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Twin Cities Mom Collective

2018 Family Guide to the Holidazzle

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

It’s truly a Minnesota tradition to bundle up and head out to the Holidazzle during the holiday season. This year, you and your family can enjoy this holiday celebration at Loring Park! It’s free, open to the public, and full of fun that people of all ages can enjoy! Here are a few tips to navigating the Holidazzle including parking and directions, food and beverage vendors, gift shops, activities, and more!

The best part of the Holidazzle and the set up put together by our sponsors the mpls downtown council, is that you could attend each weekend and find a completely different experience. There are different foods and gift options throughout the season, as does the entertainment. With free entry and caps on food pricing, this spin on a longtime Minnesota tradition is one of the best values for family entertainment you’ll find throughout the holiday season!

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

Cost: Did you know the Holidazzle is completely FREE?! There is no admission cost to enter!

Hours: The Holidazzle is open Thursdays through Sundays from November 23rd-December 23rd.

Thursdays from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Fridays from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Sundays from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Location: Loring Park is the home of the Holidazzle again this year! The park is transformed into a truly magical holiday experience. See the map below to find where your favorite food, beverages, and shops are located!  

2018 Guide to the Holidazzle | Twin Cities Moms Blog

What to Expect: You can expect a Minneapolis-centric experience that includes well-known local businesses and products. Enjoy prepared food and beverages, packaged food, merchandise, free music and other festive entertainment for all ages and much more. This event is completely outdoors, however warming houses are located throughout the grounds! Portable restrooms are also available.

Stay connected: While on site, we have WiFi and cable courtesy of Comcast Business, so you can share your experiences on site, watch the big game on Sunday, and more. Follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and interact with us using the hashtag #holidazzle. Plus, use our Snapchat filter to show your friends what you’re enjoying most at Holidazzle!

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

Free Rides each Saturday: Get to the Holidazzle by bus or by light rail with a free-ride pass each Saturday from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Take the free survey, then print a pass for each rider to bring along. Passes are exclusive to each weekend. Passes for each Saturday can be downloaded at www.holidazzle.com/directions!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22

Directions: To get directions from your specific location, click here!

Entrances: There are several ways to enter the Holidazzle including the walking paths near the intersections of Harmon Place; Maple Street, Willow Street; Grant Street, and the pedestrian bridge near Oak Grove Street.

Take a sleigh shuttle: This year, you can take a sleigh shuttle to and from Holidazzle and the center of downtown Minneapolis. Sleighs pick up and drop off both at Loring Park (Yale Street & Willow Street) and 6th and Nicollet. On the Nicollet side, enjoy games and other activities provided by the Mpls Downtown Improvement District as you wait. Sleighs run approximately every 20-30 minutes. This not only gives you a new experience in the heart of downtown, but it also connects Holidazzle to within a block of the Nicollet light rail stop and other parking ramps in the city’s core.

Parking: Holidazzle’s recommendation is to park at the Minneapolis College parking ramp (1420 Hennepin Avenue). They will offer $5 parking (good for all day), and parking is free after 7 pm on Saturdays and all day on Sundays. Learn more here.

Rides Shares: Taking an Uber or a Lyft? Have your driver pick you up or drop you off at the corner of Yale Street and Willow Street (address: 60 Willow Street).

Other options include:

IDS Center Parking Garage (80 S. 8th St, entrance between 7th & 8th)

Parade Park (400 Kenwood Parkway)

Walker Art Center (1750 Hennepin Ave)

Church Lot (228 S. 12th Street)

Other popular routes include:

ABC Ramps (North 2nd Avenue near Target Center/Target Field)

Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Avenue)

Guthrie Theater (818 South 2nd Street)

U.S. Bank Stadium (401 Chicago Avenue)

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

Get your holiday shopping done while your kids play at Holidazzle! We have a great collection of local vendors on site offering foods, drinks, and gifts that will make your holiday experience memorable. The products are ones you can’t find anywhere else in one place. Enjoy! Learn more about our vendors at www.holidazzle.com/vendors

Prepared Foods:

Cindy’s Cinnamon Roasted Nuts (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Enjoy the season’s smells and tastes with this family-owned business selling cinnamon roasted almonds, pecans and cashews.

