Celebrate the holidays in Winona with our comprehensive guide. From Winona natives to holiday tourists, this guide ensures you enjoy the festive spirit.
Popular events include the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, which rolls into town adorned with brilliant lights and festive cheer, bringing community members together for a memorable evening. Light Up Lake City dazzles with its impressive holiday displays that transform the area into a winter wonderland. And the Murder by the Book event promises an intriguing twist to your holiday activities, combining mystery and fun for a unique experience. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Winona
- Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
- Murder by the Book
- Red Wing Holiday Stroll (Red Wing)
- Deck the Falls (Cannon Falls)
- Light Up Lake City (Lake City)
- A Christmas Carol, The Musical (Rochester)
- Outdoor Holiday Market (Wabasha)
See these and even more events listed below!
Winona Holiday Light Displays
Light Up Lake City
What to Expect:
Spectacular giant balloons and light displays.
Description:
Light Up Lake City is a 2-day holiday festival featuring giant balloons, an amazing light show, live music, holiday displays, and family activities around Bright Lake at Old Settlers Park.
Where: Lake City | More Info: Light Up Lake City
Winona Holiday Markets and Shopping
Outdoor Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Recreates European outdoor Christmas market tradition with local artisans and Italian market foods.
Description:
Villa Bellezza's Outdoor Christmas Market transforms the piazza into a beautiful, lighted market where guests can shop local artisans and retailers for the holiday season. The market features a variety of seasonal items, including freshly baked artisan breads, holiday greens, jewelry, and more. Italian market foods, such as pizza by the slice and hot sandwiches, are available at Tavola Calda in the Great Hall.
Where: Wabasha | More Info: Outdoor Holiday Market
Winona Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
What to Expect:
Live musical performances on a decorated train.
Description:
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is a festive event featuring live musical performances by artists like The Lone Bellow and Tiera Kennedy. The train, decorated with hundreds of thousands of LEDs, stops in 20 Minnesota towns, raising donations for local food banks and spreading holiday cheer.
Where: Winona | More Info: Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
Murder by the Book
What to Expect:
Quirky volunteer actors solve a real murder to save their library.
Description:
In the town of Two Spruce, a beloved library is in financial trouble. A team of quirky volunteer actors stage a murder mystery to save it, but their theatrical aspirations are threatened by a real murder most foul. Lucy, the librarian, and her team scramble to solve the crime before the curtain rises and the library is lost forever.
Where: Winona | More Info: Murder by the Book
A Christmas Carol, The Musical
What to Expect:
New adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic with a focus on redemption.
Description:
Charles Dickens' holiday classic returns to the Geva stage in a new adaptation by Playwright in Residence Harrison David Rivers. Over the course of a single night, notorious grump Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts. But will their intervention prompt him to change his “humbug” ways? Filled with humor, heart, hope – and a little bit of horror – *A Christmas Carol* reminds us that it is never too late to have a change of heart.
Where: Rochester | More Info: A Christmas Carol, The Musical
Winona Other Holiday Activities
Deck the Falls
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with a lighted parade and festive fireworks.
Description:
Deck the Falls is a holiday event in Cannon Falls where you can enjoy delicious pancakes, holiday shopping, and a lighted parade. Santa reads a story at the Cannon Falls Library, and you can get your picture taken with him and Mrs. Claus. The event culminates with festive fireworks.
Where: Cannon Falls | More Info: Deck the Falls
Red Wing Holiday Stroll
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday celebration with unique theme and activities.
Description:
The Red Wing Holiday Stroll is an annual event in charming downtown Red Wing, Minnesota, celebrating the holiday season with a "Baking Spirits Bright" theme. The event features festive activities, community spirit, and a variety of fun activities for all ages.
Where: Red Wing | More Info: Red Wing Holiday Stroll
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- North La Crosse (24 miles)
- La Crosse (26 miles)
- Rochester (41 miles)