December 2026Minneapolis–St. Paul · The Twin Cities

December in Minneapolis–St. Paul with little kids.

38 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Minneapolis–St. Paul in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

38 listings · 6 free

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

14 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

Dec5Sat

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend

Mill City Museum, Minnesota History Center, and Historic Fort Snelling · Minneapolis and St. Paul

Free dayFree
When
Dec 5 and 6
Price
Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec5Sat

Breakfast with Santa (Maple Grove)

Maple Grove Community Organization (served by Maple Grove Lions) · 12951 Weaver Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55369

Santa
When
Saturday, Dec 5
Time
8:30–10:30 a.m. (Lunch with Santa 11 a.m.–1 p.m.)
Price
$5 adult, $5 child 2+, $2 under 2 (lunch $7 / $7 / $3); registration is open, no walk-ups
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec5Sat

Shakopee Holiday Fest

Holmes St., First Ave. and Sommerville St. · Shakopee

Parade or tree lightingFree
When
Saturday, Dec 5
Time
Parade at 5 p.m.; tree lighting and fireworks right after
Price
Free to watch
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

5 listings

Dec 7 to Dec 13

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

2 listings

Dec 14 to Dec 20

5 listings

Dec 28 to Dec 31

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

12 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 31

GLOW Holiday Festival

CHS Field · Downtown St. Paul, MN

Holiday lights
When
Nov 19 to Jan 3
Time
Hourly entry from 5 p.m.; closes 9 p.m.
Price
Adults $22.75; children ages 3–12 $12.75; ages 2 and under free, plus fees and taxes
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes

Viking Lakes · 2685 Vikings Cir, Eagan, MN 55121

Holiday lights
When
Nov 20 to Jan 2
Time
Sun–Thu 5:30–9 p.m.; Fri–Sat 5:30–10 p.m.
Price
November-only any-day car $21.99 online ($25 at the gate; discount through Nov 30); Santa Saver any-day $34.99 through Nov 19; weekday $28.99; season pass $97.99
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Northern Lights

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum · 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318

Holiday lights
When
Nov 20 to Jan 3
Time
4:30–9:30 p.m.
Price
Members $25; non-members $35; children through age 15 free with a ticket and an adult; parking free
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Maplewood Mall

Maplewood Mall · 3001 White Bear Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55109

Santa
When
Nov 20 to Dec 24
Time
Most days 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Ridgedale Center

Ridgedale Center · 12401 Wayzata Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55305

Santa
When
Nov 20 to Dec 24
Time
Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Southdale Center

Southdale Center · 10 Southdale Center, Edina, MN 55435

Santa
When
Nov 20 to Dec 24
Time
Most days 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Burnsville Center

Burnsville Center · 1178 Burnsville Center, Burnsville, MN 55306-6218

Santa
When
Nov 27 to Dec 24
Time
Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec4to 13

North Pole Express

St. Paul Union Depot (Friends of the 261) · St. Paul Union Depot, Saint Paul, MN

Santa
When
Dec 4 to Dec 13
Time
See ticket page
Price
See ticket page (on sale now)
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked

Guides

More December guides for Twin Cities

Santa visits in Twin CitiesBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in Twin CitiesDrive-thru and walk-through displaysIndoor play for toddlersThings to do with toddlers in Twin CitiesChristmas train ridesDates, ages and ticket pricesIce skating for kidsHoliday rinks, prices and skate aidsSledding and snow tubingHills and tubing parks, with height rulesChristmas break with kidsWhat’s open Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Noon Year’s EveA noon countdown on Dec 31Every year in Twin CitiesAnnual events by month, with last year’s dates

Keep planning

More for little kids in Twin Cities

November: things to do in Twin CitiesEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in Twin CitiesFree days, free events and places that never chargeFree museum days in Twin CitiesFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in Twin CitiesIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in Twin CitiesStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branchIce skating in Twin CitiesHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesSledding in Twin CitiesSledding hills and snow tubing, with height rulesThanksgiving weekend in Twin CitiesParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in Twin CitiesKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in Twin CitiesParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in Twin CitiesPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in Twin CitiesBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in Twin CitiesChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas tree farms in Twin CitiesChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in Twin CitiesDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsChristmas break in Twin CitiesWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Birthday party places in Twin CitiesStarting prices, ages and what’s includedYouth soccer and basketball in Twin CitiesSoccer and basketball for kids under 6, with sign-up datesMore things to do with kids in Minneapolis–St. Paul this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in Twin Cities: the FAQ

38 dated listings so far, including Family Storytime (Dec 1, Dec 2 and Dec 8), Family Storytime (Dec 2 and Dec 3), Anoka Tree Lighting (Dec 5) and Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Dec 5 and Dec 6). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

Cold or rainy days are on indoor play for toddlers in Twin Cities, with ages, prices and hours from each place’s own site.

Season dates, prices and skate aids are on the ice skating page.

Hills and tubing parks, with height rules for little kids, are on the sledding page. Every hill needs snow, so check the park’s status page the morning you go.

Holiday hours for Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are on the Christmas break page.

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Nov 12, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Twin Cities that weekend.

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