The holidays are quickly upon us. Now is the perfect time to shop local for all your gift giving. From the MN Christmas Market to the Arboretum Holiday Boutique, you’re sure to find something for that hard-to-buy-for friend or family member. Click on the links below to see details of these family friendly events in the Twin Cities this November.
Events in the Twin Cities this November
Minnesota Christmas Market
When: November 6, 2021
Where: Union Depot
214 4th Street E
St Paul, MN
Saturday, November 6th, 2021 from 10 AM – 5 PM. Indoors at Union Depot in the Waiting Room.
The MN Christmas Market is an annual pop-up holiday shopping event that showcases homegrown brands and makers, with a charitable twist. From the $1 entry fee, shopping vendors, concessions, and bar sales, 7% will be donated to a Minnesota charity that fights for kids.
In 2020 we launched a VIP option at one of our MN Christmas markets and it was a such a HUGE success, it will be a part of all four markets this year! VIP’s will receive 1 hour early entry to the market (9am), a morning beverage (cocktail, coffee, or water), specials and discounts from participating artisans, and a shopping bag for your haul! Purchase Saint Paul VIP Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mn-christmas-market-2021-at-union-depot-st-paul-tickets-144716730637.
With the growing popularity of the MN Christmas Market, we want to empower more customers to do some good with their Christmas shopping dollars. This year we have FOUR different chances for you to join us at a MN Christmas Market. This year’s charity partner investment will be going to: The Reel Hope Project. The Reel Hope Project makes videos of kids in Minnesota who are waiting to be adopted, sharing these videos around the state to find a forever family for every child. http://www.thereelhopeproject.org/
The MN Christmas Market is the joint venture of Fight For Something and StormSister Spatique.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular!
When: Now through November 7, 2021
Where: Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is back for a 3rd year at the Minnesota Zoo! Wander through the glow of thousands of artfully carved pumpkins all alight in the night. This season, carve out a little time to bask in the glow of nature and enjoy this truly magical experience.
Arboretum Applehouse Holiday Boutique
When: November 6-12, 2021
Where: Landscape Arboretum
7485 Rolling Acres Rd
Victoria, MN
The Arboretum AppleHouse you know and love has become the AppleHouse Holiday Boutique. Find fabulous specialty food items, beautiful home decor, winter wear, puzzles, children’s clothing and gifts, vintage signs, lighted trees, gifts baskets and more for holiday entertaining and giving. Enjoy holiday shopping at the Arboretum without making a reservation to the Arboretum grounds!
Arboretum members get a 10 percent discount daily, and enjoy a double discount (20 percent!) from Nov. 22-30, but you don’t need to be a member to shop!
GLOW Holiday Festival
When: November 18 – January 2, 2022
Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds
1256 Snelling Avenue N
St Paul, MN
This year, get up close & personal with our newly expanded exhibits because The Great Minnesota Holiday Get-Together is now a walk through event!
GLOW features over a million lights, sElfie Plaza, three-story ice palace, bike-powered tree, State Fair Food Court, Sky Glider rides and so much more!
Winter Lights
When: November 19 – January 2nd, 2022
Where: Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN
Get outside and enjoy the crisp, fresh air of a winter evening, as you experience 16 outdoor light displays, featuring flowers, nature and winter fun, on an accessible, stroller-friendly walk that’s just over a half-mile. Warm up midway through the walking tour at a bonfire and roast marshmallows over the fire — s’mores packages will be for sale. Artist Jennifer Hedberg’s luminescent ice sculptures will also be part of the display. Embrace all that a Minnesota winter has to offer — dress for the weather!
Inside the Oswald Visitor Center, you’ll find festive decor, the Arboretum’s Gift & Garden Store, several bars serving hot cocoa, cider and alcoholic beverages and the Arboretum Cafe, offering snacks, sandwiches, salads, desserts and a rotating featured hot entree.
Want to avoid parking at the Arboretum? Buy tickets to take a Southwest Metro Transit Bus to Winter Lights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday general admission nights. Purchase the “bus tickets” below, and park at the Southwest Transit East Creek Transit Station (2120 Chestnut St. N., Chaska). Buses will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 10 p.m., with the first bus leaving the station at 4:45 p.m.
Tickets go on sale to Arboretum members on Nov. 1 and will be available to the public on Nov. 5. Tickets must be purchased in advance of your visit.
Elf The Musical Jr
When: November 19 – December 26, 2021
Where: Stages Theatre Company
1111 Mainstreet
Hopkins, MN
Buddy the Elf is back at Stages this holiday season in his quest to find his true identity. After being raised as a would-be elf at the North Pole, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities causes him to embark on a journey to discover who he really is. Through his heart-felt determination to win over his new family, Buddy shows us all the true meaning of Christmas. This heartfelt and hilarious musical, based on the beloved holiday film from New Line Cinema, is filled with memorable music and lots of laughs for the whole family to enjoy.
Oakdale Art Discovery Fair
When: November 20, 2021
Where: Discovery Center
4444 Hadley Avenue N
Oakdale, MN
Join us for the Annual Oakdale Art Discovery Fair, taking place on Saturday, November 20, 2021, from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Discover the perfect gift while submerging yourself into local displays of talent and skill as artists and crafters come together for one amazing fair right in your area!
There will be a variety of artwork and crafts available for purchase including paintings, photography, woodworking, jewelry, pottery, and more.
Don’t miss the chance to bring home something special while you discover and are inspired by the work of those in your community!
The Elves and the Shoemaker
When: November 23 – December 30, 2021
Where: Sidekick Theatre
11411 Masonic Home Drive
Bloomington, MN
An upbeat, whimsical tale about a troupe of elves who help restore a poor cobbler to prosperity by making a pair of the most fantastic and magical shoes ever seen. This heart-warming adaptation tells of midnight enchantment and of virtue and generosity rewarded. It’s the perfect holiday story and great fun for all ages.
Union Depot European Christmas Market
When: November 26 – December 19, 2021
Where: Union Depot
214 4th Street East
St. Paul, MN
The European Christmas Market in St. Paul is the most authentic traditional holiday market of its kind in Minnesota, offering a unique shopping experience, family-friendly entertainment & intercultural activities. It is an admission-free public event based on the festive open-air Christkindl Markets that spring up in Germany, Austria, and other European countries during the Advent season.
Shop for handmade European crafts or unique gifts from local vendors, drink Glühwein (spiced mulled wine), and taste European-inspired delicacies during four weekends in November and December.