Gorkha Palace (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Gorkha Palace offers authentic Nepali, Indian and Tibetan cuisine. They use high-quality fresh ingredients sourced from local organic and sustainable farming. From the delectable, juicy, momo of traditional Tibet to the richly flavored spiced curries of Nepal and India, their eclectic cuisine reflects the flavors of the Himalayans.

Kabomelette (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Since 2011, Kabomelette has served breakfast to enthusiastic (and hungry!) crowds. They offer healthy, gluten-free and convenient alternatives to customary fried-anything-on-a-stick. They combine popular omelettes with tasty steak kabobs. Don’t miss out on the special Holidazzle Hash: omelette of your choice (bacon/veggie/cheese) with Hollendazzle sauce. Try them!

Kramarczuk’s Sausages (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) A staple of Minneapolis since 1954, Kramaczuk’s Sausages will bring its local tradition of producing delicious sausage from Northeast to Holidazzle, including their German Brat, Polish Sausage, all-beef hot dogs and a special Holidazzle sausage with cranberries and wild rice!

K-Town Street Food (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Stop in at K-Town Street Food and try out their fries or a few of their signature offerings, including Kimchi Fries, a Korean taco bowl (tortilla chips topped with choice of grilled meat, kimchi, choice of sauce) and Bulgogi Beef Empanada Puff Pastry (stuffed Bulgogi Beef, potato, tomatoes, Mexican cheese and onions). All sauces are hand-made and delicious with varying degrees of spice. A must try!

Fair Faves Cheese Curds and Mini Donuts (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) A Midwestern favorite, stay warm with a helping of local cheese curds or sweet mini donuts as you stroll through Holidazzle!

iPierogi (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) iPierogi offers several pierogi treats on hand at this delicious Holidazzle stop, including pierogis with meat, pierogis with potato and cheese, and crepes/blintzes filled with cream cheese.

I Look So Good Smoothies (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) I Look So Good Smoothies are designed to make your body feel good inside and out. None of the smoothies are made from concentrate or sugary juices, meaning you’ll be enjoying high-protein, low-sugar smoothies with flavors you can taste! At Holidazzle, enjoy their hot healthy salted mocha, “Ja Mocha Me Salty”, and their Oh My Gourd Mon.

Lady A’s (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Based in New Prague, Lady A’s makes cupcakes from scratch every time. Plus, at Holidazzle try their amazing raclette (melted European cheese over potatoes)!

North Mallow (Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 21) North Mallow creates all-natural, homemade marshmallows in a variety of exceptional flavors. Each Friday at Holidazzle, stop by North Mallow and get a s’mores package to roast over a Holidazzle bonfire. Their s’mores with their specialty-flavored mallows are a must-try this Holidazzle season!

Poffertjes and More by The Littlest Pancake (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Have you tried a Poffertjes? You’ll want to stop and test out these tiny pancakes made just for you at The Littlest Pancake! Also, test out their soup and apple cakes which will be available as well.

Twin Cities Paella (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Paella, a traditional Spanish rice dish, is sure to warm you up at Holidazzle this winter. Ingredients like Spanish short grain Rice, Saffron, Smoked Pimiento, Piquillo Peppers and Extra Virgin Olive Oil are all imported from Spain to keep the flavors authentic.

Walt’z Wings & BBQ (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Try an assortment of delicious comfort food that includes delicious dry-rub ribs and Gill’s famous Mac & Cheese.

Packaged Foods:

Cheese Brothers (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2) Hailing from Wisconsin, the Cheese Brothers will bring their many cheeses to Loring Park this winter. From gift boxes to cutting boards to blocks of cheese, there is plenty to choose from the Cheese Brothers.

