THE LATEST

Skip the Scissors: 5 Rochester Shops That Will Wrap Your…

Guide to St. Paul’s European Christmas Market

Winter at Rochester Art Center: Everything You Need to Know!

Rochester MN Guide to December Events

MedCity Music Map | December 2025

Rochester MN Guide to Live Music in December

Rochester Local

Rochester MN Santa Events

by Rochester Local

Rochester has a variety of wonderful holiday events for the family again this season! Our local businesses have worked hard to continue providing safe, responsible, and festive events for your family.  Click on the dates below to be taken to list of events for that week!

Have an event to add to our list?  Click here to be redirected to our event calendar submission form!

WHERE TO SEE SANTA CLAUS

December 1, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion
10:30 am Baby Gym | Rochester Public Library
11:00 am Visit Santa Claus | Apache Mall
1:30 pm LIVE MUSIC – Rochester Male Chorus’ Annual Christmas Concert | Bethel Lutheran Church
6:00 pm LTS Cribbage Tournament | LTS Brewing Company
6:00 pm Dancing Downtown | Peace Plaza Downtown
6:00 pm Cribbage Tournament | LTS Brewing
6:00 pm Open Mic Night | Forager Brewery
7:00 pm Breast Cancer Support Group (Stage 0-Stage 3) | Virtual Meeting
8:00 pm Night Club 2 Step – classes | Blue Moon Ballroom

December 2, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion
11:00 am Visit Santa Claus | Apache Mall
2:30 pm Cardboard Creations! | Rochester Public Library
2:30 pm Cardboard Creations! | Rochester Public Library
4:00 pm Craft & Chat | Rochester Public Library
4:00 pm Star Wars Unlimited Tuesdays | Gamez & More
5:30 pm LIVE MUSIC – First Annual Comfort Food Cookoff | John Marschall High School
6:00 pm Trivia Tuesday at Tilda’s with Trivia Mafia | Tilda’s Pizzeria
6:00 pm QUEER THEOLOGY 101 | Peace United Church
6:30 pm Harmony for the Holidays: Hosted by Zumbro Valley Chorus | Trinity Lutheran Church
6:30 pm LIVE MUSIC – Beer and Carols | Little Thistle
7:00 pm LTS BINGO | LTS Brewing Company
7:00 pm LTS Free Bingo | LTS Brewing

December 3, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion
8:00 am Hundreds of Beavers Movie | Pop’s Art Theater
10:30 am Lapsit Storytime | Rochester Public Library
11:00 am Ryan Woodring: “Face in Clouds, invisible ink” | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Moving Beyond Bars | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Get Moving Storytime | Rochester Public Library
11:00 am Cyclone: Artist Responses to 100 Years of the History Center of Olmsted County Collection | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Erin Smith: Hard Copy | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Visit Santa Claus | Apache Mall
3:00 pm Hump Day Happy Hour | LTS Brewing
6:00 pm Movie Night & Ornament Craft (free) | LTS Brewing
6:30 pm Trivia Mafia | Little Thistle Brewing
6:30 pm Advent Unplugged | People of Hope Church
7:00 pm Trivia Night | Kinney Creek Brewery

December 4, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion
8:00 am Hundreds of Beavers Movie | Pop’s Art Theater
10:30 am Preschool Dance Party | Rochester Public Library
10:30 am Family Dance Party! | Rochester Public LIbrary
10:30 am Preschool Dance Party | Rochester Public Library
11:00 am Exhibition: Celebrations in Fiber | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Ryan Woodring: “Face in Clouds, invisible ink” | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Moving Beyond Bars | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Cyclone: Artist Responses to 100 Years of the History Center of Olmsted County Collection | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Erin Smith: Hard Copy | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Visit Santa Claus | Apache Mall
12:30 pm Social Worker Hours | Rochester Public Library
12:30 pm Social Worker Hours | Rochester Public Library
4:00 pm Warhammer 40,000 Thursdays | Gamez & More
5:30 pm Holiday Cocktail Party: Eat Cheese. Sip Wine. Dress Cute | Food Union
5:30 pm December Green Drinks | Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
6:00 pm QuizBang! Trivia | Thesis Beer Project
6:00 pm Porch Pot Class | LTS Brewing
6:00 pm Sip and Paint | Salem Glen Winery
6:00 pm Winter Luminary Ceramic Tree | 125 LIVE
7:00 pm Mayo Clinic Lecture Series: What Our Father Taught Us | History Center of Olmsted County
7:00 pm Little Women: The Musical | Rochester Repertory Theatre
7:30 pm Christmas in Connecticut: The Musical | Once & Future Classics

