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7 Hallmark-Ready Christmas Towns Near Rochester MN

by Amber Freeman

 

Do you know what always puts me in the holiday spirit? Watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. There’s just something about the dreamy snow-covered scenes, with their trees glittering with twinkle lights and icicles and postcard-perfect streets lined with decoration-bedecked homes and shops (not to mention the often-improbable, usually cheesy love stories). I can’t help but watch one and feel downright jolly. If you’ve ever wished you could step into a romantic Hallmark movie like me, you’ll definitely want to add one of the charming Christmas towns in the Rochester, MN, area to your holiday to-do list this year.

From Twin Cities suburbs to a village in Western Wisconsin called America’s Coziest Town by Travel + Leisure magazine, these picturesque communities pull out all the stops when Santa comes to town. (And he is a busy guy because he goes to all of them.) A few places are so enchanting, in fact, that they have even had starring roles in made-for-television Christmas movies. From spirited festivals with carolers and sleigh rides to dazzling light displays, seasonal theatrical productions and holiday markets brimming with gift options for your nearest and dearest, these adorable Christmas towns near Rochester, MN, have everything you need to feel merry and bright. Best of all, each one is around only a two-hour drive or less away, making them perfect for a yuletide day trip with family, friends or your special someone.

 

People in a horse-drawn wagon during the Christmas season in downtown Lanesboro, MN
Courtesy of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce

 

Less Than an Hour From Rochester

Lanesboro, MN

Known for its delightful downtown, a thriving arts scene and outdoor activities like fly fishing, biking and tubing down the Root River in the warmer months, the quaint hamlet of Lanesboro, MN, oozes cozy charm during the holiday season. Snow-kissed bluffs turn the town into a winter wonderland, while spirited events offer plenty of things to do and see. In 2024, the festive fun kicks off on Thanksgiving with Lanesboro Legion Lights, which will light up the night for the very first time in Sylvan Park.

Just a few days later, visitors can Experience the Magic of Lanesboro on Small Business Saturday, November 30, with free activities the whole family will love (plus tons of gift shopping opportunities, too), like an ornament hunt, horse-drawn wagon and pony rides, arts and crafts, a winter movie, bonfire warming stations, live music, model train displays, and more. Other seasonal events include a Holiday Dinner Dance, the Winter Farmers’ and Makers’ Market, and showings of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, a yuletide take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, at Commonweal Theatre Company. As the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Minnesota, turn a day trip to Lanesboro into a merry getaway with a stay at one of the town’s inviting inns.

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

 

Northfield, MN

As the dreamy backdrop for Hallmark’s festive 2016 film Love Always, Santa, Northfield, MN, was pretty much a shoo-in for the Rochester, MN, area’s must-visit Christmas towns. The highlight of the holiday season in Northfield is, without a doubt, the Winter Walk. Celebrating its 26th season in 2024, the annual Winter Walk is jam-packed with jolly activities like carolers, horse-drawn wagon rides, appearances by Santa Claus, reindeer and the Grinch, contests for decorating gingerbread houses, Christmas trees and windows, and even a festive flash mob.

While strolling the luminary-lit streets, visitors can also admire extravagantly decorated storefronts while doing some holiday shopping and indulging in yuletide treats and other seasonal flavors. Just make sure to stick around until 8:45 PM for the night’s fireworks show. Other joyful events to check out during your visit include the Winter Walk Ornament Hunt and the St. Olaf Christmas Festival, a more than century-old holiday music celebration.

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

 

 

Women standing next to Jultomte the Christmas gnome and his pet goat during God Jul Holiday Celebration in Stockholm, WI
Courtesy of Travel Stockholm WI

 

Less Than 90 Minutes From Rochester

Stockholm, WI

The holidays are about all things cozy, whether mulled wine and tasty treats seasoned with warming spices or cuddling up in the glow of a crackling fire or a Christmas tree wrapped in twinkle lights, and there is no place cozier than Stockholm, WI. Seriously! Coined the Coziest Place in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure magazine—thanks to comfy spaces like coffeeshops, bakeries and craft stores—the coziness quotient is off the charts in this idyllic village on the shores of Lake Pepin. In short, Stockholm is the perfect place to celebrate the cozy season.