Freynika Chocolate (Nov. 23-24, Dec. 1, Dec. 21-22) Freynika Chocolate is an artisan chocolate and confection company specializing in over 30 flavors of handmade truffles using only Fair Trade chocolate and local organic cream and butter. Flavors and molds are customized for each event.

Hip Hop Gourmet Popcorn (Nov. 23, Dec. 1, Dec. 21) Hip Hop Gourmet Popcorn’s belief is simple: Great snacking leads to great experiences. This is why they use premium ingredients to make incredible popcorn and unbeatable flavors. Their flavors are uniquely created through a love of popcorn and trends in the culinary world.

The Thirsty Whale Bakery (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) The Thirsty Whale bakery is an up-and-coming custom bakery in Minneapolis. Their baking includes everything from cookies and holiday treats to lefse, and they bring their assortment of sweet treats to Holidazzle each weekend!

Beverages:

Fulton Beer (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Minneapolis-born, Fulton Brewing will be delighting adult Holidazzle goers with an EXCLUSIVE Holidazzle Proper Porter brewed specifically for this holiday season! The Holidazzle Proper Porter pours a beautiful black with ruby highlights. Flavors of toffee and chocolate help to balance the roasty-ness of this wonderful porter. For 2018, they’ve taken their special Holidazzle beer and spruced it up a bit for the occasion. This year, they’ve added locally made cold press coffee from Big Watt to give Proper Porter an even more nuanced taste and finish. It is a limited edition, so get it while supplies last. While you’re here you can also enjoy their select popular brews also on site.

Holidazzle Beverages (Nov. 24 – Dec. 23) Quench your thirst with local hot cider and water available, both of which complement the delicious local tastes and savory smells accompanying you through your Holidazzle journey!

Sociable Cider Werks (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Straight from their home in Northeast Minneapolis, Sociable Cider Werks brings its expertise to Holidazzle to help you enjoy the festive atmosphere with sips of a Minnesota favorite. This year’s Fat Bike Mulled Apple is even sweeter when served warm and is made from freshly-squeezed apples—never concentrate!

Misfit Coffee (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Misfit Coffee was created with the idea of paving the roads of Minneapolis, Minnesota with the best cup of coffee imaginable, leaving our mark on every customer that they meet along the way. Located in the Holidazzle Shops tent, stop by and get to know this coffee trailer that cruises the Minneapolis streets. For them it’s about more than coffee, so they focus on creating a pure sensory experience for each customer, transforming all of their passion and previous learnings into a beverage that can be enjoyed in an open-air, community-oriented atmosphere.

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

The Abbey Alpaca (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Never fear winter again. Let the little sisters and brothers of The Abbey wrap you in the luxury of genuine Alpaca. The Abbey raise their own alpaca in Minnesota. Their fleece is seven times warmer than wool, softer than cashmere and hypoallergenic. Don’t miss their toasty warm ALPACA SOCKS, and their hand-made HATS, MITTENS, and SCARVES. Plus, come see their alpacas on the first four Sundays of Holidazzle (Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Dec. 16)!

AnnMade (Nov. 23-25) For five years now, Ann Aas has been crafting unique pieces of jewelry and other accessories. Through enameling, Ann creates colorful and textured designs that are truly one-of-a-kind.

Minnesota Art Truck (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) It’s like a food truck–only better! Stocked with a delicious assortment of art from Midwest artists, the Minnesota Art Truck delivers loads of something for everyone. On any given day, you’ll find original, one-of-a-kind jewelry, books, paintings, sculptures, weldings, weavings, robots, yard art, mixed-media, wire art, woodwork, pens, journals and more.

Bare Naked Soap (Nov. 23-25) Bare Naked Soap was born out of the desire to find a healthier soap alternative. Using the cold process method, their goat milk soap is hand-crafted in small batches using the highest-quality base oils, fragrance and/or essential oils, natural colorants and fresh goat milk.

Block Paper Scissors (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9) Based in Jordan, Block Paper Scissors offers a chance for people to enjoy hand-made art to add to your home. Shop their work at Holidazzle or even work on your own at a workshop on site. Sand it. Stain it. Build it. Paint it. Love it!

