While last week was quiet, this week is FULL of things to do as the holidays are ramping up and the calendar is getting full! Don't miss out on a thing!
Things to do for the Family
Top pick: Holidazzle
This year will be the last year to stand outside on Nicollet Mall to witness the Minnesotan tradition that is The Holidazzle. The Holidazzle began in 1992, way back when the Mall of America was first built which feels like not that long ago, but then again it's been 21 years so the kids who first went to it back then are now of legal drinking age... a scary thought indeed. The parades will only run on Fridays and Saturdays this year starting this Friday at 6:30pm. With the coming renovations to Nicollet Mall the parades have been scrapped after this year, so make the memories while you can... or you can wait until 2025 when the remodels will be complete and they find a new Christmas tradition... your call.
Hmong New Year at the Rivercentre begins on Friday and runs through Sunday. There will be music, dancing, a talent show, a Miss Hmong New Year Pageant! Also for you men feeling left out there will be a Hmong version of "The Bachelor". Tickets are $7, $4 for seniors and children under four are free.
Folkways of the Holidays is happening at The Landing in Shakopee starting this weekend. If you like old timey tunes, traditions, stories and people pretending it's current you'll get a kick out of this. On a side-note I think we've discovered where a lot of those Renaissance Fair actors end up when that's ended, and the haunted houses are closed. There will also be folk musicians and horse carriage rides. $5 for Adults and $3 for seniors and children under 17, free for 2 & under.
"Christkindlsmarkt" is a German style market being held in Excelsior this weekend, starting on Friday. There will be food, music, shopping, reindeer rides (count me in) and visits with Santa. Their Santa looks pretty legit as well, no fake beard on that guy!
Capitol Civil War Tour is being held at the State Capitol on Saturday at 11am in case you're already sick of the holiday merriment and want to keep the focus on the morals of Black Friday; Mainly greed and bloodshed. The tour will focus on the Minnesotan impact of the war and memorabilia with a fully costumed tour guide. The tickets run $9 per adult, $8 students and seniors, $6 children 6-17 and free for under 6. Reservations are required.
There are also quite a few lighting ceremonies this weekend, here's a rundown;
Top Pick: Rice Park and Wells Fargo Skate Grand Opening
Rice Park Tree Lighting Ceremony will run from 4:00 - 6:00pm in Rice Park on Saturday. The lighting for the park is sponsored by Xcel Energy which boasts that this tree will be as big and bright as the tree in Rockefellar Center in New York. The tree will be lit with 15,000 energy-efficient LED lights. The Grand Opening will coincide with the Wells Fargo Skate Rink opening and skating during the opening will be free., including rentals! At 5:30 there will be a fireworks display. Pretty much everything you'd want in one spot.
Holiday Lights in the Park opens this Tuesday in Phalen Park. This event coordinates with King of Kings of Woodbury to create more than 50 lighted and animated displays that you can drive right through. The cost is $10 a vehicle but it's a discounted rate Sunday- Thursday evening at 8pm. All net proceeds go to local charities so you can feel good about where your money is going. Think of the money and time you've save not putting up your own lights and just driving your kids through the park!
Tree Light Ceremony at 50th & France is going on in downtown Edina from 3pm - 5pm. The day is free for the public but bring some canned foods for the food drive. The evening will feature Santa, live singing from the Edina High School Chamber Singers, a Nutcracker performance and will be capped off by a tree lighting ceremony with Mayor of the cake-eaters himself, Jim Hovland at 5pm. Celebrate Christmas, winter, the holidays and the defeat of the proposed Minneapolis International flight path changes, take that you Richfield peasants!
Nokomis Tree Light Ceremony will be taking place 4:00 - 6:00pm at Oxendales Market. In between planes flying overhead you'll be serenaded by carolers, treated to hot chocolate and swag bags and visit with Santa. What the Richfield, South-Eastern Minneapolis area lacks in lobbyists they make up for with a great connection with local businesses. The Nokomis East Business District will be handing out all sorts of deals and coupons for the Christmas season under their 20 foot tree, which is 5ft taller than Edina's! You hear that Edina?
Things to do for Adults
Top pick: Beer Bash at Butcher and the Boar
The night before Thanksgiving there arose such a Beer Bash that I ran to Butcher and the Boar to drink Fulton and feast on gourmet bangers & mash. On Wednesday night from 4 - 10pm Butcher and the Boar is hosting an event showcasing 8 brews from local brewery Fulton, live music and of course their fantastic food including a special Thanksgiving sausage. You have the time, might as well stretch that stomach in preparation.
