Every yearMinneapolis–St. Paul · The Twin Cities

Every year in Minneapolis–St. Paul: month by month.

27 events in and around Minneapolis–St. Paul that come back every year, sorted by the month they usually start. Each one has its own page with the last dates we confirmed, and 13 already have their next dates posted. When an organizer announces new dates, they go on that page.

27 events · 13 with next dates posted

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

14 events

October

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley

Halloween2027 not announced
Usually
October to November
Last time
16 dates, Oct 16 – Nov 1, 2026
Price (2026)
Adults $23–$30, children $19–$26, ages 0–2 free; parking $10
Ages (2026)
All ages
Event pageOfficial page ↗

8 events

November

Nov19to Jan 3

GLOW Holiday Festival

CHS Field · Downtown St. Paul, MN

Holiday lights2026 dates posted
Usually
November to January
Next
Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Price (2026)
Adults $22.75; kids 3–12 $12.75; 2 and under free (+ fees); advance online only
Event pageOfficial page ↗
Nov20to Jan 2

Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes

Viking Lakes · 2685 Vikings Cir, Eagan, MN 55121

Holiday lights2026 dates posted
Usually
November to January
Next
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027
Price (2026)
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 ↗
Nov20to Jan 3

Northern Lights

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

Holiday lights2026 dates posted
Usually
November to January
Next
Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Price (2026)
Non-members $35; members $25; kids through 15 free (ticket required); gate +$10 if available; free parking
Event pageOfficial page ↗
Nov26Thu

Gobble Gait

Hastings · Hastings, MN

Thanksgiving2026 dates posted
Usually
November
Next
Nov 26, 2026
Price (2026)
8K $40, 2K $25, Family 2K $40 for up to 6 people in one household
Event pageOfficial page ↗

5 events

December

Dec4to 13

North Pole Express

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

Santa2026 dates posted
Usually
December
Next
Dec 4–13, 2026
Price (2026)
See ticket page (on sale now)
Event pageOfficial page ↗
Dec5Sat

Breakfast with Santa (Maple Grove)

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

Santa2026 dates posted
Usually
December
Next
Dec 5, 2026
Price (2026)
$5 adult, $5 child 2+, $2 under 2 (lunch $7 / $7 / $3); registration is open, no walk-ups
Event pageOfficial page ↗
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Keep planning

More for little kids in Twin Cities

November: things to do in Twin CitiesEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: 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

Every year in Minneapolis–St. Paul: the FAQ

Tree of Lights Tree Lighting Ceremony (Nov 14, 2026); GLOW Holiday Festival (Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027); Magic of Lights at Viking Lakes (Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027); Northern Lights (Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027); Burnsville Winter Lighting Ceremony (Nov 25, 2026), plus 8 more below.

It stays up at the same address. Once the dates pass, the page shows the last confirmed dates with that year’s price and ages, and we add the next dates when the official page lists them.

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.

Minneapolis–St. Paul skyline