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🍪Cookies, Curling & Christmas Lights

🍪Cookies, Curling & Christmas Lights

Plus, MN’s Best Holiday Light Displays.

Joe Carmack
December 03, 2025

Marked safe from Thanksgiving. Our annual family road trip to MT was a success, and no burnt turkeys this year! 👌 We hope your turkey week went just as well and that you're able to get out and enjoy some of the festivities below this week.

Stay warm! 🥶
-Joe & Haley

Your Weekend Forecast

Disney On Ice

12/4-12/7

Families settle in as the lights drop and a mix of music, color, and storytelling takes over the ice. Skaters bring two familiar worlds to life — one filled with snowflakes, sisterhood, and big soaring moments, the other bursting with family, magic, and a home that seems to breathe along with the crowd. It’s steady, feel-good entertainment, with enough playful touches and memorable scenes to keep both kids and grown-ups leaning in the whole time.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

12/28

A full-on rock show where hard-charging guitars share the stage with sweeping orchestral melodies, wild lighting and lasers, and a story that winds through thrills, mystery, and holiday spirit. The music jumps from classical chops to rock-opera energy, layering in familiar holiday-tinged themes with dramatic showmanship.

Minnesota Cookie Tasting

12/7

This is a casual afternoon of cookie sampling inside a historic building — you’ll taste a few classic Minnesota recipes fresh from the oven, alongside cocoa or hot cider while supplies last. It feels relaxed, warm, and a little nostalgic — like a low-key holiday get-together around the kitchen table, but with baked goods already done.

Nutcracker Ballet

12/12-13

A cozy Christmas-Eve evening, where a young girl’s gift becomes something magical under the tree. As midnight hits, toys spring to life, snowflakes swirl, and mice clash with toy soldiers in a sudden snowstorm. She and her enchanted nutcracker journey through snowy forests and a candy-filled kingdom, ending in a land of music, dance, and wonder.

Merry Market

12/13-21

This neighborhood holiday market pulls together dozens of local artists and makers for a relaxed weekend of browsing and handcrafted finds. Stalls are filled with gifts, seasonal treats, and small creative touches. Families will spot kid-friendly activities like craft areas, a little train ride, and a quick stop with Santa, making it an easy, festive outing.

Kick off the night at Forgotten Star Brewing, where their free open curling brings a playful, winter-night energy. The lanes are shorter and the gear is simple—just janitor brooms, smooth ice, and a little friendly chaos. Fire pits glow around the rink, music drifts out from the taproom, and it all feels like a laid-back backyard gathering with a competitive streak. Easy to jump into, easy to laugh through, and a fun way to break the ice—literally.

Once you’ve had your fill of curling, grab dinner right on site from Hodgepodge Food Truck, serving rotating comfort foods that pair perfectly with a pint. Wander out to the patio, warm up by the fire, and order whatever’s sizzling on the flat top. Or, if you’re craving a proper sit-down meal, head to Giuseppe’s Italian in New Brighton for cozy pasta plates, classic red-sauce dishes, and hand-tossed pizzas that keep locals coming back.

’Tis the season to get out and enjoy the lights! Whether you’re braving the cold for a stroll or cruising from the car, staying close to home or venturing a bit farther, this week’s roundup has a festive light display for everyone.