Holiday season in full swing
The Holiday’s are right around the corner, and the West End and surrounding neighborhoods are a great spot to celebrate.
Shopping local
Keg and Case Weekend Holiday Market
Weekends November 24-December 23. Keg and Case Market
Many of your favorite makers and sellers will be back at Keg and Case for Holiday Weekend Markets starting November 24 through December 23. Holiday Weekend Market vendors vary by weekend, please check individual event listings at kegandcase.com/events12 for a detailed schedule of vendors.
European Christmas Market at Union Depot
Weekends, November 24-December 17. Union Depot
The European Christmas Market returns for its 10th year at Union Depot, spanning four consecutive three-day weekends starting November 24, 2023. It stands as Minnesota’s sole authentic outdoor experience of its kind and is distinguished as the only market to run for four weekends successively.
New this year is the addition of Santa’s Village, a new market area, packed with additional vendors, craft stations, a holiday ride and Santa’s Post Office. The new Santa’s Village will cover an additional 9,000 square feet, featuring thousands of twinkling lights, sure to make for the market’s most magical celebration yet.
Visit stpaulchristmasmarket.org for dates, times and a list of vendors.
45th Annual Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
November 30-December 2. Landmark Center. $5 adults, under 12 free.
‘Tis the season for holiday cheer and shopping! Starting November 30, guests can find beautiful and unique handcrafted gift items by the area’s finest artists. The Bazaar features quality handcrafted items from over 60 vendors in the areas of jewelry, woodwork, paintings, décor, woven and wearable art, handmade lotions, soaps and more! Festive music and delicious treats add to the enjoyment of holiday shopping.
Learn more at landmarkcenter.org/old-fashioned-holiday-bazaar.
The Cathedral Christmas Market
December 7-9, 5:00 – 9:30 p.m. The Cathedral of St. Paul
Look forward to another European-styled outdoor Christmas Market in the back Cathedral Courtyard festively decorated with plenty of delicious warm food, drinks, and unique gifts for sale. Free admission.
Multi-platinum recording composer and pianist Steven C will bring his popular Christmas Together concerts inside the Cathedral to be part of the festival at 7 p.m. on both Thursday, December 7, and Friday, December 8. Tickets will be $10 and sold on Eventbrite and at the door. On Saturday, December 9, the University of Mary from Bismark, North Dakota, will perform a choral concert, along with area high school choirs lending their voices. Proceeds from the Christmas Market and Christmas Together with Steven C concerts will go towards ongoing Cathedral restoration and preservation projects.
Learn more at cathedralheritagefoundation.org/events/cathedral-christmas-festival-2023-334
Family Fun
Glow Holiday Festival
November 16 – December 31. CHS Field. $12.75-$20.75.
The magical outdoor walk-through experience promises to dazzle guests with a mesmerizing display of millions of twinkling lights, sparkling arches, whimsical sculptures, beautifully illuminated vignettes and exhilarating outdoor fun that includes a Giant Snowy Slide, Vixen’s Zip Line, sElfie Plaza and more!
The magical elements come together to create an incredible winter festival for all to enjoy while embracing the season of giving. Over $250,000 has been donated since GLOW’s inception in 2020.
Visit glowholiday.com for tickets and info.
Holidays on the Hill
December 1–31. James J. Hill House. $16-$20.
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 start every half hour based on availability throughout the season.
Learn more and purchase tickets at mnhs.org/hillhouse.
North Pole Express
December 1-3 & 7-10. Union Depot. $0-$65.
Children and trains go together during the Holiday Season like colorful lights, brightly iced cookies, festively wrapped gifts, family and friends. Please join the nonprofit Friends of the 261 annual journey on the North Pole Express. The show is brought to you by an excited ALL volunteer crew, Santa and his elves that promises to make this a memorable Holiday Tradition.
Climb aboard this holiday train from the past that includes the North Pole and a visit from Santa himself! Avoid the trouble of setting up your old train set around the tree this year and let them provide you with a real steam train for the holidays.
Visit 261.com/npe/ for tickets and more information.
Holiday Tree Lighting & Movie Night
December 2. 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Union Depot
The crowd favorite event is back and bigger than ever. Holiday Tree Lighting and Movie Night will take place on Saturday, December 2. Festivities kick off at 5 PM with the unveiling of the St. Paul Winter Carnival 2024 button. Watch live entertainment from 5:30-6:30 PM with The Mistletones then make your way to the North Plaza for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7 PM. Finish the evening with the showing of the classic holiday movie, Elf. The tree will be lit through the remainder of December on the North Plaza, the perfect back drop for family holiday photos!
Visit uniondepot.org/holiday to learn more.
Christmas in Germany
December 2 & 3. 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Germanic American Institute. Free
Toast the season with a beer or warm up with some Glühwein (hot mulled wine), a bratwurst and pretzel, some homemade soup, or a slice of German cake. The Haus will be decorated from the Rathskeller to the ballroom, with music and seasonal goods for sale. Food and drink will be outdoors in our large heated tent. Come celebrate the traditions of a German Christmas with us!
Christmas in Germany is free, with food, beverages, and gifts items and goods for sale.
Learn more: visit gaimn.org/calendar/christmas.
