The Twin Cities knows how to celebrate the holiday season, and there is an explosion of holiday events and markets this weekend as we welcome this joyful season! Check out some of them below… the first group happens only this weekend.
Grand Meander
Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Saturday, December 1, 2018, 8:30 am- 5 pm
Experience the fun of Grand Avenue on this special day by making your Christmas shopping memorable. Begin the day with Santa at the free pancake breakfast at Tavern on Grand from 8:30 am-10:30 am. Enjoy carolers, reindeer, Santa visits, Red Balloon’s special storytime, trolley rides, and soup tasting at Grand Avenue restaurants. Top it all off at the Summit Ave Artisan Festival hosted by St. Paul’s United Church of Christ from 10 am-4 pm featuring local artists pottery, textiles, food vendors, bakery cafe and a silent auction.
Art at Ramsey
Art at Ramsey a Juried Holiday Art Fair of quality fine crafts and fine art, is held in conjunction with Grand Meander at Ramsey Junior High, 1700 Summit Avenue, St. Paul 55105.
The 18th Annual ART AT RAMSEY features 75 juried local artists and is open from 10 to 5. The 19th Annual Youth Art Fair with local young artists ages 10-18 will also be at Ramsey from 10 to 4.
There will be everything from leather handbags and belts, watercolor paintings, silver and gold jewelry, baskets, and steel sculpture to woven scarves, dolls, fused glass pendants, woodcut prints, unique hand-dyed silk apparel, hand-carved wooden birds, mosaics, hand-woven rugs, hats, turned wood, original cards, hand-blown glass bowls, plus pottery tiles, vases, bowls, teapots and cups, and also Hmong needle work and holiday ornaments.
Julmarknad – ASI’s Christmas Market & Festival
December 1st, 2018 – 10:00am
December 2nd, 2018 – 11:00am
American Swedish Institute
Julmarknad, the American Swedish Institute’s Christmas Market and our largest holiday weekend festival (Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 1-2), features handcrafted items for sale by more than 40 talented local and regional artists, with dance and folk music performances in the historic Mansion, Santa visits and FIKA’s festival food plus beverage stations.
Gift seekers can also browse exceptional items from The American Swedish Institute Museum Store and Jul Shop, alongside the artists’ distinctive glass, clothing, woodcarvings, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and other work. Families can make handcraft projects together and enjoy holiday story time.
FIKA at the American Swedish Institute’s special Julmarknad menu includes our famous Swedish meatballs and warm glögg, and we’re also hosting a once-a-year Bake Sale with cardamom bread and other goodies to share over the holidays.
Cost:
Festival included in museum admission. Tickets sold at the door. Advanced sales not required. $12 Adults, $8 Seniors, $6 Students & Children, Free for Members & Under 5
Betty’s 3rd Annual Bizarre Bazaar
December 1, Saturday at 10 AM – 5 PM
This is NOT your Church craft sale, this is Betty’s Bizarre Bazaar and she does things her way, quirky some would say.
We have very talented local artists, artisans and crafters that are showcasing their work. And while you’re here, sip on a hot drink and view the Mpls skyline from our vertically revolving tables in the sky.
40th Annual Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
Landmark Center, St. Paul
Thursday & Friday, November 29-30, 2018 10am-8pm | Saturday, December 1, 2018 10am-5pm
Admission: $5 • Age 12 and younger: free
Shop for handcrafted items including, jewelry, wreaths, paintings, woven and wearable art, handmade lotions, soaps and more! There will also be music, treats and chances to win prizes.
Reindeer Day
Linden Hills Neighborhood, Minneapolis -43rd & Upton Ave S
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Free trolley rides, roast marshmallows over fire pits behind Heartfelt, Santa visits, strolling carolers and in-store events. And what would Reindeer Day be without…live reindeer!
Can’t make it this weekend? Don’t worry… there is plenty more for you to enjoy throughout the holiday season, some on specific dates and some continuing throughout December.
