Weekend Happenings: All Things Christmas

Each weekend in December, we'll highlight all the fun happenings related to Christmas.  Take a look at what's going on in your area this weekend.

Tree Lighting Ceremony
City Center Park - Chanhassen
West 78th Street & Market Blvd.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost:  Free

Don't miss this annual Chanhassen Celebration! Come and enjoy the lighting of the holiday tree, refreshments, live reindeer, gingerbread house displays and, of course, a special visit from Santa Claus!
This event is FREE and co-sponsored by the City of Chanhassen and Buy Chanhassen. Special thanks to The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Center for their generous contributions.

Hometown Holiday
City Square Park, Chaska
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Cost:  Free

Visit Chaska's historic downtown for a day filled with old fashioned holiday spirit.  Downtown merchants will offer shopping and dining enticements, hospitality, and good cheer all day long.   Santa and other jolly holiday characters will greet visitors and shoppers throughout downtown.  Enter to win a valuable shopping spree.  Events include an indoor farmers market, horse drawn wagon rides, and spagetti dinner/fundraiser. Tree lighting ceremony in downtown's beautiful park will light the night at days end.

Carver Village Christmas
Carver Gymnasium, 316 Broadway
Saturday, Dec 3, 2011
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Cost: Free

Visit Santa, Cookies, Crafts, Wreath Silent Auction and Much More!

Breakfast With Santa
Chanhassen Rec Center
Sunday, Dec 4, 2011
8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: $8 adults, $4 seniors and kids 12 and under

Pancakes, live reindeer, and photos with Santa.

Holiday Sale Weekend
MN Landscape Arboretum
December 3 & 4, 2011
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Cost:  Admission price to Arboretum

Auxillary Holiday Sale:  Browse a wide array of exquisite handmade gifts and decorations created by talented Auxiliary crafters. Treasures include arrangements and wreaths, potpourri, hand-knitted and felted items, gift cards and ornaments, plus fresh greens from the West Coast. Prices are affordable and proceeds benefit the Arboretum.

Artistry of Nature - Student Fine Art & Photography Exhibit and Sale*:  Shop for handcrafted greeting cards, original artworks in watercolor, oil and pastels and photographs. Available framed or unframed. Vote for your favorites in People's Choice Awards.** Come try out cameras and gear at the Tamron and National Camera Exchange display tables.
*Created by students in Arboretum adult art and photography classes.
**People’s Choice Awards and prizes sponsored by Tamron and National Camera Exchange.

Minnesota Herb Society Holiday Sale:  Shop for potpourri, scented ornaments, teas and more.
 

 

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker

Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis

Friday, Dec 2, 7:30 pm

Saturday, Dec 3, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Cost:  $24 to $350, available through Ticketmaster

Moscow Ballet is best known for its annual Great Russian Nutcracker holiday productions. The company evolved out of the all-star Russian cast "Glasnost Festival Tour" (1986-92), created by award-winning Juilliard alumnus, composer/conductor and theatrical producer, Akiva Talmi. Moscow Ballet made its debut in 1993, with an all-star Russian cast presenting the Great Russian Nutcracker, directed and choreographed by Stanislav Vlasov (soloist, Bolshoi Theatre).