Blue Egg Farm Store (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9, Dec. 20-Dec. 23) Blue Egg Farmstore is a small family crafting plant infused batches of amazing goodness for your family. From their organic sugar scrubs to creamy body butters, best ever lip balms to our plant infused muscle rub oil, natural sunsprays to aromatherapy oils, everything is handmade with love right here on their funky little farm. They believe that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body, so all of their plant infused products are made without harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances or annoying dyes.

Blue Turtle Handmade Crafts (Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 22-23) Blue Turtle Handmade Crafts offers a variety of gifts and ornaments all handmade with Polymer Clay. Beautiful handmade ornaments and jewelry that look just like old-fashioned Christmas candies, colorful boxes, clay roses, Braille items and more, perfect for gift giving!

Cabin Customs (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Cabin Customs creates custom metal gifts, ornaments, and designs. Find anything from Minnesota or America themed items, custom lakes, custom states, custom ornaments, and much more.

CityTins (Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 22-23) A coaster that helps you save! Inside each kitschy tin are coaster gift cards each worth $10 off your tab at the venue featured on the coaster. Pop the tin, select a coaster and enjoy! Can’t decide where to go? Use the Dinner Spinner inside each tin—give it a spin and let the foodie fun begin!

Cooper and Kid (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) The award-winning Cooper Kit, a quarterly subscription box, provides men with an entertaining way to bond with their kids. Every three months, families get a box filled with themed projects that both dads and kids enjoy doing together. Cooper Kits are packed full with 5-9 activities, including building and creativity activities, a bed-time storybook, cookbook, and more. Each box is centered around character building with projects turning into teachable moments around a virtue or value.

DK Wood Toys (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9, Dec. 20-23) DK Wood Toys workshop are created in Sparta, Wisconsin. All of our toys are handcrafted by DeWayne, Deanna and our sons Don and Doug. Our wooden toys are made with quality craftsmanship. All of our toys are designed for children and adults The toys are safe and simple. We use only heat treated lumber and a non-toxic wood finish. All of the colored toys are dyed with kid’s drink mix. The toys are built to withstand years of play and then be passed onto the next generation of children.

Do Me A Favor (Dec. 1) Do Me A Favor offers uniquely handcrafted sterling silver jewelry with semi-precious stones from around the world as well as hand-painted ceramic ornaments.

Do Wood Son (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 6-7, Dec. 9, Dec. 20-23) Do Wood Son specializes in building custom chairs, tables, and doors. DWS products are made with great craftsmanship and attention to detail, and they feature a variety of sports, states or symbols.

Dragonflies and Cards (Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 20-23) Based in St. Paul, Dragonflies and Cards has a 3D pop-up card for any occasion.

Duluth Coffee Company (Dec. 20-23) Duluth Coffee Company’s mission is to source, roast and craft coffee with integrity and intentionality. Coffee is their vessel for improving the lives of everyone from origin to cup.

Fair Anita (Dec. 7-9) Fair Anita is a social enterprise that’s all about investing in the power of women. They sell trendy, affordable, artisan-made jewelry and accessories that provide livable wages and fair trade jobs to over 8000 women in 16+ developing countries.

Faribault Woolen Mill Co. (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) The Faribault Woolen Mill endures as one of the last vertical woolen mills in America. Here, fifth generation craftspeople take raw wool and create blankets, throws, scarves, and accessories of remarkable comfort and quality.

Favorite Things Boutique (Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9) Leather goods, clothing, jewelry, purses and accessories for you and your home – many favorite things!

Hounds and Honeys (Dec. 6-8) Based in New Ulm and inspired by their little girl and their golden retriever, Hounds and Honeys creates blankets, bibs, crib sheets, dog bandanas, clothing and more.

Hippy Feet (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Each time you purchase a pair of these trendy socks from Hippy Feet, they will donate a pair of socks to someone in need. Their long-term mission is to create a program where they offer part-time employment to those experiencing homelessness in our community.

K&Co Boutique (Nov. 29-30, Dec. 2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 20-23) K&Co Boutique’s passion is helping women feel good about themselves and beautiful in their own skin. They want to bring you comfortable, trendy and affordable clothing and accessories, and they do that through their boutique line, custom shirts and bath and body products.

KCM Woodwork (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) KCM Woodwork makes high-quality wood crafts by hand, including painted and engraved wooden signs, coffee mug holders, wine racks, baby half-moon-shaped cradles, six-foot cedar lighthouses, light tea candle holders with bases, wall decorations, wooden centerpiece boxes with mason jars/flowers, and more.

Love Your Melon (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Grab your special Holidazzle Love Your Melon hat to stay warm during Holidazzle and throughout the winter! Founded in 2012, their mission is to put a hat on every child battling cancer while providing immediate support for families and helping fund research initiatives to beat childhood cancer completely.

Midwest Woodcraft (Dec. 1, Dec. 8-9) Midwest Woodcraft has a passion or food and working with their hands. Their goal with everything they make is to discover what is hidden in the bark and highlight what took decades to produce.

Minny and Paul (Nov. 23-25) Minny & Paul was founded with a vision to elevate gift giving and make it easier to share high-quality local goods. You pick the gift set, they handwrite your gift message and send directly to that special person in your life. They are here to help spread gratitude through local gifting.

Modern Cover (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 7-9, Dec. 20-23) Modern Cover desires to do good with design. Their unique and playful designs are inspired by the creativity and fun that children bring into the world. Modern Cover’s focus is to help kids in as many difficult situations as possible—poverty, homelessness, starvation, abuse, and others—by contributing a percentage of their sales to organizations who can help.

Muddy Mouth Cards (Nov. 23-24) Find a card for friends or family with the perfect dose of sarcasm or profanity that you can’t find anywhere else. Since 2013, Muddy Mouth Cards has been offering new words to show you care for birthdays, holidays, babies, weddings, or just because.

Northern Drift (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Northern Drift is a casual lifestyle brand developed by a Minnesota husband and wife team and inspired by the nautical side of the land of 10,000 Lakes. Our goal is to provide timeless products that reflect a love of life out on the lake and chasing summer all year long.

North Shore Apparel/Martin’s (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Based in Excelsior, North Shore Apparel/Martin’s brings Minnesotans high-quality lake gear. Hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts will be on sale at Holidazzle, as well as pajamas, socks, scarves, cashmere, candles.

Raucous Jewelry (Nov. 29-30, Dec. 20-23) Raucous Jewelry features necklaces, bracelets, earring and more. They work with sterling silver, fine silver, precious metal clay, copper, steel, brass, leather, gemstones and old treasures found along the way.

Sea Legs (Dec. 1-2) Sea Legs is a rustic mariner home décor shop inspired by their own vacations to the sea and beautiful lakes around Minnesota. Their products are exclusively painted by hand, giving each piece its own distinct character and charm and something that will be uniquely your own.

Simple-Trends (Nov. 23-Dec. 23) Simple-Trends offers a great variety of handmade items. The recycled wool sweater mittens are made with top-quality wool, cashmere and angora sweaters. They are lined with fleece for your hands to stay warm and soft all winter long. Simple-Trends’ headbands are just what you need for your lifestyle, whether it be for a run, fitness class or just a day out! They also make handmade purses, a new fall addition.

Skyline Specs (Nov. 23-25, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9, Dec. 20-23) Skyline Specs engraves major city skylines into premium wooden sunglasses. They started in an introductory entrepreneurship course at the University of St. Thomas and has since developed into a growing business.

The Smiling Olive (Dec. 1, Dec. 7, Dec. 21-22) Come and explore The Smiling Olive which offers unique, premium, extra virgin olive oils and specialty, balsamic vinegars. You’ll find the freshest, finest quality from all over the world at the very best price.