Linden Hills Market
Every Sunday, November 4th – December 23rd, 2018
9:00am-2:00pm
Sunnyside Gardens
Celebrate all things local as the Linden Hills Holiday Market hosts the very best craftspeople, artisan food producers, and ready-to-eat food makers the North has to offer. Need a tree? Pick one up alongside the market in their huge Christmas tree lot, making it the best one-stop shop for unique holiday gifts, decadent gourmet treats, and winter home and garden decor. The market is dog and kid-friendly, with vendor lists changing every week!
Holidazzle – Loring Park
Thursdays-Sundays, November 23rd-December 23rd, 2018
Thursdays from 5:00-9:00 pm | Fridays from 5:00–10:00pm |
Saturdays from 11:00am–10:00pm | Sundays from 11:00am–7:00pm
Celebrate the holidays celebrate in a Winter Wonderland in Loring Park! Holidazzle is the motherland of pop-up shops in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The Holidazzle Shops Tent is a heated and covered space tent, free from the chill! Enjoy food, beverages, Minnesota made crafts, live music, giveaways, fireworks, tree lightings and even meet Santa. Don’t forget to take your ice skates for a ride on the big rink and stay for special movie nights featuring classic holiday movies! Metro Transit is offering free rides on select days, so get your passes now!
St. Paul European Christmas Market
Friday, Dec. 8 from 4–9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. & Sunday, Dec. 10 from noon–6 p.m. @ Union Depot East Plaza, 214 E. 4th St., St. Paul, stpaulchristmasmarket.com
The Capitol City’s take on the Christkindlmarkt returns with two weekends of handcrafted goods plus European-inspired food, Glühwein (spiced mulled wine), carolers, dancers, live music, and appearances from Santa and Krampus in an open-air setting. Products for sale include handmade cards, Christmas decorations and sweets from Germany and Poland, and cozy cold-weather goods. Dec. 10 from noon–6 p.m. @ Union Depot East Plaza, 214 E. 4th St., St. Paul, stpaulchristmasmarket.com
Mill City Farmers Winter Market
Saturdays from Dec. 2–Dec. 16 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. @ 704 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, millcityfarmersmarket.org
The weekly Mill City Farmers Market has gone indoors for the season. In addition to the usual farmers market produce and artisan foods, shop for handmade gifts, kitchenware, jewelry, home goods, handwoven fair-trade baskets, and more from a rotating mix of makers including House of Talents, Celina Kane hats, Wild Birds Flying, Indigo & Snow, Oh Dier, Jeanne Beatrice Market Baskets, Matthew Krousey Ceramics, Crookedwood, and Aprilierre jewelry.
Textile Center’s Holiday Gallery Shop
Textile Center, 3000 University Ave SE, Minneapolis
November 1-December 24, 2018. Daily.
Shop for handmade fiber art, including wearables, home decor, gift items, as well as books, art supplies, and craft kits. Your purchase supports local and national artists!
Union Depot Holiday Bake Sale
Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. @ Union Depot, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, uniondepot.org
Head to the St. Paul Union Depot for the 5th annual Holiday Bake Sale, where you can pick up giftable sweets and baked goods from nearly 20 local bakeries, plus artisanal packaged foods and soaps from eight more makers, baking and cooking demonstrations by top local chefs, music performances, food and drink pairing workshops, and an hourly cake walk with prizes. Proceeds from tickets ($5–$10) benefit Neighborhood House.
No Coast Craft-o-Rama Holiday Sale
Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
Friday, December 7, 2018, 3-8pm & Saturday, December 8, 2018 9am-5pm
Several years ago a group of local crafters and artists joined together to create Crafters Local 612, a nonprofit organization with a goal of promoting local arts and crafts and providing opportunities for these artists to share their crafts with the public. They do this with the No Coast Craft-o-Rama events that feature designers, artists, crafters, and other talented creators of unique handmade goods.
