‘Tis the season for holiday fun

Deck the Halls in Saint Paul

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift, delicious treats, or some holiday cheer, Saint Paul is the place to be to celebrate the winter season.

Shop

With plenty of holiday markets, you’re sure to find unique gifts for all your loved ones this season in Saint Paul. Get a head start on holiday shopping at Keg and Case’s annual Holiday Market. Starting in mid-November, shop from local makers and discover soaps, candles, drinkware, sweet treats, and more. Or head to the Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul for the 44th annual Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar, Dec. 1-3. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or soft drink as you peruse handcrafted items made by over 60 local vendors.

Also near downtown, Union Depot is a transportation station, a historic site, and a modern event venue. Each year, it hosts the European Christmas Market, bringing the holiday markets of Europe right here to Saint Paul. For four weekends in December, visit Union Depot and drink Glühwein (spiced mulled wine), eat gingerbread, and shop handmade crafts.

Credit: Keg & Case Holiday Market
Shop Local in Saint Paul
It's officially the season of GIVING. Shop local, support Saint Paul businesses. We've rounded up a list to help you find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. Learn More

Dine

Credit: The Buttered Tin

One of the best parts of the holiday season is preparing and enjoying delicious food together. So, what better way to wow your holiday guests than by taking a cooking class? Cooks of Crocus Hill offers holiday-themed cooking classes centered around Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve! Plus, it has several other holiday baking classes that will teach you to make perfect pies, cookies, and cakes. Be sure to sign up online beforehand because these classes are a hot ticket!

If you’re in more of a rush for food, visit one of Saint Paul’s many bakeries to pick up pies, rolls, and pastries for your holiday get-togethers. Get a slice of pie at Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit or try French pastries and desserts at Trung Nam French Bakery in Frogtown, La Boulangerie Marguerite in Macalester-Groveland, Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris in Little Mekong, or The Buttered Tin in Lowertown.

Entertain

A bounty of classic holiday entertainment awaits in Saint Paul! Drive around the historic Summit Avenue neighborhood to see Christmas lights twinkle around some of the city’s most famous homes. At the James J. Hill House, experience a Gilded Age Christmas at Holidays on the Hill in the mansion of one of Minnesota’s railroad titans. Holiday-themed exhibits and a guided tour highlight how the Hill family and their staff celebrated together over a century ago. For even more holiday fun, visit the James J. Hill House for an interactive performance of “A Christmas Carol.” Your group will join Ebeneezer Scrooge himself, as he meets the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future!

The holidays are also quintessentially centered on performing arts in Saint Paul. This December, St. Catherine’s University will host Ballet Minnesota’s performances of “The Classic Nutcracker.” The timeless holiday tale of Clara and her Nutcracker will delight friends and family of all ages.

Credit: James J. Hill House, Holidays on the Hill

But Wait, There's More

Credit: Penumbra Theatre, “Black Nativity”

Join a Saint Paul tradition by listening to “It’s A Wonderful Life” at the Saint Paul Hotel also this December. Performed as a live 1940s radio drama, guests can enjoy this classic story accompanied by a three-course luncheon or dinner, complete with delicious holiday desserts. Spend an evening at Penumbra Theatre and see a performance of “Black Nativity” by Langston Hughes, an annual tradition for this theater and its patrons. The show is a gospel-infused retelling of the Nativity story, a family searching for refuge in an unfamiliar place.

Last but certainly not least, family fun abounds at the GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field! In December, the home of the Saint Paul Saints transforms into a winter wonderland. Roast s’mores over a campfire, frolic on the Penguin Playground, take a ride down the giant Snowy Slide, shop from local makers at the GLOW Gift Shop, and even meet Santa himself during this enchanted holiday festival.

Related Content: