Thanksgiving in Minneapolis 2024

Tree Lighting Ceremony at 50th & France - Edina, MN - Nov 25, 2023
Enjoy chorale and dance performances, caroling, horse-drawn trolley rides, delicious roasted nuts, and hot beverages as part of your holiday shopping experience. And it wouldn’t be a celebration without the jolly ol’ fella himself, Santa Claus!

Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt - Excelsior, MN - Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2023
In 2005, an Excelsior resident visited the Chicago Christkindlmarket. They suggested it to a committee of local business owners and residents, who agreed overwhelmingly. The Excelsior festival started small, at Lyman Park (now the Excelsior Library). It continued to grow, and eventually moved to its current location: the East Municipal Parking Lot. Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt, a completely volunteer and donation driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit, manages and coordinates the festival to this day. In keeping with the German traditional Christkindlsmarkt, enjoy the holiday sounds as you take in the aromas and delight your senses with German/Alpine Christmas traditions such as German sausages and potatoes, roasted almonds, sweet & savory strudel, delectable chocolates, cakes & cupcakes, KinderCocoa, and “Gluehwein’’ (a warm, sweet, spiced wine).

Taylors Fall Lighting Festival - Taylors Falls, MN - Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2023
Lots of fun activities over Thanksgiving weekend, at Interstate Park

European Christmas Market - St Paul, MN - Nov 24 to Dec 17, 2023
Visit the only authentic Christmas Market in Minnesota running through the advent season

Turkey Day 5k Minneapolis - Minneapolis, MN - Nov 23, 2023
Raises money for Second Harvest Heartland, which helps Minnesotans facing hunger and food scarcity

Gobble Gait 8K & 2K - Hastings, MN - Nov 23, 2023
Gobble Gait started in 1998 as a small race to raise some additional money for the Hastings Family Service. Years later, we are still raising money to benefit Hastings Family Service, but it is no longer a small race! Our 3k (2K prior to 2019) and 8k combined are now averaging well over 2,000 runners each year, and have consistently been one of the Twin Cities’ largest Thanksgiving Day runs! Many families have made it their traditional way to kick off the holiday season

Holidazzle - Minneapolis, MN - Nov 25 to Dec 18, 2022
2023: “Holidazzle is hibernating in 2023. This is a one-season decision that does not impact plans for the 2024 Holidazzle.” Normally: Holidazzle is a mpls downtown holiday tradition that creates a community gathering place and holiday destination for people of all ages to come together and celebrate winter. Holidazzle focuses on featuring local people, places and products that showcase the local food and art scenes, active lifestyle, local entertainers, and community groups that make the city and region unique and special.

Walk to End Hunger 5K - Bloomington, MN - Nov 24, 2022
Discontinued. Formerly: Make the Walk to End Hunger your Thanksgiving tradition! Raise money for an organization of your choice, or support 7 Twin Cities-based hunger relief organizations.

Holiday Tree Lighting - Saint Paul, MN - Dec 4, 2021
Tree lighting and movie night at Union Depot. The tree will be lit throughout December

Holiday Music Festival at Mall of America - Bloomington, MN - Nov 29 to Dec 26, 2021
Live performances on select dates

Giving Thanks 5K - Maple Grove, MN - Nov 25, 2021
Run or walk a timed 5k or 2k fun walk ‘round Arbor Lake on USATF certified 5k course with family & friends at the ThanksGiving Day – GivingThanks 5k (15th Annual) presented by Charities Challenge. Check in and other areas are in the parking lot behind the closed Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant

WinterSkate in Loring Park - Minneapolis, MN - Jan 4 to Feb 29, 2020
Taking the year off. Normally: Free skating with complimentary skates in downtown Minneapolis!