West St. Paul Secret Holiday Shop
Thompson County Park – Dakota Lodge – 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul
December 8, 2018 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
This shopping event is for children to shop for family and friends in a “no parents” zone. Parents can help children create a shopping list beforehand. Gifts range from $0.50 to $12.00 and include choices of jewelry, coffee mugs, specialized gifts, knick-knacks, and toys. Volunteers will wrap and label presents at the end of their shopping experience.
Kids’ Secret Holiday Shopping Spree
Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N., Shoreview
December 9, 2018 9:00 am – Noon.
Relax in Shoreview Community Center’s fireside lounge while park staff and volunteers help the kids shop for gifts. Send the kids in with a list of people that need gifts and a designated dollar amount to spend. Gifts range from $1-$15. Kids will have help with everything from selecting to wrapping gifts. No registration is necessary, and this is a free event for children ages 3-12.
50th & France Winter Markets
Dec. 16 from noon–3 p.m. @ Edina 5-0 Mall between Title Nine and Annika Bridal on W. 50th St., Edina, 50thandfrance.com
Every Saturday, the 50th & France shopping district hosts weekly winter pop-up markets featuring handcrafted gifts from local artists and makers, plus strolling carolers and kids’ activities. Saturdays through
Urban Ventures Holiday Boutique
Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. @ Urban Ventures Youth Center, 3016 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis, urbanventures.org
This pop-up marketplace features goods by local and socially minded brands and makers, including Karen Morris Milliner (hats), Smile Network International (fair-trade goods), and Northmade Co. (Minnesota-themed apparel). For every $10 you spend, you’ll earn a token that can be used toward supporting Urban Ventures programs. Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. @ Urban Ventures Youth Center, 3016 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis, urbanventures.org
North 5th Holiday Celebration
Friday from 3–8 p.m. & Saturday from noon–7 p.m. @ 903 N. 5th St., 901 N. 5th St., & 875 N. 5th St., Minneapolis
This weekend, Japanese-inspired home store, Ūmei Boutique, partners with neighboring storefronts, Spring Finn & Co. and Veronique Wantz Gallery, for a holiday event featuring maker pop-ups featuring Annika Jewelry, Martha McQuade’s ScarfShop, Khazana Imported Art & Textiles, Goldfinch, and more, plus wine and live jazz. It’s also an opportunity to check out Spring Finn & Co.’s month-long winter bazaar featuring handpicked artisan finds. Read more about Ūmei on the MNMO Style blog.
PIP Holiday Pop-up
Saturday. Friday, Dec. 8 from 5–7:30 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. @ Projects in Person, 906 Mainstreet, Hopkins, projectsinperson.com
Find handcrafted holiday gifts from a dozen local makers at this holiday pop-up hosted by maker workshop, Projects in Person (PIP). Shop for baby goods from Finch Designs, doggie goods from Dog Love Repeat, modern macramé décor by Junah Woods, wood crates and more from WAAM Industries, skincare by Julia Elise, knapsacks by Addington Company, apparel from Anywhere Apparel, and faux-fur accessories by Namakan Fur, plus enjoy special promotions from vendors, DIY modern wreaths, and refreshments both days, plus a bloody Mary bar and mimosas on Saturday.
Studio 451 Holiday Party
Thursday, Dec. 14 from 5–10 p.m. @ Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson St. NE., Minneapolis; visit the Facebook page for more info
Shop handmade goods from makers including 3 Jäg Design jewelry by Betty Jäger, Meg Brown Ceramics, Ritual Print Co., Jennifer Chilstrom, and more, plus a photo booth, drinks, and snacks.
Celebrate, refresh and enjoy this joyful season! Here are links to even more to enjoy!
- Minnesota’s Top 10 Events: December 2018
- Holiday Markets & Shops in Minneapolis
- Your Guide to Holiday Markets in the Twin Cities 2018
- Minneapolis Holiday Market
Sharlene & John Hensrud, RE/MAX Results HomesMSP Team
