- Minnetonka Mills (17 miles)
- Hastings (18 miles)
- Plymouth (18 miles)
- West Coon Rapids (19 miles)
- Eden Prairie (19 miles)
- Maple Grove (20 miles)
- Minnetonka (20 miles)
- Farmington (21 miles)
- Lakeville (22 miles)
- Chanhassen (22 miles)
- Andover (22 miles)
- Champlin (22 miles)
- Prior Lake (23 miles)
- Shakopee (24 miles)
- Chaska (27 miles)
- Ramsey (28 miles)
- Northfield (34 miles)
- Elk River (34 miles)