Although this small town normally tops out at a population of less than 100, it picks up quite a bit during the holidays as a stop along the West Coast of Wisconsin’s festive Thankful • Grateful celebration. Spanning eight weeks and five river towns, the event is ideal for a weekend of food, fun and gift shopping. Stockholm pays tribute to its Scandinavian heritage with God Jul, a village-wide affair that runs for three weekends and gets all the shops and restaurants involved with seasonal eats, yuletide crafts, merry decorations and more.

In true Swedish fashion, visitors can keep an eye out for St. Lucia, as well as Jultomte, a Santa-like Christmas gnome, and his pet goat, the Julbock. Horse-drawn wagon rides and the Artisan Food & Makers Market are also available. Visit during the event’s final weekend, on December 21 and 22, to experience Fires of Stockholm, a nod to a centuries-old Norse tradition meant to ward off evil spirits and hasten spring’s return. When celebrating God Jul, don’t miss a visit to Stockholm Pie and General Store, crowned the country’s best pie shop by USA Today.

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

  • God Jul – Saturday and Sunday, December 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22, 2024

 

A woman and baby visiting Santa Claus and his reindeer during Christmas in Mankato, MN
Courtesy of Old Town Mankato

 

Mankato, MN

Whether it’s oohing and ahhing at glittering light displays, listening to the yuletide tunes of carolers, rubbing elbows with Santa Claus and his reindeer or dashing along on a horse-drawn carriage ride, Mankato has all the makings of a merry Christmas day trip. The main event of Mankato’s festive season is Kiwanis Holiday Lights, a massive, dazzling display you can either walk or drive through. (Personally, I suggest walking so you can avoid the lines and take advantage of for-purchase bites and beverages like miniature donuts, candy canes, apple cider and hot cocoa, as well as reindeer encounters and visits with Santa Claus on Fridays to Sundays leading up to Christmas.) Stop by on the event’s opening night for a lighting ceremony and parade.

If gift shopping, carolers and activities like carriage rides and crafts are more your speed, check out Bells on Belgrade and Holidays in Old Town instead, happening on Saturday, December 7 and 21, respectively. Each of these festive extravaganzas is made with families in mind. While Bells on Belgrade features activities like trolley rides, make-and-take crafts and a Winter Wonderland Parade, Holidays in Old Town offers horse-drawn carriage rides, a makers’ market and a giant gingerbread house. Santa will also be stopping by both events for photos. In the evenings, make time for a theatrical production of Miracle on 34th Street or Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some).

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

 

Children looking at a model train during Afton Village Holiday in Afton, MN
Courtesy of the Afton Area Business Association

 

Afton, MN

For many, winter near the Twin Cities means skiing or snowboarding at Afton Alps, the largest resort of its kind in the area. However, for those more interested in jolly vibes and Christmas spirit than fresh powder and lift tickets, Afton Village Holiday is for you. Running for four weekends, from Friday, November 29 through Friday, December 20, this old-fashioned holiday celebration is sure to put you in a merry mood. Each weekend has a different theme with activities and entertainment to match—like appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus, strolling carolers, and horse-drawn wagon rides the first three weeks of the event—starting with the winter fashion show and shopping deals of the Shop Small Candy Cane Trail.

