Holiday Arts Guide: Chill out with art festivals, crafts, food and wine — and alpacas
String lights are going up; snow is coming down — and throughout the holiday season, there’s plenty to keep us busy around St. Paul. Craft markets and mulled wine, of course, but also train rides, music, art, movies, food and quite a few alpacas.
There’s plenty to look forward to later in the winter, too — like the Winter Carnival and Great Northern Festival, in January and February — but until then, here are just a few of the many festivals, functions and family fun you can enjoy through the end of the year.
Hub for the Holidays
Union Depot’s Christmas central is back. Catch the North Pole Express, holiday bake sale, Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, and more throughout the holiday season.
Union Depot: 240 E. Kellogg Blvd; some events are ticketed; uniondepot.org/holiday/.
A couple specific highlights:
Tree Lighting/Movie Night: The evening of Dec. 3 is a busy one at Union Depot: An anniversary celebration of the building’s restoration begins at 3 p.m., and the St. Paul Winter Carnival buttons will be revealed by the Royal Family, Vulcan Krewe and Klondike Kates at 5 p.m. Then, The Mistletones will perform, and at 7 p.m., the holiday tree will be officially lit. Close out the night by watching “Elf,” which starts at 7:30.
European Christmas Market: The popular holiday village at Union Depot is back for its 9th year, with 60 vendors including food, hot mulled wine, live entertainment and crafts and activities for kids. Santa will show up periodically, and the furry Minnesota Krampus characters will be around on two Friday evenings. Notable: Last year, attendance hit 95,000, and this year’s market is more spacious. The market began on Nov. 25 and runs weekends through Dec. 18; hours are 4 – 9 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sundays. Free admission; full list of vendors and activities at stpaulchristmasmarket.org
Holidazzle
The retooled winter festival is back in Loring Park, in Minneapolis, this year, spanning four weekends from Nov. 25 through Dec. 18. The craft market, rides, art and beer garden are in full force; roller skating from 5 – 9 p.m. each Friday and Saturday is new this year. Look alive, alpaca fans: The furry animals will be hanging out during the festival’s final two weekends. Fireworks go off at 7:15 p.m. every Saturday; hours: 5 – 9 p.m. Fridays, 12 – 9 p.m. Saturdays and 12 – 6 p.m. Sundays.
Holidazzle: Loring Park, Minneapolis; free admission; holidazzle.com
GLOW Festival
Last year, the million-plus light installation took over the State Fairgrounds; now, the festival is lighting up CHS Field. Besides illuminated trees and interactive light displays, food and drinks will be on offer as well. The festival is open most days between Nov. 23 and Jan. 1, with a few exceptions. Timed tickets are required.
CHS Field: 360 N. Broadway Street; tickets: $12.75 for kids 4–12, $20.75 for adults; glowholiday.com/
The Magic of Night Trains
At the Twin City Model Railroad Museum, the main lights go down and street lamps glow in the miniature villages, decorated with snow and holiday decor, as vintage model trains run through the carefully crafted cities. You can’t ride the trains — unless you’re the size of a model-train passenger, I suppose — but you can admire them from 3 – 7 p.m. every Saturday, plus special dates of Dec. 19, 21, 23, 26, 29 and 30.
Twin City Model Railroad Museum: 668 Transfer Road; tickets: $15 per person, free for members and those under 4; tcmrm.org/
2 Galleries, 20 Artists
The Friedli and Viewpoint galleries are teaming up for a dual-location holiday art show featuring small works (under 18×24) for sale. The show begins on Dec. 2 with a simultaneous opening reception at both studios, from 5 – 9 p.m., with refreshments provided. The sale runs at Friedli through Dec. 25 and at Viewpoint through Jan. 14.
Friedli Gallery and Studio: 943 W 7th St; friedliartsgallery.com
Viewpoint Gallery: 591 Hamline Ave N.; vp.gallery
Julmarknad Handcraft Market & Festival
Over at the American Swedish Institute, catch one of the area’s largest craft markets focusing on all things Scandinavian. Plus, they’ll have pop-up musical performances, crafts, foods, and kicksleds. Runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4, with registration required in advance.
American Swedish Institute: 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis; tickets: $15, or $10 for members; asimn.org/
Christmas in Germany
Formerly called Open Haus, the holiday market at Cathedral Hill’s Germanic-American Institute is back from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 and 4. On both days, find plenty of beer, wine, pretzels, sausage, crafts, an alpaca petting zoo and more. St. Nikolaus will be around, and the Minnesänger Chorus and 4Winds early music quartet will perform. The event is indoor/outdoor.
