Holiday events, November through New Year's
Photos with Santa Scott
Saturday, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM · 124 N Cedar Ave, Owatonna
Free holiday photos with Santa, plus a drive for new, unwrapped toys and gifts for a local family in need. Donations are appreciated but never required.
November 2026
- Sat7
EC Bazaar & Bake Sale
Crafters, vendors, a bake sale and bucket raffle supporting early childhood programs.
- Sat7
Eagles Auxiliary Bazaar, Craft & Bake Sale
Crafts and baked goods from the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary.
- Sat7
Fall Craft and Pottery Sale
Handmade pottery, holiday decor, blankets and birdhouses.
- Sat7
Elks Holiday Craft Fair
The 27th annual Elks Holiday Craft Fair: Christmas decor, gifts, wood crafts, jewelry, soaps, lotions and more. Coffee, soda and homemade rolls all morning, plus Jeannie's wild rice soup and Maid-Rite baskets served 11–1:30.
- Fri13
Christmas on Chestnut
A holiday makers market with local crafters, bakers and creators.
- Sat14
Fall Bazaar & Holiday Bake Sale
Vendors and holiday baking. Free admission.
- Thu19
Merry Hour
Food, drinks and a live auction supporting the Mantorville Restoration Association.
- Thu19
Sip & Shop at SCHC: Prelude to the Holidays
Holiday shopping with local artisans and area businesses, with wine and beer from Grapeful Wine Bar.
- Thu19
Holly Days Sale Opening Reception
Kick off the holiday shopping season with handmade gifts from 30+ Minnesota artists, light refreshments and a chance to meet the artists. Free. The Holly Days Sale runs through Dec 19 (Wed–Fri 12–5, Sat 10–2; closed Nov 26–27).
- Sat21
Turkey Trot 5K
Family-friendly 5K run or walk, with an indoor farmers market inside.
- Wed25
IV Play Live
Thanksgiving Eve show at The Mill Event Center.
- Thu26
Turkey Day 5K
The 5th annual Thanksgiving morning 5K and 2.5K walk/run for local food charities.
- Sat28
Holiday Market
A Small Business Saturday sip-and-shop with local vendors and handmade gifts.
- Sat28
Stretchy Pants Saturday Bingo
Post-Thanksgiving bingo night.
- Sat28
Vino & Vendors: Small Business Saturday
Grapeful's annual Small Business Saturday market: local makers and vendors, holiday gift shopping, festive drinks and wine specials.
- Sat28
United for the Holidays Gift Wrapping
Bring your gifts and United Way of Steele County volunteers will professionally wrap them in exchange for a free-will donation that supports local families.
December 2026
- Thu3
Winterfest Kickoff: Hometown Holidays
Faribault's 10th annual Winterfest starts with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a bounce house and a holiday pop-up shop (5–7 PM), plus horse-drawn carriage rides (4–7 PM) and live ice carving (5–7 PM).
- Fri4
Lighted Holiday Parade
Light-covered floats and Santa and Mrs. Claus roll down Cedar Ave, followed by fires, free cider, the OHS Carolers and the lighting of Central Park.
- Fri4
Winterfest: Ice Rink Opening, Tree Lighting & the Grinch
Celebrate the grand opening of the new Viaduct Park ice rink with refreshments and the first skate, plus Faribault's tree lighting ceremony, carriage rides and photos with the Grinch (5:30–7 PM).
- Sat5
Santa's Reindeer Adoption & Makery
A Christmas maker day for kids. $55 per child, registration required.
- Sat5
Christmas Time at The Mill
A free community Christmas celebration for all ages, including photos with Santa.
- Sat5
Old-Fashioned Christmas in Mantorville
Holiday shopping specials, Santa at the Opera House, carolers and free wagon rides.
- Sat5
Byron Komet Holiday Market
A big holiday market full of handmade vendors.
- Sat5
Sunny Side Up Winter Market
50+ vendors, raffles, and lunch and drinks for sale. Free entry.
- Sat5
Winterfest Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk
Wear your ugliest sweater: the winner takes home a basket of goodies. Registration required.
- Sat5
Winterfest Photos with Santa
Free pictures with Santa, Christmas story time, a coloring station, coffee, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.
- Sat5
Winterfest Christmas Market
Holiday shopping from local vendors during Winterfest.
- Sat5
Craft Spirits Holiday Bazaar
20+ craftspeople showing their handmade goods.
- Sat5
Winterfest Parade of Lights & Fireworks
The Parade of Lights rolls through downtown, followed by fireworks near Viaduct Park and the Winter Street Dance (6–10 PM) with live music, a beer garden, a heated tent and bonfires.
- Sat5
Mick Sterling's Grand Ole Opry Christmas
A holiday country music show at the BPHS Performing Arts Center.
- Sun6
Glaze a Vintage Christmas Tree
Decorate your own 8-inch ceramic tree. Spots are limited.
- Mon7
OHS Holiday Choir & Orchestra Concert
The Carolers, Concert Choir, Treble Choir and Symphony Orchestra.
- Sat12
Ugly Sweater Family Bingo
Bingo, raffles and a bake sale for the BP Youth Club. Wear your ugliest sweater.
- Sat12
Photos with Santa Scott
Bring the family to visit with Santa and take home complimentary holiday photos. This year, there's also a drive for new, unwrapped toys and gifts for a local family in need. Bring one if you're able; donations are appreciated but never required. RSVP recommended, not required.
- Sat12
A Bluegrass Christmas with Monroe Crossing
A holiday bluegrass concert at the Waseca PAC.
- Mon14
Waseca HS Choir Holiday Concert
The high school choirs' holiday concert.
- Tue15
Snowy Snowman Painting Class
An all-ages snowman painting class. Preschoolers attend with an adult.
- Fri18
Holiday Dessert Auction with Handmade Pottery
Bid on homemade desserts paired with handmade pottery, before and during intermission of A Grand Ole Opry Christmas. Free to bid; you don't need to attend the show. Supports PCA's arts programs.
- Fri18
Mick Sterling Presents: A Grand Ole Opry Christmas
Classic country and rock-and-roll Christmas songs, gospel and spirituals with Mick Sterling and four more lead vocalists. Tickets $1.50–$33.50.
- Sat19
United for the Holidays Gift Wrapping
Last-minute gifts? United Way of Steele County volunteers will professionally wrap them in exchange for a free-will donation that supports local families.
- Sat19
Recycled Holiday Card Making
Make holiday cards from recycled materials. All ages. $5 members, $10 non-members.
- Sat19
A Very Good Christmas Carol
Two scrappy Dickensian orphans put on their own madcap, sing-along version of A Christmas Carol, with plenty of audience participation. Tickets $1.50–$23.50.
- Sun27
Holiday Bingo
A Waseca Hockey Association fundraiser.
- Thu31
New Year's Eve Youth Lock-In
An all-night New Year's Eve party for ages 9–14: colored-pin bowling, free-for-all laser tag, arcade play and competitions, walking tacos, a midnight countdown, a hula hoop contest, root beer floats and prize drawings. Check-in 9:45–10:30 PM; pickup 6–6:30 AM. Call 507-451-2524 for details.
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