Stitches by Carin (Nov. 23-25, Dec. 22-23) Perfect for the holiday season, Stitches by Carin produces hats, bags, shawls, hair accessories, all with a touch of Sweden. Stitches by Carin is run by a single person, with all products produced by her as well.

Three Rivers Farm syrup (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Browse and enjoy an incredible selection of maple syrup flavors from this group based out of Lonsdale, Minn. Three Rivers Farm syrup includes about a dozen different flavors including blueberry, bourbon maple, cinnamon, cranberry, habanero, vanilla and more. Bottles come in a variety of sizes and packs. A great gift or purchase meant for sweet and savory meals alike. Stop by and enjoy!

Triple Crown Hats (Nov. 23 – Dec. 23) Triple Crown is inspired by a deep appreciation for quality headwear and the display of personal style. Triple Crown creates hats for the fashionably conscious soul who has a relationship with headwear that goes beyond style and fashion.

SPECIAL WEEKEND FEATURES

Minneapolis Craft Market (Dec. 13-16) The Minneapolis Craft Market will be taking over the Holidazzle Market tent from Dec. 13 through Dec. 16. The space will be packed full of local artists and makers selling handmade jewelry, clothing and accessories, woodwork, home decor, prints, fiber art and more. The lineup of artists will be different each day, so visit us throughout the weekend and you’ll always find something new.

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

The Holidazzle has entertainment in many forms including movies, singing performances, fireworks and more! Some of these events happen each night while others only on certain days of the event. Take a look at the daily schedule here to plan your visit on a night that interests you and your family!

Holidazzle Movie Nights {presented by U.S. Bank}

Join us for classic winter/holiday movies in our Winter Wonderland. Grab a spot on a hay bale, or bring a chair/blanket and enjoy!

Friday, November 23 | 8:00 pm: Elf

Sunday, November 25 | 5:00 pm: Groundhog Day

Thursday, November 29 | 7:00 pm: The Mighty Ducks

Sunday, December 2 | 5:00 pm: The Chronicles of Narnia

Thursday, December 6 | 7:00 pm: The Santa Clause

Sunday, December 9 | 5:00 pm: Cool Runnings

Thursday, December 13 | 7:00 pm: It’s a Wonderful Life

Sunday, December 16 | 5:00 pm: The Polar Express

Thursday, December 20 | 7:00 pm: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Sunday, December 23 | 5:00 pm: Frozen

** All movie showings at Holidazzle include closed captioning

Musical Performances {On the Holidazzle Stage presented by PCL Construction}

We’re celebrating the holiday season with great musical performances throughout Holidazzle! Stop by and listen to a great collection of local bands, choirs, and artists who will perform music on site each day. We’ve got a full list of performers at www.holidazzle.com/schedule. Check out who will be performing while you’re there!

Holidazzle Fireworks {presented by Xcel Energy}

So often fireworks keep the kids up at all hours, but winter fireworks have you home in time for a more reasonable bedtime! Gather your family to watch fireworks light up the downtown sky!

Join us for winter fireworks displays at Holidazzle this holiday season!

Friday, November 23 | 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 1 | 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 8 | 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 15 | 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 22 | 7:00 PM

Enjoy The Interactive Illuminated Art Installations

Enjoy the Interactive Illuminated Art Installations at Holidazzle. Holidazzle has enhanced lighting this year including the Wolf and Moose exhibit—which is returning this year after being a favorite of the 2016 and 2017 Holidazzles. The Wolf and Moose, a Christopher Lutter-Gardella creation, are interactive exhibits that light up and allow viewers to peddle and engage in the art itself. The animals are comprised of 90 percent recycled waste-stream materials. Total products for each sculpture include 7,179 recycled plastic materials (bottles, jugs), 320 yards of recycled window screen and more. Come down and enjoy the displays.