Germanic-American Institute: 301 Summit Avenue; free admission; gaimn.org/
Plus: Join GAI’s Christmas dinner catered by Lake Elmo Inn, along with traditional German music. Note: The dinner is in the GAI Haus, which is not ADA accessible. The meal and associated holiday programming begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 10; tickets are $80 per person and must be purchased by Dec. 5.
“East-West / North-South”
The St. Paul Civic Symphony, conducted by Jeffrey Stirling, stages a concert of music from around the globe. “China Dreams” by Bright Sheng symbolizes east, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 symbolizes west, “Reedbird” by Emilie Doolittle symbolizes north and “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4” by Heitor Villa-Lobos symbolizes south. One show: 3 p.m. on Dec. 4.
St. Matthews Catholic Church: 510 Hall Ave; tickets: free; spcsmusic.org
Interactive Holiday Workshops at the Mia
Inspired by the special exhibition “Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi,” the Minneapolis Institute of Art is hosting two special afternoon workshops. Start with a private guided tour of the exhibition — which features art that rarely leaves Italy — and continue with your choice of one of the following: Pasta making with Alex Dayton of Aliment; wine pairing with sommelier Bill Summerville; charcuterie board styling with Mary Jo Hoffman of Still; or table styling with Jason Berke of Warmhouse Story. It’ll be hands-on, as each workshop is capped at 15 participants. Conclude with a meal courtesy of acclaimed chef Jamie Malone, with Summerville’s wine pairings. The experience runs from 3 – 8 p.m. on either Dec. 4 or Dec. 10, and your ticket price is also a fundraiser for the museum.
Minneapolis Institute of Art: 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis; tickets: $260 per person; new.artsmia.org/event/botticelli-art-and-dining-experiences-at-mia-interactive_holiday-workshop
Circus Juventas’ Solstice
Holiday shows are a relatively new addition to the St. Paul circus school’s calendar. This year — their third annual — the students are presenting Solstice, which focuses on forest creatures’ quest to rescue Jack Frost and save winter. Seven shows from Dec. 9–18.
Circus Juventas: 1270 Montreal Ave; tickets: $25 for kids/seniors/military, $35 for adults; circusjuventas.org
Manure and Poetry #3: An Evening with Labor Camp Orchestra
Local artist Piotr Szyhalski, whose exhibition “We Are Working All the Time!” is on view at the Weisman Art Museum through Dec. 31, is staging a sound-based evening of “vignettes that revisit and build on the expanded palette of performative works that were developed over the decades.” The performance plus artist dialogue begins at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 14.
Weisman Art Museum: 333 E River Road, Minneapolis; tickets: required, but pay as you wish; wam.umn.edu/calendar/manureandpoetry/
Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy
Once again, Minnesota Dance Theater is presenting its annual rendition of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, with choreography by the late company founder Loyce Houlton and music by a 44-piece orchestra conducted by Philip Brunelle. Six performances from Dec. 16 to Dec. 23, including matinees.
State Theatre: 805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; tickets: $19–129 at the box office or Ticketmaster; mndance.org/
Plus: Meet the characters and enjoy tea and savory/sweet snacks at the Festivi-Tea, a party at the Minneapolis Club from 12:30 to 2 p.m. before the Dec. 23 matinee performance. Tickets run $50–$60; admission to the show must be purchased separately. Buy tickets online only at mndance.org/nutcracker-festivi-tea
The Classic Nutcracker
More cracking going on over at Ballet Minnesota, along with special guests from American Ballet Theatre. This is the local company’s 34th year staging the classic ballet, and once again, they’ll be at The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University. Three performances, Dec. 16–18.
The O’Shaughnessy: 2004 Randolph Ave; tickets: $19–$45; oshag.stkate.edu/events/category/series/ballet-minnesotas-classic-nutcracker/
Christmas Alpaca Open House
Whispering Oaks Alpacas, a farm in Prior Lake, is making alpaca lovers’ dreams come true with a two-day alpaca-stravaganza. You can visit the farm, grab any last-minute gifts and baked goods, and, for $10, take an alpaca for a snowy walk. Stop by from 12 – 4 p.m. on Dec. 17 or 18, weather permitting.
Whispering Oaks Alpacas: 21851 Calmor Ave., Prior Lake; free entry; more information on the farm’s Facebook page
Winter Solstice Celebration
Despite how the world looks out the window, winter does not technically begin until nearly the end of December — the 21st — which also happens to be the shortest day of the year. Warm up at FIKA Cafe at the American Swedish Institute from 5 – 9 p.m. on Dec. 21 with a special menu and warm mulled wine.
American Swedish Institute: 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis; tickets: $15, or $10 for members; asimn.org
