For many (me included!), the holidays are the most magical time of the year. Whether decking out my home with cherished decorations, baking up a batch of cookies with family and friends, or watching my dog unwrap his carefully chosen treats and toys, the season is filled with some of my most favorite traditions. Luckily, there’s always room for more! So, if you’re looking for a new yuletide tradition to add to your Christmas to-do list, here are 11 holiday activities near Rochester, MN, that you’ll want to do year after year.
11. Step Into a Hallmark Movie at a Nearby Christmas Town
If watching Christmassy rom-coms is a staple of your holiday season, then this idea is for you. While many towns near Rochester, MN, are known for their picturesque charm, some are downright dreamy when winter rolls around, turning into a scene straight out of a Hallmark Channel movie. (In fact, two nearby towns—Northfield, MN, and Hudson, WI—actually have been featured on the small screen, starring in Hallmark’s Love Always, Santa and A Christmas Wish in Hudson, respectively.)
Small Minnesota Christmas towns like Lanesboro and Afton offer a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the holidays with wholesome activities like wagon rides and crafts, while cozy Stockholm, WI, transports visitors to Sweden with its traditional God Jul celebration. Meanwhile, Mankato, MN, and Stillwater, MN, dazzle with light displays, holiday markets, meals with Santa, and more.
10. Watch a Christmas Train Chug Into Town
If you’ve ever read the classic storybook The Polar Express or watched the animated movie voiced by national treasure Tom Hanks, then chances are that you’ve dreamed of boarding a train bound for the North Pole. While that particular dream isn’t likely to come true anytime soon, you can catch two different Christmas trains as they steam through Minnesota.
Although you can’t actually climb aboard, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train brings free live music, a glittering light show across its rail cars and festive cheer to 20 cities across Minnesota in 2024, with the closest stops in Winona and Wabasha. (Food bank donations are encouraged, so be sure to bring some cash or canned goods to share.) One holiday train you can actually catch a (very brief) ride on, however, is the North Pole Express. Offered at the St. Paul Union Depot, right next door to the European Christmas Market, this short but sweet train ride features a visit from Santa and a holiday treat.
9. Take a Photo With Santa Claus Before His Big Night
No Christmas is complete without some time spent face-to-face with Santa Claus—and, of course, taking a photo or two as well. Despite his very busy schedule, St. Nick will be spending quite a bit of time in the Rochester, MN, area in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Although you can certainly see Santa at holiday markets or festive celebrations in nearby communities, there are also plenty of opportunities right here in Rochester, starting with his very first stop of the season on Wednesday, November 27, at the Apache Mall.
Then, on the day after Thanksgiving, Santa seekers can enjoy a veritable blizzard of events starring Kris Kringle, from the Festival of Trees at The Kahler Grand Hotel to S’mores & Santa at Sargent’s on 2nd. And whatever you do, don’t miss Here Comes Santa Claus, featuring a breathtaking rescue atop Old City Hall and family-friendly activities at Mrs. Claus’s Holiday Festival. If none of those appearances work, don’t worry! There’s also Storytime with Santa on December 1, Breakfast with Santa on December 7, and Santa Pictures (including pet photos on select nights in the evenings) all season long through Christmas Eve at the Apache Mall. Check out the complete list of this year’s Santa Claus appearances for locations and times.
8. Get Artsy During a Festive Workshop or Craft Class
I don’t know about you, but I love getting crafty when it’s holiday time. And not just Christmas, although I do make a pretty great paper snowflake, but also Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day—you name it, and I’ve probably made a craft for it. There’s just something about a special celebration that puts me in an artistic mood. Fortunately for me and other creative folks, there are plenty of local businesses in the Rochester area that cook up crafting workshops for the holidays.
Favorite spots include Art Heads Emporium, 125 LIVE and Sargent’s on 2nd in Rochester. If you don’t mind a short drive to get your craft on and want to make a day out of it, check out Northfield Yarn in Northfield, ARTifact in Mankato, Squeaky Wheel Pottery in Hastings, ArtStart’s ArtScraps in St. Paul or Upstairs Circus in Minneapolis. Or, for artistry of a different kind, try Way Cool Cooking School or Cooks | Bellecour in the Twin Cities area. Wherever you choose to go, you’re sure to come away with a new addition to your holiday décor, a handmade gift to go under your tree or even just a moment to unplug from the stress of this busy season.
7. Do Some Gift Shopping at a Holiday Market
Christmas markets are a holiday tradition the world over. Some, like those in Europe, are so famous that they have inspired similar markets in cities across Minnesota and neighboring Wisconsin. Not only are these festive affairs the perfect place to do some gift shopping, but they’re also a great opportunity to savor seasonal snacks and sips (bring on the mulled wine!), enjoy some spirited entertainment and revel in the merry mood.
Although there are many holiday markets in the Rochester, MN, area, there are a few of these yuletide extravaganzas that are worth a visit for the vibes alone, with quaint wooden huts peddling handmade gifts and lined with lush garlands and strings of twinkle lights. And yes, it is as dreamy as it sounds. Not one but two European-inspired Christmas markets will be available to shoppers and celebrants in the Twin Cities this year: St. Paul’s famous European Christmas Market, which was hailed as one of the best in the country last year by USA Today, and the all-new Christkindl Market in Minneapolis. Or, for a holiday market with small-town charm, don’t miss the Sparta Kriskindlmarkt, recognized as one of the best in Wisconsin.
6. See a Spirited Stage Show or Christmas Concert
It wouldn’t be the holidays without yuletide tales like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol or tunes like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride.” And while you certainly could watch a movie or turn on a playlist at home, why not turn these festive classics into an experience instead? The festive season brings a flood of concerts, dance productions and stage shows, offering a little something for everyone. And with a whole slate of options in Rochester alone, you don’t have to drive far for a merry night on the town.