Minneapolis WinterSkate

Enjoy outdoor skating in Downtown Minneapolis at the Minneapolis WinterSkate! The skating rink is open daily now through early March—including all Holidazzle operating hours. Skating is free and open to the public. Bring your own skates, or borrow a complimentary pair located in the Warming House courtesy of CenterPoint Energy. Skate sizes vary and are available on a first-come, first served basis. Click here for more information on skating downtown.

2018 Holidazzle Guide | Twin Cities Moms Blog

Meet Santa Claus

Holidazzle is your downtown destination to meet Santa this year! Santa will be on site during ALL Holidazzle hours and will be available for photos and to tell him your wish list FOR FREE! Holidazzle is the only place downtown where you can meet Santa this year, and it’s an experience your kids will love. Enjoy a little time with Santa during your visit!

Photo Opportunities

Don’t miss your chance to take a photo in the Holidazzle Snowglobe! Presented by the Minnesota Vikings, this football-shaped globe is a great place to take in the ambiance of Holidazzle and take a unique family photo you can’t get anywhere else. We’ve also got the Holidazzle sleigh on site! It’s another great place to get family photos taken during the holiday season. Stop by and take a photo on this fun new addition at Holidazzle!

The Thwing

This is a must-try this holiday season. The Thwing is inspired by one simple idea…play. The approach is to create spaces where both kids and adults might find themselves caught off guard for just a moment and get swept up in the blissful joy. The mix of wonder and intuitive simplicity pulls people in to discover. What they leave with are a giant smile, an opened soul and a little windswept hair. Jump on. It’s time to Thwing.

Kids Zone

Don’t miss out on the Holidazzle Kids Zone, which will include a collection of fun activities for all ages and abilities to enjoy. This year’s Kids Zone has a new look and will be one for kids of all ages to enjoy. Swing by and have fun while you take in Holidazzle. There will also be holiday craft making opportunities throughout, so follow the Holidazzle schedule for more details.

And more! Check out these fun activities throughout Holidazzle:

Silent Disco (Thursdays, 5 pm – 9 pm)

Lace up your skates and grab a pair of headphones every Thursday for Silent Disco skating. You can choose between three different channels and it is all FREE!

Craft + Vinyl Night (Thursdays, 5-9 pm)

Test your crafting skills on Thursdays in the Fulton Beer Garden while Solid State Vinyl curates the playlist for your listening pleasure. Let’s face it, music always sounds better on vinyl and you can purchase some for your own collection from the vinyl pop up shop!

S’mores Stations (Fridays, 5-10 pm)

Grab a token and enjoy a delicious s’more by the campfire with our friends from North Mallow. Choose your ingredients from a variety of mallows and chocolates. It’s fun for the whole family.

Alpacas and rescue animals on Sundays (Sundays, 11/25, 12/2, 12/9 and 12/16, 11 am-7 pm)

Come visit us on Sunday and meet Lincoln, Blinkin’ and Nod, our friendly Alpacas from 11 am-7 pm, or visit our Fulton Beer Garden and find your next best friend from one of our featured animal shelters from 11 am-2 pm. Who doesn’t love animals?!

  • Nov. 25: Midwest Animal Rescue & Services
  • Dec. 2: Secondhand Hounds – 11am – 2pm
  • Dec. 9: Upper Midwest Great Dane Rescue – 11am – 3pm
  • Dec. 16: Underdog Rescue 12 – 3pm
  • Dec. 23: MN Rabbit Companion Society

Sunday brunch (11 am-3 pm)

Bring your Sunday Funday Brunch plans to Holidazzle and enjoy a Michelada in our Fulton Beer Garden or a Sociable Cider Works Mimosa. Pair these delightful beverages with the Holidazzle Omelette or Littlest Pancake and watch the game on one of our TV’s or finish your Holiday shopping in our Craft Market tent.

Activities and Fun at 2018 Holidazzle

There is so much to do each day throughout Holidazzle. In the Fulton Beer Garden, enjoy fun activities for all ages, including card games, cribbage, puzzles, Jenga, TVs to watch the big game each weekend, live music, bingo and more. 

Keep up with all of the Holidazzle fun!

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