December 5, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion
8:00 am Olde Fashioned Christmas | Plainview, MN
10:00 am Friends Gift Quality Book & Bake Sale | Rochester Public Library
11:00 am Ryan Woodring: “Face in Clouds, invisible ink” | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Moving Beyond Bars | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Cyclone: Artist Responses to 100 Years of the History Center of Olmsted County Collection | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Erin Smith: Hard Copy | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Visit Santa Claus | Apache Mall
11:00 am Madonna Towers Annual Christmas Market
11:00 am Creative Studio | Rochester Art Center
12:00 pm Indoor Climbing Competition | Roca Climbing & Fitness
1:00 pm Bugonia | Pop’s Art Theater
4:00 pm ZooDazzle | Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
4:00 pm Friday Fish Fry | VFW Post 1215
4:00 pm Holiday Market | Joy Ridge Event Center
5:00 pm Bugonia | Pop’s Art Theater
5:00 pm Employers of Olmsted Light Festival (E.L.F.) Drive-Thru | Chester Woods Park
5:00 pm The Wonder of the Nativity | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
5:30 pm Santa Glow Parade | Kasson Fire & Rescue
7:00 pm Nicholas David Concert | History Center of Olmsted County
7:00 pm Little Women: The Musical | Rochester Repertory Theatre
7:00 pm Disney’s Frozen | Rochester Civic Theatre
7:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – A Bella Christmas – A Time to Rejoice! | Trinity Lutheran Church
7:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – ONLYTIME, WILBUR + FLACK | Treedome
7:30 pm Snow Elf Saves Christmas: An R-Rated Christmas Comedy | Rochester Civic Theatre Company
7:30 pm Christmas in Connecticut: The Musical | Once & Future Classics
8:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – Hannah Hammond | Kinney Creek Brewery
8:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – Maiden Dixie | North Star Bar