Celebrate Merry & Bright brings enough festive fun to fill Santa’s magical bag, including crafts and workshops at local storefronts, a Christmas market at Afton’s historic schoolhouse, the village’s tree lighting ceremony, a model Christmas train, cookie decorating at Selma’s (Minnesota’s oldest ice cream parlor) and much more. Wrap It Up Festive Giving offers gift wrapping courtesy of area businesses and a s’more tour, while Comfort & Joy wraps things up just in time for Christmas with the Winter Solstice Bonfire at Belwin Conservancy. Held in celebration of the longest night of the year, this outdoor event is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature and loved ones in front of a roaring bonfire with a cup of hot cider or while enjoying activities like guided night hikes, an illuminated prairie labyrinth and live music.

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

 

People at a holiday light display in Hudson, WI
Courtesy of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

 

Hudson, WI

Another Rochester, MN, area holiday town to have a star turn on the Hallmark Channel is Hudson, WI, which graced the small screen in 2021’s A Christmas Wish in Hudson. That’s right—the town has a whole Hallmark movie named after it! The holidays in Hudson are a true gift, with plenty of activities and events just waiting to be unwrapped. First, to help folks feel the festive spirit, area homes open their elaborately decorated doors to guests as part of the Hudson Christmas Tour of Homes. Then, just a few days later, the town’s official festivities start with a bang with Light Up Hudson, a lighting ceremony led by Santa himself, on the day after Thanksgiving. Glittering on the banks of the St. Croix River, this seasonal explosion of more than 50,000 twinkle lights can be seen at Lakefront Park through February 9, 2025.

The Candlelight Stroll on December 6 keeps the magic and merriment going with candlelit luminaries throughout the park, horse-drawn carriage rides, jolly decorations, seasonal dining and local dancers posing as live mannequins in storefronts downtown. And although Santa Claus will also be stopping by for photos later in the month on December 15, I recommend visiting Lakefront Park to see old St. Nick on December 7 for Santa & His Critters, complete with a petting zoo, sled dogs and more. Round off your day trip with a visit to the Phipps Center for the Arts and a showing of Prancer.

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

 

Carolers in Victorian apparel during Hometown for the Holidays in Stockholm, WI,
Courtesy of Discover Stillwater

 

Stillwater, MN

Hailed by USA Today as not only one of the most picturesque small towns in America but also one of the country’s top ten small-town food scenes, Stillwater, MN, is well worth a visit any time of year. However, this riverside suburb of St. Paul turns into a true winter wonderland during Christmastime. Its Hometown for the Holidays event runs for a full month, transforming Historic Main Street Stillwater and the St. Croix Riverfront with yuletide trimmings and trappings and carolers decked out in Victorian costumes.

There is something for everyone during the holiday season in Stillwater, with many local businesses getting in on the festive fun. Local inns and eateries play host to meals with Santa, holiday teas, gingerbread house-making contests and markets, while storefronts participate in spirited scavenger hunts and the historic courthouse holds its annual Holiday Bazaar. And be sure to make time for a seasonal show like The Stillwater Nutcracker or A Very Good Christmas Carol.

The bulk of the excitement kicks off with the Twinkle Party Celebration (including free twinkle lights), city tree lighting and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 7The next weekend takes visitors to Candy Town with a gingerbread ornament scavenger hunt and gingerbread house competition. Finally, the Furry Friends Weekend will go to the dogs with a pet parade led by the Grinch, a pet costume contest and a festive photo booth.

Can’t-Miss Holiday Happenings:

 

 

Which Christmas towns in the Rochester, MN, area do you like to visit? Leave a comment below!

Have a holiday event near Rochester, MN, to add to our calendar?  Submit your event here!

Amber Freeman
Amber is a relatively new Rochester transplant, following stints in Florida, China and, most recently, Washington, DC. She is a travel professional with more than 12 years in the tourism and hospitality industries, a passion for adventure and a knack for discovering new restaurants, fun events and unique activities. A Western Wisconsin native, Amber has spent many days exploring the best that this beautiful corner of the Midwest has to offer, whether must-dos like the Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Renaissance Festival, cozy cafes and antique stores or dog-friendly spots with her Boston terrier, Charlie.

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