Pictures with Santa
December 3, 12:00-3:00 p.m. Autumn Grove Park
Bring your little ones to meet Santa and support hunger relief in our community. One fresh cut, decorated Christmas tree will be raffled off at $2/ticket. The winner will be announced at 3pm!
All proceeds benefit the Keystone Community Services Foodmobile program. The Lions are partnering with Keystone to provide mobile food support to people in need. Please consider bringing a non perishable food item!
Learn more and register at keystoneservices.org/events/presented-by-the-st-paul-north-ramsey-500-lions-club-pictures-with-santa
St. Nikolaus Day Tree Lighting
December 6. 6:00 p.m. Waldmann Brewery
St. Nikolaus Day is December 6th, and it’s a big deal at Waldmann! St. Nik–a more reverent version of the Santa Claus created by American marketing geniuses–knocks on doors and asks how your kids have REALLY behaved. Come celebrate St. Nikolaus Day at Waldmann with the lighting of our huge Tannenbaum at 6 p.m. (that’s Christmas tree for pagans), hot mulled Glühwein served all night for purchase, and a not-so-surprise visit by St. Nikolaus himself and his arch-nemesis Krampus sometime after 7pm. Be there or be naughty!
Learn more at waldmannbrewery.com
Breakfast with Santa
December 10. 9:00 – 11:30. Shamrock’s.
Breakfast with Santa returns to Shamrocks on December 10. Have breakfast with the family and let Santa know what is on your list this year. Reservations are booked in 30 minute slots. Call for reservations (651)228-9925.
Sundays at Landmark: Santa’s Workshop
December 10. 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Free
Come for a free photo with Santa, and stay for games, gift making for loved ones, and an engaging story teller reading classic children’s Christmas stories.
Learn more at .landmarkcenter.org/event/sundays-at-landmark-santas-workshop-5
Arts and Culture
Corelli’s Christmas Concerto
December 2. 7:00 p.m. The Ordway Center. $0-$55
Fans of Baroque music need look no further — join us for a concert that showcases SPCO members both as soloists and as stellar chamber musicians! Following Arcangelo Corelli’s titular Concerto Grosso, a full-bodied work that is both mournful and energetic, SPCO trumpeter Lynn Erickson will play a dazzling Baroque concerto. Works by Georg Philipp Telemann and Antonio Vivaldi provide unique instrumentations that highlight the musical diversity of the SPCO, while Philip Glass’ Echorus for Two Violins and Strings brings a minimalist sensibility — an ethereal heartbeat through the light pulse of SPCO musicians in unison.
Visit content.thespco.org/events/corellis-christmas-concerto for tickets and more information.
Sephardic Chanukah Celebration
December 3. 10:00 a.m. – noon. Talmud Torah of St. Paul
Or Emet will host a program by David Jordan Harris, artistic director of Voices of Sepharad, who will describe through word and song the customs, food and melodies that are special to a Sephardic Chanukah celebration. Social time to follow.
Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective.
For more information, visit oremet.org.
A Hygge Holiday
December 8-17. Circus Juventas. $25-$45
When a group of young people head for a cozy weekend at grandma’s cabin in the woods, they stumble into a holiday haven of mystery and magic. Beyond the reach of cell reception and the non-stop distractions of the modern world, they travel deep into the woods to discover that a comfy cabin and close friends are all you need to kindle the spirit and warm the heart. Follow the north star and join us this winter as Circus Juventas makes a triumphant return to the magical forest of their beloved yuletide hit, a Hygge Holiday! Come December, mischievous mice and contorting cardinals, candle-lit winter feasts and snow-dappled pines, towering tomten, tumbling lumberjacks and a high-flying Christmas morning celebration will unfold to remind us all that the comfort of friends and family and fond memories of holidays past make for an unforgettable Hygge Holiday.
For tickets and showtimes, visit circusjuventas.org/holiday-show-2023.
Nutcracker
December 9-10. Fitzgerald Theater. Starting at $44
Don’t miss this holiday tradition! Metropolitan Ballet’s 17th annual Nutcracker ! The classic story comes to life with fresh choreography and a cast of talented artists under the direction of Erik Sanborn of the Metropolitan Ballet. A family favorite that’s delightful for all ages! Tickets starting at $44.
Visit metroballetacademy.org/ballet-performances-events-twin-cities for tickets and more info.
Holiday Hot Chocolate
December 15 – 16. 7:00 p.m. Park Square Theater. $35.
Celebrate the season with Holiday Hot Chocolate! Join us for an evening filled with soulful melodies and festive tunes that will warm your heart. Immerse yourself in the jazzy sounds of the holidays with two of the Twin Cities most acclaimed jazz singers; Thomasina Petrus and T. Mychael Rambo.
For tickets, visit parksquaretheatre.org/box-office/shows/2022-2023/holiday-hot-chocolate
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with VocalEssence and the Back Society of Minnesota
December 15. 7:30-9:30. St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. $9.50-$35
Old friends and past collaborators the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and the Bach Society of Minnesota join once again presenting Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. The concert will present three cantatas from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio as well as Cantata 147, beloved for its setting of the tune “Jesu, Joy of Our Desiring.” This vivid musical journey through the mystery of the nativity will be led by Philip Brunelle of VocalEssence and Matthias Maute, conductor of the Bach Society of Minnesota.
For tickets and more information, visit minnesotaorchestra.org/tickets/calendar/vocalessence/bachs-christmas-oratorio-1
