Minnesota is the perfect place for fun and inexpensive holiday activities. It can be difficult to find things to do in the wintertime in Minnesota, but there are so many great options, especially over the holiday season.
The European Christmas Market in St. Paul is a great place to visit over the holidays. It runs from Nov. 24 – Dec. 18. It is a family friendly environment with shopping, live music and intercultural activities. At this outdoor market you can find unique gifts and European inspired food from crêpes to German potato pancakes. On their website you can find the entertainment and performers for the weekend.
GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field is a must see holiday attraction. Over a million lights are displayed all over and around the field. The event runs from Nov. 16 – Dec. 31, Thursdays through Sundays from 5-9 p.m. It is an affordable entry, with prices ranging from $12-21 for admission. The festival does not only include walkthrough lights, but unique shops, food, a 60 foot tree, a zip line, an enchanted forest and a snowy slide. It is the perfect place to bring younger kids to. Every night GLOW donates to a good cause, benefiting and donating to a community charity.
Another great option is to go to a performance of the Nutcracker. It is a holiday favorite and tradition for many people. Performances usually run from late November all the way to Christmas. It tells a two hour story filled with skilled dancing to music played by a live orchestra. There are many different dance companies who show performances of the story. The most popular near Park are The Continental Ballet Company, Moscow Ballet, Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota and Minnesota Dance Theatre. Viewings of these performances are at the Bloomington Center for the Art, Orpheum Theatre, Ames Center and State Theatre. Ticket prices and information differ between theaters.
Ice skating is perfect for anytime in the winter at Park, and rinks are open citywide. Ice rinks offer spaces for both general skating and recreational skating, depending on the location. Public skating is open at The Rec Center indoors and outdoors for a small fee. Another location is Centennial Lakes in Edina with a 10-acre lake perfect for all ages. It opens in late December depending on the weather. Other areas around Park also offer free skating, like Browndale Park, Oak Hill Park, Birchwood Park and more.
There are so many other activities to do over the holiday season, like going to any of the many local slopes to ski or snowboard, drive or walk around the lakes to see Christmas lights and baking or cooking holiday desserts or meals.