December 6, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion
8:00 am Olde Fashioned Christmas | Plainview, MN
8:30 am Santa’s Workshop | Erin Young Photography
8:30 am Cookie Classic | Bear Creek Services
9:00 am Nature Art Show and Sale | Quarry Hill Nature Center
9:00 am Hosanna Lutheran Christmas Bazaar | Hosanna Lutheran Church
9:00 am Indoor Winter Farmers Market | Crawford Hall – Graham Park
9:00 am Farmers Market – Holiday Bazaar | Crawford Hall – Graham Park
9:00 am Holiday Market | Joy Ridge Event Center
10:00 am Friends Gift Quality Book & Bake Sale | Rochester Public Library
10:00 am Holiday LEGO Build | SCHEELS Rochester
10:00 am Miss Angie’s Place Open House | Miss Angie’s Place
10:00 am Second Dose Holiday Haus | The Neighborhood Nook at Clover & Rose
10:00 am Christmas With Emmanuel | Emmanuel Lutheran Church
10:00 am Snowy Penguin Kids Class | Art Heads Emporium
10:00 am LIVE MUSIC – Cole Allen | Bleu Duck Kitchen
11:00 am Ryan Woodring: “Face in Clouds, invisible ink” | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Moving Beyond Bars | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Cyclone: Artist Responses to 100 Years of the History Center of Olmsted County Collection | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Erin Smith: Hard Copy | Rochester Art Center
11:00 am Visit Santa Claus | Apache Mall
11:00 am Holiday Sip & Shop | American Legion Post #92
11:00 am Creative Studio | Rochester Art Center
11:30 am PREMIER LEAGUE – Leeds United vs. Liverpool | Little Thistle Brewing
12:00 pm A Quilters Demo | History Center of Olmsted County
1:00 pm Zen Tangle Class | Gallery 24
1:00 pm Anniversary Party & Holiday Market | Kinney Creek Brewery
1:00 pm Annual St. Nicholas Market | Salem Glen Winery
1:00 pm Zen Tangle Class | Gallery 24
2:00 pm Rochester Dance Company presents The Nutcracker | Mayo Civic Center
2:00 pm Winter Market | Historic Chateau Theatre
2:00 pm Holiday Paper Quilling and Pints | South By SouthEast Brewing
2:00 pm Disney’s Frozen | Rochester Civic Theatre
2:00 pm Christmas in Connecticut: The Musical | Once & Future Classics
2:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – A Bella Christmas – A Time to Rejoice! | Trinity Lutheran Church
2:00 pm Bugonia | Pop’s Art Theater
3:00 pm Cookie Decorating Party! | Kahler Grand Hotel Ballroom
3:00 pm Adopt-A-Stuffie with Companion Homestead | LTS Brewing
3:00 pm The Wonder of the Nativity | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
4:00 pm “A Mayowood Tradition: A 1951 Christmas Party” Historic Specialty Tour | Mayowood
4:00 pm ZooDazzle | Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
4:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – Voices of Advent | Zumbro Lutheran Church
4:25 pm Bugonia | Pop’s Art Theater
4:30 pm Lighting of the Vines | Salem Glen Vineyard
4:30 pm Hot Cocoa & Cookies | People’s Food Co-op
5:00 pm Employers of Olmsted Light Festival (E.L.F.) Drive-Thru | Chester Woods Park
5:15 pm Inaugural RRC Ugly Sweater 1-Mile Run | Central Park
5:30 pm Downtown Dazzle Parade | Downtown Rochester
6:00 pm Rochester Dance Company presents The Nutcracker | Mayo Civic Center
6:00 pm Bingo Night! | Social Garage
6:30 pm Bourbon Bash | Chip Shots
7:00 pm 🎄 The Annual St. Nicholas Market | Salem Glen Winery
7:00 pm Little Women: The Musical | Rochester Repertory Theatre
7:00 pm Disney’s Frozen | Rochester Civic Theatre
7:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – VIN, GIANTS KNIFE, NECK WRUNG, INFLICT | Treedome
7:30 pm Snow Elf Saves Christmas: An R-Rated Christmas Comedy | Rochester Civic Theatre Company
7:30 pm Christmas in Connecticut: The Musical | Once & Future Classics
8:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – A Funky Lil’ Christmas | Bluemoon Ballroom
8:00 pm LIVE MUSIC- Mike Poot Full Band Show | Douglas Saloon & Social Club
9:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – Time Machine | North Star Bar
10:00 pm LIVE MUSIC – Jeremy Jewell and The Co-Dependents | Kathy’s Pub

December 7, 2025

8:00 am Historic Mayowood Christmas Tour | Mayowood Mansion

BACK TO TOP

holiday events

CHECK OUT THE HOLIDAY GUIDE FOR MORE FESTIVE FUN!

Rochester MN Holiday Guide
Rochester Local
Rochester Local is written by locals with a passion for locals and visitors alike to discover all the Rochester MN area has to offer. We strive to connect local businesses, communities, and people by sharing personal experiences, fun ideas and useful information to make meaningful connections both on and offline.

Related posts

Skip the Scissors: 5 Rochester Shops That Will Wrap Your Gifts for You

Blair Sharp

Guide to St. Paul’s European Christmas Market

Amber Freeman

Winter at Rochester Art Center: Everything You Need to Know!

Rochester Local
@2024 All Right Reserved. Writer Login