In 2024, music lovers can take in the Rochester Symphony with Sounds of the Season, jazz pop with Billboard Top 5 artist Shaun Johnson, iconic singer-songwriter Judy Collins, dueling pianos, a candlelight concert, and more. Theatergoers will love shows like Plaid Tidings and Nuncrackers (jolly takes on stage favorites Forever Plaid and Nunsense), as well as the new A Christmas Carol, The Musical. Alternatively, for adults hoping for something a little more, well, naughty, don’t miss Jeff on the Shelf: An R-Rated Christmas Comedy. Plus, who can forget the timeless tale of The Nutcracker? This year, the Mayo Civic Center will host not one but two productions of the classic, one by the Rochester Dance Company and the other by the World Ballet Company. Check out our events calendar for a full list of events and ticket information.
5. Take a Yuletide Ride on a Horse-Drawn Wagon or Sleigh
Few Christmas activities are more classic than a horse-drawn wagon or sleigh ride. After all, this time-honored tradition is so beloved that it even has a song written about it. Fortunately, if you’re hoping to go dashing through the snow to the joyful sound of jingle bells this year, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in and around the area.
In Rochester, Forager Brewery will be hosting the trusty steeds of Hanson Horse Ranch on Sunday, December 15, while nearby Lake City will be offering sleigh rides through the downtown area and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 14. You can even arrange a private ride for your family and friends through Stewartville’s Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch or Lazy K Ranch in Kenyon. Or make a day out of it and jingle all the way through one of the Christmas towns or holiday markets offering horse-drawn wagon rides, like Lanesboro, Northfield or Mankato in Minnesota or the award-winning Kriskindlmarkt in Sparta, WI.
4. Admire the Christmas Decorations During a Holiday Home Tour
One of my fondest holiday memories from when I was a child was when my mom and I would visit homes in my hometown as part of the yearly “Christmas Walk.” Although we would end the day with cookies and other treats at a yuletide tea at a local church, my favorite part of the day was seeing how different families would decorate their homes for the holidays. They were all so unique and merry in their own way.
While the Christmas Walk is no more, I can still get my festive fix at other holiday home tours in the Rochester area, like those at Mayowood Historic Home, once home to one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic, or the Alexander Ramsey House (Thursdays and Fridays from December 5 to 27) and James J. Hill House (Thursday to Sunday from November 30 to January 5) in St. Paul. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to tour the Minnesota Governor’s Residence, which typically opens its doors to visitors a couple of days each December.
3. Pick Up Your Christmas Tree From a Local Farm
If you ask me, it isn’t officially Christmas until the tree is up and decorated. Now, I’ll admit that I have cheated and put up a faux tree (with cashmere needles—very classy) in recent years. However, between the fresh scent of pine and the lush, perfectly imperfect boughs, there’s something about using a real tree that makes the holiday extra magical, especially if you go and cut one down yourself rather than just picking one out in a parking lot somewhere.
Fortunately, Rochester locals are spoiled for choice when it comes to nearby Christmas tree farms, with no less than three just within a 15-mile radius, plus several others if you don’t mind driving a bit farther. Some are simple affairs with only rows of evergreens and some wreaths and other greenery for sale, while others have gift shops selling handmade goods, treats like candy canes and hot cocoa, animals for petting and even visits from Santa. It all depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for and how much time you have to spend. Plan your visit by checking out our guide to the various Christmas tree farms near Rochester, MN.
2. Make Merry at a Pop-Up Holiday Bar
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at some of the best bars and restaurants near Rochester, MN. Although there aren’t any pop-up holiday bars in Rochester (yet—here’s your sign to get one up and running, local restauranteurs and bar owners), if you don’t mind making the drive up to the Twin Cities, you’ll be handsomely rewarded with all the holly, jolly cocktails, twinkle lights and tinsel you can handle.
There, you can enjoy Santa-approved atmospheres of all kinds, whether classic (Miracle at PINZ or The Jingle Bar at Brit’s Pub), kitschy cabin (the Jingle Bar at Lola’s Lakehouse), eclectic (Helladazzle at Hell’s Kitchen), classy (The Nutcracker Suite at Sovereign Estate Winery), travel-inspired (Northern Starlight Express at The Depot in Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel or Holiday Flight Club at Basement Bar in Travail) or downright whimsical (Down Through the Chimney at Hotel Emery). And that’s not even all of them—cheers!
1. Ooh and Ahh at a Dazzling Light Display
Each year, one of my favorite festive activities is going to see a glittering light display. What started as an annual family outing to the Rotary Lights in La Crosse, WI, has turned into a beloved holiday tradition that I’ve carried on into adulthood. While you certainly can (and should!) make the drive to La Crosse to check out my family’s preferred display, there are also many others in the Rochester area that shine just as brightly.
The Twin Cities area is home to several dazzling holiday light displays, like GLOW Holiday Festival in St. Paul, Winter Lights at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes in Eagan and Sever’s Holiday Lights in Shakopee. In Mankato, the Kiwanis Holiday Lights sets Sibley Park alight, all in the name of more than 60 local nonprofits and 20 food banks. Meanwhile, across the Mississippi River, Sam’s Christmas Village in Somerset and Miracle at Big Rock in St. Croix Falls are well worth the drive to Wisconsin. Wherever you go, keep in mind that each of these events is more than just some pretty lights. They also feature festive extras like visits with Santa Claus and his reindeer, holiday markets, merry music, campfires for roasting s’mores, ice skating, sledding and even a 150-foot snow slide. So, make a night out of it and make some memories—just like my family did with me.
What holiday traditions are must-dos for you every year? Leave a comment below!
Have a Christmas activity near Rochester, MN to add to our calendar? Submit your event here!
