Wander Minnesota: December Festivities (Week 1)
The month of December is an exceptionally busy one for this festival-fond state. To try and get as much coverage as possible without creating a blog post that's a mile long, I'm going to report weekly this month. Today's installment will include events through Sunday, Dec. 7. Check back next Monday for the following week.
St. Paul
A Victorian Christmas at the Ramsey House
Dec. 3-7
The beautiful Alexander Ramsey House will be decorated to the hilt in period decorations—and there just might be cookies coming out of the wood-fired stove. Reservations recommended.
Minneapolis
Holidazzle Village
Dec. 6-7
Not a parade any longer, Holidazzle has been reimagined as a holiday village, complete with food, live music, and a holiday carousel. This weekend: glass-blowing demonstrations.
Northfield
St. Olaf Christmas Festival
Dec. 4-7
Tickets may be scarce at this point, but you can tune into Classical MPR (radio or streaming online) to hear the live broadcast on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.
Owatonna
Christmas in the Village
Dec. 5-6
Stop by the Steele County Historical Society and enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, a lavish cookie sale, true wassail, and visit Santa. On Saturday, tour highly decorated historic homes.
Le Sueur
W.W. Mayo House Afternoon Christmas Tour
Dec. 6
Tour the tiny home once inhabited by one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic, and enjoy cookies and cider, and a kids' craft table.
Wabasha
Old-Fashioned Christmas
Christmas caroling, cookie walks, artists' studio tours, horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa, and cookie decorating, all in one of the lovely river towns of southeast Minnesota.
Mankato
The Betsy-Tacy Society Victorian Christmas
Dec. 6
Visit both Betsy and Tacy's homes to see how the family prepared for Christmas.
Biwabik
Weihnachtsfest
Dec. 6
Horse-drawn trolley rides, ethnic foods, and Christmas carols all reflect the town's ethnic heritage.
Hastings
Victorian Holidays at the LeDuc House
Dec. 6
Visit the sumptuously decorated historic LeDuc House for the holidays. On Dec. 2, there will be a special dinner with music (reservations required).
St. Paul
Hill House Holidays
Dec. 6-7
Costumed actors portray servants at the lavish James J. Hill House, giving living history tours.
Lanesboro
Lanesboro Christmas Inn Tour
Dec. 7
Lanesboro's community of bed and breakfasts opens up for holiday tours.
Minneapolis
No Coast Craft-o-Rama
Dec. 5-6
Independent crafters make the most of the wonderful Midtown Global Market to display and sell their wares. You'll find fun items here that are often unlike most of what you'd see at other craft shows.
Caledonia
Bluff and Valley Balloon Ralley
Dec. 5-7
A Winter Wonderland parade, and hot air balloons. A novel and lovely way to kick off the holiday season.
St. Paul
Grand Meander
Dec. 6
Kick off the holiday shopping and noshing with a stroll down Grand Avenue's 30-some blocks of independent (mostly) retailers and restaurants.
Annandale
Village Christmas
Dec. 6
Visit the Big Woods Building at Pioneer Park and tour the many historic buildings (log cabin, sod shanty, Finnish church). Enjoy live music, shopping, and fry bread and stew.
Grand Rapids
Christmas in the Logging Camp
Dec. 6
Dress warmly—you'll be walking outdoors at the Forest History Center while observing lumberjacks in action and horses pulling carriages, before visiting the cook's shack to see how lumberjacks celebrated decades ago. Also, photos with Santa.
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What else is happening in our state? Be sure to check out the 10 p.m. Sunday night WCCO newscasts, where you can learn more in the weekly segment, Finding Minnesota.
