Every winter, Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park transforms into “America's Largest Free Walk-Through Lighting Display," shining bright with 4 million lights at Bentleyville Tour of Lights (Nov. 18 - Dec. 26). Visitors can enjoy hot cocoa, popcorn and roasted marshmallows while marveling at the brilliant displays. Admission is free, but monetary donations as well as unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items are appreciated.

It’s also a marvelous time of year to visit Kiwanis Holiday Lights (Nov. 24 - Dec. 31) in Mankato, featuring 1.5 million LED lights, animated displays, a skating rink, horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa Claus, live reindeer, ice sculptures and more. 

In the Twin Cities, the Winter Lights celebration at the Minnesota Arboretum (Nov. 16 - Dec. 31) will enhance the beauty of the natural landscape with outdoor light displays featuring flowers and wintry nature on an accessible and stroller-friendly half-mile walk. The GLOW Holiday Festival at CHS Field in St. Paul (Nov. 16 - Dec. 31) features more than 1 million lights, an ice palace and more.

Or hop in your car with some hot cocoa and see thousands of sparkling lights at drive-through displays at Sertoma Winter Wonderland in Baxter (Nov. 23 – Dec. 31), Magic of Lights (Nov. 16 - Dec. 31) at the third annual Winter SKOLstice in Eagan, Celebrate the Light of the World in Willmar (Nov. 23 - Dec. 31) or Sever's Holiday Lights in Shakopee (Nov. 23 - Dec. 31).

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be rolling into Minnesota Dec.6 - 15, with stops in more than two dozen Minnesota towns, including Winona, Wabasha, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Alexandria and Thief River Falls.

In Duluth, the North Shore Scenic Railroad's Christmas City Express chugs along Lake Superior select weekends through Dec. 17, to and from the Duluth Depot, passing by Bentleyville along the way. While onboard, guests will enjoy carolers, hear a holiday story and visit Santa Claus. 

Head north to the First City of Lights festivities (Nov. 24 - 25) in Bemidji to see more than half a million lights, complete with a 50-foot-tall, animated Paul Bunyan Christmas tree, live music, a parade, fireworks and more. Visitors can also tour illuminated homes and storefronts through the New Year during the Tour of Homes display contest.

Stroll through a European-style Christmas market to find unique gifts and holiday decorations, or sample European-inspired dishes at the European Christmas Market at St. Paul’s Union Depot (Nov. 24 - Dec. 17).

Plan a festive outing at Excelsior’s Christkindlsmarkt’s KinderWorld (Nov. 24 - 26) to see puppet shows, storytime, alpacas, reindeer and more, or take a trip to the Duluth Winter Village at the DECC (Dec. 2 - 3).

The halls of Minnesota’s historic homes are decked for the holidays. Tour the Mayowood Mansion in Rochester or Hubbard House in Mankato, see 25 decorated trees at Glensheen in Duluth or experience what the holidays were like 100 years ago at the Charles A. Lindbergh House and Museum in Little Falls. In St. Paul, travel back in time to Christmas in 1910 on a tour of the James J. Hill House, or head over to the Comstock House in Moorhead to channel holiday traditions from the Victorian era.

Celebrate in the city at holiday-themed pop-up bars like Holiday Vacation (Nov. 9 - Dec. 23) at Travail Kitchen and Amusements in Robbinsdale, Red Nose Room at Red Cow in Uptown, and Miracle at PINZ in Oakdale to enjoy festive Minnesota-made cocktails in a kitschy holiday setting.

Stroll through some of Minnesota’s most charming downtowns, find one-of-a-kind gifts from local shops and partake in festive holiday fun at Nisswa’s annual City of Lights Celebration (Nov. 24), or squeeze in a visit to downtown Stillwater from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve to find carolers, horse-drawn wagonette rides, shopping deals, live reindeer and more. Visitors can also experience Northfield’s Winter Walk celebration (Dec. 7). The street is lined with hundreds of luminaries and festively decorated shops offering holiday specials.

If more than 500 stores and tax-free shopping aren't reason enough to visit Mall of America, several holiday activities will delight visitors, including the Holiday Music Festival (Dec. 4 - 23) in the Huntington Bank Rotunda and The Santa Experience at a former Gap storefront.

Santa and his reindeer also pay a visit to the Holz Farm Old Fashioned Holiday (Dec. 3) in Eagan. Meanwhile, Mrs. Claus is planning on swinging by the Taylors Falls lighting festival (Nov. 24 - 26).

Channel your inner Clark Griswold by visiting one of Minnesota’s you-pick Christmas tree farms. Each farm features its own personality, from quiet and peaceful to bustling holiday hubs with sleigh rides, family crafts, Santa Claus meet-and-greets and more.

Take in a holiday classic, including It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play accompanied by lunch or dinner at The Saint Paul Hotel (Dec. 8 - 23), A Christmas Carol (Nov. 11 - Dec. 30) at the Guthrie Theater, or Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy, (Dec. 16 - 23) at the State Theatre. The Minnesota Ballet adds a local twist (and a lumberjack) to the classic story with its performance of The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale (Dec. 8 - 10) at the DECC in Duluth.

Sip tea and enjoy treats like warm scones, canapes, cheesecakes, tea sandwiches and more. Book a tea time at the Lowell Inn in Stillwater, the Mad Hatter in Anoka or The Saint Paul Hotel. Get your fill of holiday sweets and treats and leave the baking to someone else. Visit a local bakery, café or restaurant to pick up locally made cookies, cakes and other treats this season.