Runner Up: 7th Annual Post Thanksgiving Pub Crawl
On Friday, after you fulfilled your every family obligation, you're in need for some definite you-time. The pub crawl wristband costs $10 which gets you access to the drink deals. The $20 pub crawl pack includes a T-shirt and marker, to obviously draw on said T-shirt. You'll get a kazoo too, which will basically make you annoying as hell to anyone not apart of the crew when it's time to leave each bar for the next. There's also something called salmon'ing, but you can check it all out here, including the route. The Crawl begins at 2:00pm.
Turkey Bowl at Muddy Waters is happening the night before Thanksgiving at Muddy Waters in Minneapolis from 10pm until midnight. A $5 donation to the Joyce Uptown food shelf gets you three attempts at tossing the frozen turkey. Forget cooking it, let's bowl it for prizes. The winner will get a $50 Muddy Waters and a Summit SWAG bag. Also $4 Summit pints.
Great Harriet Mo'Down & Gala Party runs from 1pm to 1am at Harriet Brewing to celebrate Movember and moustaches alike. Entrance is free until 7pm and then a cover applies, but bring a donation for the Movember foundation. There will be moustache contests, costume contests, raffles, beer at tap room prices and food truck Cajun 2 Geaux will be on hand.
Things to do for Foodies
Top Pick: Dinner Detective Murder Mystery at the Hotel Minneapolis
This show is unfortunately sold out for this weekend at The Hotel Minneapolis, however there are tickets available for other weekends so if you like what you hear make a move and quick. The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery is an award-winning show that involves what it sounds like, murder, mystery, detecting and of course, eating. The tickets are $66.95 and include a choice of fish, chicken or a vegetarian entrée as well as salads and bruschetta. You sit in groups and all the performers are dressed just like the guests, not knowing whom is who. As the evening progresses murders will occur and clues will be found, the first to catch the killer wins a prize.
No Thanksgiving plans yet? What in the heck is wrong with you? No worries, check out Open Table and make some res's stat here.
Things to do for the Active
There are a TON of running events this weekend to burn off that Thanksgiving Dinner, the rundown is below
Drumstick Dash Thursday at 8:00am 10K, Minneapolis, Lake Harriet. Registration is $35 through 11/27 and $40 on race day.
Lifetime Turkey Day 5k Thursday at 8:00am 5K, Downtown Minneapolis. Registration is $49, Youth is $20.
Moustache Run Saturday at 9:00 1/2 marathon, at 9:30am 5K, Minneapolis, St Anthony Main. $45 for the 5k, $75 for the half ($50 and $85 day of).
Ugly Sweater Run Saturday at 11:00am 5K Harriet Island. Registration is $44 solo, $39 per person in groups of four or more ($50 and $45 respectively day of).
Walk to End Hunger Thursday at 7:00am 5K at Mall of America. Registration is $25 for an adult and the $100 donar level will get you a free T-shirt.
Activities for the Arts
Top Pick: "Miracle on Christmas Lake"
The Osseo based group who originally wrote this play had lost the rights last minute to a play they were going to perform so what to do? They hastily wrote a play about a group who lost the rights to a play and had to hastily come up with a play and thus Miracle on Christmas Lake was born. What ensues is absolute chaos and comedic, Minnesotan fun. Tickets are $23 and the production runs through the 29th of December.
"A Christmas Pudding" at Openwindo Theatre opens this Friday. This play features a mixture, or a "pudding" in mixing different tales, stories and traditions with music, song and comedy. If you think Christmas is already over the top, this might be nauseating for you.
Unusual Activities
Top Pick: The Stocking Full of Awesomeness; You'll Shoot Your Eye Out
The Stocking Full of Awesome by The Danger Committee at The Brave New Workshop starts this Friday and goes through January 4th. Santa won't be messing with these three former America's Got Talent contestants and their death-defying acts no matter how naughty they are. Tickets run $12.50 - $35. Who said you can't run with scissors? Or axes? Or machetes? These guys make a decent living doing it.
Night Trains at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum begins this Saturday and continues every Saturday night 6pm until 9pm. Night trains involves just that, model trains, running all event long at night... The next four Saturdays will feature Santa and he'll have a few goodies for the kids. Admission is $10 a person or $25 for families, kids under 4 are free.
"Bad Romance" at Mill City Nights is a live musical production based solely on Lady Gaga. So put on your best meat dress and head to Mill City nights for what I'm sure is the experience of a lifetime. The show is Wednesday and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
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